What to Wear?
Since
including dress code information on wedding invitations is restricted to
formal affairs, guests are often left wondering what to wear. This
is where using clues available to us is key.
A
formal invitation typically implies a formal wedding, as does the time of day. For example, evening weddings are usually more
formal, except Catholic weddings, which are held mid-day and are formal.
If
the venue or location appears to be formal, the wedding may be as well, with
outdoor weddings tending to be less formal.
That
said, bridal couples often mix formality elements into a cocktail of confusion:
formal attire, informal setting with a barbecue reception. So, we
may not know exactly what the correct attire preference is until we
arrive. In
these cases, we can only hope all eyes are on the bride.
Cheers!
May I wear velvet in Late February?
Dear
Polite One,
I
love velvet and wonder if I can wear it to an evening wedding/reception in late
February. The dress is formal, black, and tea length. I
have another 2-piece dress that may work though. It is less formal
in a sheer brownish rust-colored material. There are sequins around
the neckline, which dress it up.
Loves
Velvet
Dear
Loves Velvet,
I'm
sorry, but velvet may seem too heavy for this time of year unless you live in a
very cold climate. Take clues from the invitation and the stated
venue to determine the formality of the event. If the wedding is formal, then
your first dress could be fine if the weather is icy cold. If the wedding
appears to be less formal, then the second dress should be fine since it is in
the same formality as the "little black dress".
Sincerely,
The Polite One
Afternoon Wedding In Alberta, Canada
Dear
Polite One,
I
am a bit confused as to what to wear to an outdoor wedding in the early afternoon
in October, in Alberta. The groom is wearing a kilt and the best man is wearing
a suit. I think the matron of honor will be wearing a silk dress but am not
sure of the length of it. There will be a piper, but no minister. It is a very
small wedding and I think it is casual. Thanks for any advice you can
give.
Guest
of a Small Alberta Wedding
Dear
Guest of a Small Alberta Wedding,
Dress
as if attending a nice country club for lunch and you should be fine. Most probably a nice high-quality dress or
pantsuit is fine for you and a suit for your husband.
Sincerely,
The Polite One
What is Semi-Formal?
Dear
Polite One,
My
nephew apparently says that his wedding is "semi-formal." But I
don't think that is what he means. Can you help?
Confused
Dear
Confused,
Semi-formal
is the most confusing dress code because it can mean different things depending
on the occasion. Semi-formal for a ball may mean party dresses with lots
of material. But mostly, it means a suit for men and a cocktail dress for
women. ‘Cocktail attire’ is a much better dress code for weddings,
although this can never be written on wedding invitations. Only ‘formal’
or ‘black tie’ is written on invitations that are wedding and reception
combination invitations.
The
meaning of ‘business casual’ is also elusive. It means high-quality
clothing that is more casual and yet suitable for work settings.
Typically, this is slacks such as Dockers with polos and shoes that require
polishing for men. Women may wear nice slacks, a skirt, appropriate
blouses, a sweater set, or polo—nothing too tight, too revealing, or too
short.
Please
Read
Nix
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