What to Wear to a May Wedding
May can be a tricky time, in that the weather is still quite variable in many parts of the country. A May day might be bright and summery, or it might be cool and wet; it is hard to predict. The best way to work around unpredictable weather is to wear layers. For a formal wedding, a beautiful outfit would be a silk sheath dress, perhaps with a special embellishment such as a bow or embroidery. Since a sleeveless dress might not be warm enough, choose a coordinating silk bolero or an organza wrap which complements your dress. Add a pearl necklace and a pair of low silk heels for a beautiful late spring look.
Outdoor weddings start to become popular in the late spring. If you are invited to a May garden wedding, a dress or skirt with a floral print would be very pretty. Even if you do not think of yourself as a flower print person, you may well find that there is an abstract, modern, or pop art floral print which appeals to you. Imagine how lovely it would look to wear a poppy printed silk skirt with a complementary silk sweater for an afternoon wedding in a garden. Women who like smaller prints can choose delicate sprig patterns on chiffon dresses or skirts. Many women wonder if it is acceptable to wear a dress with a white background as a guest at someone else’s wedding, and the answer is yes, as long as white is not the primary color. If you really want to embrace the spirit of the garden wedding, complete your ensemble with a wide brim hat and a pearl necklace.
If you are a guest at a casual springtime wedding, a pretty sundress would be a good option. Look for one with special details, such as a sweet print, straps which tie into bows, or ribbon trim. As there is a good chance that you will be chilly in a sleeveless dress in May, add a cardigan to your outfit. Choose one which is special and dressy enough to wear to a wedding, not the oversized cardi you wear to lounge around the house! May can feel a bit early for strappy sandals with a sundress, so consider other shoes like slides, slingbacks, or ballet flats to give your outfit more of a springtime look.
As for the men at a May wedding, a tan suit or a navy jacket with khaki trousers is ideal for all but the most formal weddings. A shirt or tie in a springtime blue, pink, or tangerine will complete the outfit. With everyone dressed beautifully, you will be ready to go to the May wedding!
Filed under pearl bridal jewelry, Uncategorized, Wedding Jewelry | Tags: pearl necklace, wedding guest attire, what to wear to a wedding, what to wear to May wedding | Comment (0)What to Wear to a Casual Wedding
When trying to determine what type of outfit is special enough for a wedding, yet appropriate for a casual celebration, it helps to take the particular location into account. Even the most relaxed wedding is still a very special occasion, after all, and it should be treated as such. For instance, if one were invited to an afternoon wedding in a state park, a pretty outfit could consist of a knee length floral skirt and a sleeveless blouse. Simple handmade wedding jewelry and a pair of flat sandals will round out the look. For the men, a pair of khaki pants and a button down shirt without a tie would be appropriate. Remember that jeans are never dressy enough for a wedding, no matter how casual it happens to be.
For an informal wedding at a beach, a cheerful sundress would be fantastic. Look for a cotton shift dress with a summery print or a strapless cotton sundress. There are special considerations for a beach wedding, chief among which is the need for shoes which can be worn on the sand. Forget the high heels and wear a pair of leather thong sandals instead. Save the plastic flip flops for another time, as they are not nice enough to wear to a wedding. Handmade coin pearl wedding jewelry is great for the beach. Add a wide brimmed hat if you tend to burn, and you will be ready to celebrate in style.
Men attending a casual beach wedding should aim for a low-key look that is still pulled together. A pair of khaki pants worn with a short sleeve button down shirt would work well. If the wedding is really informal, a golf shirt could also work. Only wear a Hawaiian print shirt if the wedding is actually in Hawaii! A preppy guy would look great wearing a pair of madras shorts with a long sleeve oxford shirt (with sleeves rolled up). There is no such thing as dressy sandals for men, so opt for a pair of boat shoes with your khakis or madras.
Some women wonder if they can wear shorts to a casual wedding. I would tend to advise against it. You would be far better off in a cute skirt and a sleeveless polo shirt if the wedding is super informal; shorts just do not look like you put in enough effort. In fact, that brings us to a key point: no matter how casual the wedding may be, a guest should always look as though they put in the effort to look nice for the event. With that in mind, you can put together a comfy, casual, and stylish outfit to wear to a casual wedding.
Filed under Uncategorized, Wedding Jewelry | Tags: casual weddings, handmade wedding jewelry, wedding guest attire, what to wear to a casual wedding, what to wear to a wedding | Comment (0)Can You Wear White to Someone Else’s Wedding?
The reason to avoid wearing white as a wedding guest is that the color is reserved for the bride. It is the job of guests at weddings to be dressed appropriately and festively, but not to upstage the bride. Wearing white can definitely fall into the category of drawing attention from the bride, even if it is completely unintentional. This is particularly true if you wear some sort of a white dress with pearl wedding jewelry. Unless you are actually wearing a wedding gown, no one is going to mistake you for the bride, yet it would still be pushing the edge of good taste. While the bride might not be uptight about such old-fashioned rules, the chances are that her grandmother will be, and why do something that is likely to offend?
For a summer wedding, it is true that many of the prettier dresses in the stores may be white (more so some years than others), but there are so many other colors out there in the world that one can surely find a safer alternative. Another option is to wear a dress with a white background which has a colorful print on it, such as blue and pink flowers. Few would find fault with that; even those who interpret traditional wedding etiquette strictly will understand that a patterned dress with a little white in the background is in no way an attempt to upstage the bride. The one exception, by the way, to wearing white attire to a wedding is the naval officer’s summer dress white attire.
These days, black has become fairly accepted for wedding guest attire in many social circles (especially around the big cities). That said, there will still be those who find it inappropriate for a wedding, and it should be avoided by the mothers of the bride and groom due to the old meaning that black meant disapproval of the match. For the other guests, while you probably can get away with wearing black, especially for an evening wedding, it is still not the best color choice. Why? Because black is rather somber and dark for an occasion as festive as a wedding. Even if it is not strictly taboo, it is still nicer to wear a color other than black.
This brings us to the other old belief, that red is inappropriate for a wedding guest. The simple reason for the ban on red is that it is bright and flashy. While no one will think you are trying to look like a bride (white) or show disapproval (black), they might well think that you are trying to upstage the bride by wearing such a bright color. That said, red can definitely be worn in a manner that is completely appropriate for a wedding. The key when wearing a bold color is to select a dress with a very classic design. When dressing for a wedding, let your good taste and good judgment be your guide to sartorial success.
Filed under pearl bridal jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Wedding Planning | Tags: pearl wedding jewelry, wearing white to a wedding, wedding etiquette, wedding guest attire | Comment (0)What to Wear to a November Wedding
November is not one of the more common months for weddings, and if you have been invited to one, you may find yourself wondering what on earth to wear. Dressing for a November wedding can be a little bit tricky, as the weather will be wintery, but the festive holiday season has not yet begun. From colors to fabrics to styles, this is what to wear to a November wedding.
One question that many guests have is, “Can I wear velvet in November?”. To some extent, this is a personal preference, but a good rule of thumb is that velvet is best reserved for the time between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. There is some flexibility to that; if you were attending a formal wedding the weekend before Thanksgiving, no one would give it a second thought if you wore a velvet dress. If the wedding is in the beginning of November, head to toe velvet would be a bit much. You could, however, get away with a pretty velvet jacket and a silk skirt. A style with a wide portrait neckline is a gorgeous way to show off your favorite wedding jewelry.
If you are invited to a casual November wedding, think cozy and luxe for your outfit. Beautiful fabrics with great texture are the way to go. Informal pieces with special details work very well, such as a cardigan with a beaded neckline. A cashmere cable knit sweater worn with a brown suede skirt and high heeled boots would be perfect. Add some pretty jewelry, like a Tiffany-inspired silver bracelet or a large pair of pearl studs.
Heavy silks like shantung, satin, and dupioni are always beautiful for a late fall wedding. The shimmer of satin makes it best suited to evening weddings, or to use as a trim (such as a satin color on a dress made from a matte fabric). For an afternoon wedding ceremony, a silk dupioni sheath with matching tailored jacket would be stunning. With all of the early holiday styles coming into the shops, finding the perfect outfit to wear to a November wedding may be easier than you think.
Filed under Uncategorized, Wedding Jewelry | Tags: November wedding attire, Tiffany silver bracelet, wedding guest attire, Wedding Jewelry | Comment (0)Chic Attire For Wedding Guests
The perfect outfit for a wedding guest is both in fashion and yet timeless. Those pictures will be around forever, so you do not want to wear anything that will look hopelessly dated in a couple of years. Naturally, you will also want your outfit to fit the style and location of the wedding. Last but not least, you want to look absolutely fantastic without drawing attention from the bride.
There are plenty of great styles available that will help you to achieve all of these goals. Many of the looks that are coming out for this spring and summer are actually updated versions of styles that have been popular in past years, which makes them feel less risky and more worthy of splurging on. Some of the key styles include modified safari (like a stylish “Out of Africa” inspired blouse), beaded tops, and lots of great jewelry.
Many women prefer to wear a dress to a wedding, although if it is not too formal, you can also get away with separates, which will make the pieces more versatile in the future. This is especially nice if you have been invited to several weddings this year. You can use the same base piece, say a great metallic linen skirt, and change the look with different tops and wedding jewelry. Pair the subtle metallic skirt with a blouse in a hot color like coral for your niece’s afternoon wedding in a garden, and wear a heavily embellished top with the skirt for your cousin’s wedding at the country club. Perfect!
If you have been invited to a beach wedding, you will find that there are many terrific options available to you beyond the basic sundress. Long maxi dresses, done in bright colors with tiered skirts, are being seen in the shops this season. The look is not hippie grungy, but rather 70s bohemian luxe. Finish it off with a dramatic wide brim hat for both style and sun protection, and you will be the most chic guest at the wedding.
