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Anti-Clueless Advice: Wedding Guest Attire Decoded

unbelievable; covering eyes; man 

In the movie "You Again," Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver — as mothers of bride and groom – both wore red, off-the-shoulder dresses to the rehearsal dinner.  Yikes!  All eyes traveled to the attractive red dots floating around the room. 

This, of course, isn't the best attire for mothers to wear to any wedding-related event.  But, what about wedding guests?  What is proper attire for wedding guests to wear to the wedding and how is it determined?

Pay Attention to the Details

The wedding invitation is our first clue to the formality of the wedding, and thus to our attire.  The heaviness of the paper, time of day, and the type of venue give us hints.  Usually, daytime weddings are less formal.  Couples use heavier paper for invitations for formal weddings.  Most often they will include the wording, "Formal" or "Black Tie" in the lower left-hand corner.   And, if the venue seems formal, the wedding usually is as well.  Of course, there's nothing wrong with asking the couple what their dress code expectations are. 

Dos

  • Pay attention to the dress code and dress accordingly.
  • Attention to hygiene!
  • Both genders should choose high-quality accessories, especially for formal events.

Women:

  • Dress to impress, but not to draw the eye—quality attire and not too revealing.
  • May now wear black, as it is no longer taboo.
  • Wear understated makeup and style your hair.
  • Take gloves off to eat or drink.  

Men:

  • Shave.
  • When in doubt of formality, wear a dark suit for evening weddings.

Be careful experimenting with the tuxedo. The classic black tux, white shirt, and black bow tie is a perfect choice.  If the invitation uses an odd word when requesting formal attire (ex: creative formal), it might be best, and less embarrassing, to go with a tux paired with a trendy black shirt with no tie. Consider the venue, region, and couple when making these choices.

Don'ts

Ladies:

  • Wear all white, red, or any other bright color, unless a part of the culture.
  • Wear sequins during the day.
  • Show off the sisters.  A wedding really isn't the best place to bare too much flesh.
  • Wear nylons with open-toed shoes. 
  • Wear opera-length gloves with gowns with sleeves.

Men:

  • Wear a tux during the daytime.
  • Wear jeans, shorts, or beachwear unless instructed to do so.

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