If you want your wedding to be perfect down to the last detail, then you should not only take care of your outfits, but also think about the dress code for the guests. After all, guests in jeans against the background of impeccable newlyweds will look more than out of place. But the images of guests that correspond to the general idea will help create a solemn atmosphere at the wedding and emphasize the style of the wedding. Finally, following the dress code will result in stunning wedding photos. Therefore, in this article we would like to share with you all the secrets of the wedding dress code, which will help you find a compromise between your desires and the preferences of the guests regarding their appearance.
Contemporary double-breasted jacket
Every time we don't know what to wear, we ask ourselves: what would Bowie wear? The answer to this question is: a double-breasted jacket. And the Prince of Wales? Double-breasted jacket. Tom Hiddleston? Well, you get the idea. And this option is quite suitable for a wedding.
The right double-breasted jacket—fitting but not too tight—makes you look more like an athlete than a banker these days.
It's eye-catching on its own, so you don't need to dress up in colorful shirts and accessorize with a flashy scarf. It is perfect for men with narrow shoulders, visually enlarges the chest and shapes the waist.
If you are short, it is better to choose a model with four rather than six or eight buttons - this option visually adds height
When wearing such a suit to a wedding, it is important to avoid associations with office clothes. So choose a brighter blue or gray shade
Blazer and trousers
For less formal weddings (of which there are more and more these days), choose a more relaxed dress code. The first criterion you should consider when choosing a suit is the fabric.
After the material, decide on the color: shades of blue and gray from dark to light, as well as neutral ones - ecru beige, stone color - these shades combine well with each other. And pastel shades - mint, soft blue, pale yellow - are good on their own and can be worn separately from others.
A good nautical look is a single or double breasted blazer with a pair of white trousers and a light blue shirt. Or you can turn this look on its head - today a white blazer is combined with contrasting trousers.
As for the final notes - accessories and shoes - they should be elegant and match an Oxford shirt or long-sleeve polo shirt.
If you are a guest:
Follow the format of the celebration stated in the invitation. If the dress code is not specified there, it is better to write or call the bride and ask about her wishes. And, of course, the venue itself obliges: a celebration in a palace hall and an outdoor wedding with a grill and champagne from paper cups dictate diametrically opposed images.
White-Tie
The most formal dress code. It means exclusively floor-length evening dresses combined with jewelry, high-heeled shoes, evening gloves and an elegant clutch. For men - tuxedo or tailcoat, white shirt and bow tie, gray gloves, classic boots. At modern weddings, such a strict dress code is rare, unless the newlyweds decide to have a celebration in the style of the royal family.
Black-Tie
Looser evening dress code. For women, either a floor-length dress or a cocktail outfit combined with heels and jewelry will suit you. An elegant trouser suit would also be appropriate. Most often at weddings, the Formal/Black-Tie Optional is used, which allows you to wear a classic suit with a shirt and tie.
Semi-formal/Coctail/Dressy Casual
Implies a festive dress code without strict restrictions. You can dress up according to your personal preferences. A cocktail dress, a top with a skirt or a pantsuit combined with various accessories will do.
The casual dress code is usually used if the wedding will take place outdoors or in nature. You can choose clothes and accessories in a variety of colors and styles. For girls, a summer sundress, elegant sandals, and a hat are suitable. Or trousers with an evening top. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, sneakers will not be entirely appropriate (unless it is specified in the invitation).
Style and color dress code for a wedding: how to come up with it?
If you are going to be the hero of the occasion, and you take an active part in its preparation, you need to know how to choose outfits for guests, how to make wedding invitations with a dress code, etc. We will tell you about this.
Determine the format and style of the wedding
Before you write and send out wedding invitations, decide on the format of the wedding. Be sure to indicate it in the invitations, because this has a direct impact on what the dress code will be. It will be awkward if guests come to a chamber celebration in a small cafe in tuxedos and evening dresses. You can abandon the dress code altogether, and then you need to inform your guests about this. It is also worth deciding which colors and styles should not be present at the celebration. Or you can do it even simpler: take and indicate the dress code for the wedding in the invitation.
Think over your wedding palette
You can use special programs and online services. Use photos of the wedding dress, accessories, decor that you already have, or you can also take approximate photos from the Internet. The program itself will select a ready-made palette for you, with which you can choose the color dress code for the wedding.
Just don't choose too complex shades. The color should be simple, easy to understand, so that clothes of this tone can be easily found on sale. Or you can even print the colors themselves in the invitation and not worry, because the guests will understand exactly what you need from them.
Don't be a fashion dictator
If you've decided exactly what the dress code will be, you don't need to tell guests what to wear. You shouldn’t ask your friends to photograph the dresses you bought in order to understand in advance whether they will fit into the dress code for the wedding. It is important for your guests that their opinion is also taken into account when choosing their own outfit. But for whom you can choose clothes yourself, it’s your older relatives: grandparents, parents, etc. They will only be happy if you help them choose something stylish and modern.
Prepare your accessories
If you don't have a wedding dress code for guests, you can come up with another way to ensure that everyone invited is on the same page. Prepare accessories for them such as wrist bracelets, boutonnieres or flower crowns so that each matches the overall style of the holiday.
Follow the outfits of the main figures
It is clear that the main people at the wedding will be the newlyweds, but there are several more people to whom the majority of the eyes will be directed: the parents of the newlyweds, the bridesmaid and bridesmaid, bridesmaids and friends of the groom. Here you can advise them what is best to wear to a wedding (or even choose outfits with them). Pay attention to the outfits of the star bridesmaids: the most beautiful, bright and famous ladies in the world accepted the wedding dress code of their friends and wore what was offered to them.
Don't tense up
There is nothing wrong if one of the guests does not fit into the style or color scheme of the wedding at all. You should not take this as a personal insult, because the person could simply forget or not understand what you wanted. Believe me, much more unpleasant incidents could happen at a wedding than failure to comply with the dress code.
What else should be included in wedding invitations?
The invitation often indicates conventional abbreviations, which have their own designations in the rules of etiquette:
- St (Sine tempore - lat.) - exactly, on time, without delay;
- Ct (Cum tempore - lat.) - with a delay of no more than a quarter of an hour (academic delay);
- RSVP (Répondez s'il vous plaît - French) - please inform about the opportunity to attend the wedding.
Summer wedding outside of formats
Youth weddings are often devoid of any formality and take place in the style of simple friendly parties. For such a holiday, a guy can safely choose casual clothes. The main “trick” of this style is comfort, convenience, and practicality. Light knitted jumpers and sweaters, jeans, colored shirts, trench coats, plays of color - all this is the epitome of casual.
But it is very important not to overdo it. Even for a non-format wedding, it is better to choose plain items in calm shades
Or, for example, a casual-style shirt for a wedding guest in the summer may be brighter, but the trousers are a muted or dark color.
Fashionable summer image of a man dressed in casual style
