Trends »

Yes, it is that time year. Brides love the spring/summer season with its sunny skies and warm breezes. Weddings are as plentiful as the venues and choosing the right dress can be a little tricky. What should you wear for an outdoor wedding, a formal church wedding, a morning wedding? Here is a little guide to help you choose the perfect dress for any wedding.

One of the most commonly asked questions when attending a wedding is if it is appropriate to wear black. The answer is yes and no. If it is a formal night time wedding (anything after 7pm) then it is absolutely fine to choose a black dress. However, if the wedding is taking place outdoors at 2pm you would be better suited in something a little lighter and less heavy. Black and white pattern dress are the exception and depending on the cut and style of the dress can look great for almost any time of day.

So let’s start in the morning and work our way through to the evening.

A Morning Wedding: For a traditional morning wedding your dress should fit the ambiance of the time of day. Choose soft colors and light fabrics. Browns, blacks and overly bright colors should be avoided as they can seem a little heavy and jarring for the morning.

A Mid Afternoon Wedding: Mid afternoon weddings tend to be the most casual as they usually take place between 11am and 1pm and most often a formal meal is not served at the reception. That does not mean you should show up in jeans but you should be careful to not overdress and outshine the bride. If it is possible find out what type of dress the bridesmaid’s will be wearing and plan accordingly. If they will be wearing casual sundresses find a similarly styled dress, if they will be wearing something a little more formal look for chiffon or gauzy type dresses.

A Late Afternoon Wedding:  A wedding between 3pm and 6pm can be difficult  to determine. If possible find out what type of meal, if any, will be provided at the reception and try to plan around that. BBQ and beer? A casual tube dress would work. A sit down 7 course meal? Maybe a colorful satin halter would work better.

An Evening Wedding: Typically these are the most formal (depending on the location) and you should pull out all the stops to look great. It is not prom however, so don’t even think about resurrecting that old dress. This is really the only time of day when wearing a dark colored dress is appropriate. When in doubt choose a simple dress that can be accessorized easily to dress it up or down.

When choosing something to wear, regardless of the time of day, try to remember that this is a very important day for many people and they have likely spent a lot of money just to have you attend. The average cost per guest at a wedding is between $65 and $100. Be respectful and never choose a dress that is too flashy, shows to much leg or exposes too much cleavage. The attention should be on the bride and you should like nice enough to blend in but not stand out.

[View with PicLens]