Wedding Attire: From Black-Tie To Beachfront... Traditional Wedding Attire for Every Affair.
|
Formal, informal, semi-formal, black tie... what do these terms really mean? A wedding’s formality is dictated by many factors including time of day, location, number of guests, invitation style, and more. Are you and your fiancé extremely spontaneous? If so, you may want to consider planning a casual-style wedding. Or, you may want to plan a full-blown black tie affair just for a change. Either way, you’ll find some general rules on attire below, broken down into basic categories. But remember these are only guidelines. You and your fiancé should feel free to modify any tradition, and to wear whatever is comfortable for you and your attendants.
|
 |
|
 |
Very Formal Evening: 200 guests or more; after 6:00pm
Here the bride wears a beaded, embroidered, or ornamented dress with a long train and veil. The groom and ushers wear full-dress tailcoats with matching trousers. Bridesmaids wear full-length evening dresses.
|
|
|
|
Very Formal Day: 200 guests or more; noon or afternoon
The bride’s dress style for day is the same as for evening, but she may opt for a shorter train. The groom and ushers wear cutaway coats and gray striped trousers. Bridesmaids should wear the same overall style as for an evening affair, but their dresses can be less elaborate.
|
|
|
|
Formal Evening: 100 guests or more; after 6:00pm
A formal bride wears a long dress with a chapel, sweep or detachable train; her veil can be any length. The groom and ushers wear tuxedos with matching trousers. (In the summer they may wear white or ivory dinner jackets). Bridesmaids may wear shorter dresses than in a very formal wedding.
|
|
|
|
Formal Daytime: 100 guests or more; before 6:00pm
The bride can dress the same as for a formal evening, or she can wear a shorter dress and a hat instead of a veil. The groom and ushers can wear waistcoats and striped trousers, or they can wear dark suits with dress shirts and cummerbunds. Bridesmaids wear either long or short dresses.
|
|
|
|
Informal Evening: 100 guests or less; before 6:00pm
The bride wears a long or short dress in white or pastel, without a train. The groom and ushers wear dark suits. Bridesmaids (usually there’s only one plus an honor attendant) wear cocktail-length dresses or suits.
|
|
|
|
Informal Daytime: 100 guests or less; noon or afternoon
The bride wears a simple white or pastel dress with no train. The groom and ushers wear suits or blazers. Usually there is only an honor attendant and she wears a suit or a dress.
|
|
|
|
