Contents
How to Announce Your Engagement
How to Envision Your Wedding
How to Pay for Your Wedding
How to Choose and Hire Vendors
How to Choose Wedding Venues
Food and Drink
Wedding Invitations and Stationery
How to Plan the Ceremony
How to Plan Your Wedding Reception
Wedding Photography
Wedding Attire
Other Wedding Events
Wedding Gifts
Wedding Logistics
Wedding Planning Checklist
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Wedding Attire
The bride and groom typically choose clothing for themselves and the attendants and also determine the wedding’s overall dress code.
Dress Codes
You can specify the dress code for your wedding on the invitation. Common wedding dress codes, listed in order of most formal to least formal, include:
White Tie
- Women should wear: Long, formal evening gown (gloves, if worn, should be taken off during dinner)
- Men should wear: Black tailcoat and black pants, white wing-collar shirt, white piqué (a type of woven fabric) vest, white piqué bow tie, white or gray gloves, black patent leather shoes, and black socks
Black Tie
- Women should wear: Long, formal gown or short cocktail dress
- Men should wear: Black tuxedo with white shirt, black bow tie, black cummerbund or waistcoat, black patent leather shoes, and black socks
Black Tie Optional
- Women should wear: Long, formal gown, short cocktail dress, or separates
- Men should wear: Black tie or a dark suit
Semiformal
- Women should wear: Short cocktail dress or dressy long skirt and top
- Men should wear: Dark suit with white shirt, tie, dressy leather shoes, and dark socks
If you don’t specify a dress code, most people will wear semiformal dress.
The Bride’s Attire
- Dress: It can take weeks or months to find a dress and get the fit just right. Start shopping as early as a year before your wedding.
- Headpiece and veil: The more ornate the dress, the plainer the veil and headpiece should be.
- Jewelry: Jewelry should complement the bride’s attire without being showy. Family heirlooms are often worn.
- Hair and makeup: Schedule a practice session with a professional stylist so you’re confident you’ll get the look you want on your wedding day.
- Nails: Schedule an appointment to have your nails done the day before the wedding.
- Shoes: Make sure the shoes you buy are comfortable and are the right height for your dress.
- Undergarments: Test your lingerie and hosiery ahead of time to be sure they do their job and don’t show.
The Groom’s Attire
- Suit or tuxedo: The suit or tuxedo should be bought and tailored at least three months before the wedding.
- Shirt and cufflinks: Buy your shirt when you get your suit. If it has French cuffs, be sure to buy cufflinks.
- Shoes: Your shoes should match the formality of your outfit. Polish your shoes the day before the wedding.
- Tie: A white tie will set you apart from the guests.
- Cummerbund or vest: Choose one or the other to wear with a tuxedo, but never both. Vests are generally considered more formal.
The Attendants’ Attire
The bride and groom may choose exactly what clothes attendants will wear or simply provide general guidelines about color. Attendants typically pay for their own attire.
Female Attendants’ Attire
Consult with your maid/matron of honor and bridesmaids before picking their dresses, and follow these guidelines:
- Don’t choose very expensive dresses.
- Specify your preference regarding shoes, hosiery, jewelry, hair, and makeup.
- Be considerate of your attendants’ body types.
If you’re picking out the dresses for your attendants, consider these options:
- Everyone wears the same dress (the traditional choice).
- Maid/matron of honor wears a dress that differs from the other attendants’ dresses.
- Everyone wears different dresses of the same fabric.
- Everyone wears the same dress in different colors.
Male Attendants’ Attire
- Decide whether you want the groomsmen and ushers to wear tuxedos or suits.
- If you choose tuxedos, specify a tuxedo rental shop that the groomsmen and ushers should use.
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