Are tuxes appropriate for a daytime wedding if the reception is after 6pm?

Dear Polite One,

Our wedding is at 4pm with an evening reception after 6pm. Both events will be very formal. Since the times require different attire, we are confused about appropriate attire for the men.

I was considering tuxedos during the daytime since the reception is in the evening. But the reception is very formal so I'm considering white tie and tailcoats. Is this appropriate?

Formally confused

Dear Formally Confused,

Unfortunately, tuxes are formal evening attire, not to be worn during the day, even if many do it anyway. If you wish to follow the traditional road, the men should wear cutaway coats, gray striped trousers, and waistcoats for the daytime wedding and full-dress tailcoats with matching trousers, white waistcoats, and bow ties for the evening. However, because the wedding is during the day, they can wear the cutaways for the entire event.

The one issue here that I find problematic though is that there is a sizable gap between the wedding and the reception. It isn't polite to keep guests waiting this long. Still, if the wedding is about an hour long, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Sincerely,

The Polite One

More by The Polite One

May I change shoes to dance at the reception?

What is a Californian to wear to a wedding/reception in NY?

What is Destination Cruise Ship Wedding attire?

Comments

Which Color is or is not Taboo for Wedding Attire?

Learn what formally taboo colors are now proper to wear for a wedding and the one color that is not in this informative wedding etiquette article. The Mother of the Bride wants to wear the lacy white skirt-suit she bought especially for her daughter’s wedding. Is it appropriate? Hmmm... How about that spicy red number the Groom’s cousin yearns to don? Hold onto your cummerbunds, we’re diving into the wedding attire info pool. Wearing White Some still consider wearing white to a wedding as an insult to the bride, as if stealing the spotlight. But it just isn't so. A little white here and there is not an issue. It is an issue if the outfit appears to be wedding attire . Wearing Black Wearing black, especially as the mother of the groom, was once viewed as a symbol of her disapproval. It was also viewed as a faux pas for wedding guests to wear black before 6 pm. Luckily, this is not the case today. Black attire is viewed as trendy, cool, and st

Wedding Guest Advice: How to Use a Gift Registry

Q & A With an Etiquette Expert As an etiquette specialist, I receive countless wedding etiquette questions. Many of these questions concern the use of a wedding gift registry. Even though this tool has been in place for decades now, many are still confused about how to use it. What follows are a few of my answers to wedding gift registry questions. Must I buy from the registry? Q : Must I buy a wedding gift from the registry? If not, may I choose a gift I want to give? For example, I like to buy all my soon-to-be-married friends a nice set of wine glasses. The issue here is that my friend didn’t register for wine glasses. A : Many people do not know this, but a wedding registry is supposed to be a guideline as to what the couple wants and needs. A wedding guest shouldn’t feel as if the items from the registry list are obligatory and the only gift choices. Guests may choose to give any gift they wish. Consequently, give a gift of your choice that refle

Anti-Clueless Advice: What to Wear and What Gifts to Give

How to Decode the Dress Code and to Give the Right Gift Many questions I receive as an etiquette consultant are from wedding guests. Guests are especially concerned with what they should wear and what they should give as gifts . All who contact me are deeply worried about committing any type of faux pas, as many weddings tend to be surrounded by drama these days. For example, one guest shared that the bride called fuming that the gift she shipped to the bride's home was inadequate, so she returned it to the store for cash—true story. With crazy, hurtful behavior like that, it is no wonder wedding guests are apprehensive about wedding guest protocol. How do we know what to wear to a wedding? Wedding invitations are supposed to help guests understand the formality of a wedding. Often, this is not the case. Here is a real-life example: a guest received an invitation of heavy-weight paper indicating a formal wedding, but the location listed was a neighborhood park.

Got Wedding Etiquette?

Search This Blog