First, you find out your friend or family member is engaged and you share in their joy and excitement. You go wedding gown shopping with the bride, help select bridesmaid dresses, and maybe even weigh in on suits and tuxes for the groom and groomsmen. Then, you receive the cute, perfectly themed “Save the Date” and make a note in your phone, planner, calendar, tablet, etc. Everything is going perfectly until you realize the wedding is 8 weeks away and you haven’t even thought about what you should wear!
While many of the wedding rules of etiquette have gown “out the window”, so to speak, with so many brides opting for non-traditional venues and styles, there are still some wardrobe rules to keep in mind.
- Consider the Time
Consider the time of day of the event and the season. For an afternoon wedding (before 5:30 pm) opt for semi-formal or your “Sunday best”; anything after 5:30 pm should be more formal. The invitation should give you the best indication of what level of formality is expected. If you are unsure, do not be afraid to ask the bride herself!
- Consider the Terrain
Garden weddings are beautiful and barn weddings are beautiful! Outdoor venues give couples an amazing backdrop for photos! However, these venues are not always kind to your shoes. If you’ll be walking on grass or gravel, opt for a wedge or flat. For a barn wedding, a closed toe option may be best. No matter what, make sure your tootsies and your expensive shoes are protected!
And if you MUST rock your Jimmy Choo pumps, stop in and see us for some SoleMates!
- Your LBD is Just Fine!
It’s 2016 and so many rules of wedding etiquette have gone the way of VHS tapes – outdated and no longer in use. In most cases, wearing black to a wedding is no longer considered a “no-no” and there aren’t many rules on color or style. Keep in mind that trying to upstage the bride (i.e. wearing an all sequin silver dress to an afternoon country club wedding) is ALWAYS a “don’t” and wearing white is still off limits. It’s the bride’s big day; don’t you dare try to steal her spotlight!
In the end, as with most things in life, use your best judgement and don’t be afraid to ask! If you are unsure of the terrain of a venue, ask the bride. If you aren’t sure if wearing black is okay, ask the bride. I promise, the bride would rather you ask her opinion now than show up in that silver sequin New Year’s Eve dress!
