How to Dress For a Wedding

Wedding attire can vary from black tie to casual, making deciding what to wear very tricky. Read this article to learn how to determine what's appropriate for the wedding you're attending.

Part 1 of 2: Deciding What to Wear

1. 
   Read the invitation. Wedding invitations should specify the expected dress and will give you other key information like the location and time of day.
   • Most traditional religious weddings call for women to wear modest dresses, and men to dress in suits with ties. Some traditional religious weddings call for traditional wedding costumes.
   • Contemporary weddings often call for dressy dresses and sport coats, a dress shirt, and a ties like an outfit you might wear to a fine restaurant.
   • Informal weddings may be casual, such as one held on the beach, in a botanical, garden, or in the back yard. These are normally held during daytime hours. If the invitation doesn't specify the expected dress for the guests, ask about it.
   • Formal weddings call for floor-length gowns and tuxedos and are usually held in the evening.
2. 
   Take the venue into account. Some locations call for more formal attire than others. If the wedding is taking place on a beach or in another outdoor location during the daytime, the dress code will probably be more on the casual side. Conversely, weddings that take place indoors and/or in the evening are usually more formal.
3. 
   Consider the weather, time of day, and time of year. In general, weddings that take place at night and in the winter are more formal than those that take place during the day in summer or spring.
   • For a fall or winter wedding, consider wearing a lace, sequined, or beaded dress. Long-sleeved dresses are most appropriate for winter weddings. For outerwear, choose a matching wedding coat and some appropriate boots to keep your feet warm.
   • Spring and summer weddings are usually more casual, though you should confirm this by reading the invitation. Spring dresses can be shorter (knee-length or slightly shorter is perfect). Opt for floral prints, stripes, or pastel colors such as cream, peach, or beige.
4. 
   Determine your role in the ceremony. If you are a bridesmaid or other member of the wedding party, then you should consult the bride to determine what to wear. Many brides ask their bridesmaids to wear matching dresses, which you will be fitted for prior to the wedding. If you haven't been instructed about what to wear, use the following guidelines:
   • Bridesmaids should stay away from overbearing colors/patterns like gold, silver, seaweed green, stripes, or bright orange. These colors are distracting, and can take attention away from the bride. You should choose a knee-length dress, or slightly shorter/longer. Don't wear a dress that is too revealing, as this is both distracting and disrespectful.
   • Groomsmen should wear either a suit or a tuxedo, depending on how formal the wedding is. Semi-formal weddings call for suits, while formal or black tie weddings call for tuxedos. Be sure that the suit is properly fitted, and stick to black or grey.
   • Parents of the bride and groom should dress appropriately for both the occasion and their ages. Mothers of the bride and groom should choose dresses or suits of a tasteful length, and avoid flashy colors.

Part 2 of 2: General Rules

1. 
   Don't wear white. The bride should stand out on her wedding day, and anybody wearing white will draw attention away from her and come across as disrespectful. If you plan on wearing a beige or off-white dress, you might want to consider asking the bride first.
2. 
   Dress nicely, no matter what. Even if the wedding is casual, you should dress nicely out of respect for the hosts. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops are seldom appropriate unless called out by the invitation.
   • For casual beach weddings, sun dresses are appropriate for women, and men can wear cotton shirts and pants.
3. 
   Women should wear their hair up for formal weddings. Consider getting your hair professionally styled into a low bun or half-ponytail. Make sure that your hair is clean and that it is fastened securely with pins so that it doesn't fall out during the wedding.