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What to Wear to a Wedding: Guest Attire Basics & Suggestions



Above are our favorite female and male guest outfits for a February wedding. 
Female (Left to right): a fun tulle tutu paired with metallic heels and clutch perfect for casual to semi-formal events; A great solid colored dress with a flattering cut paired with substantial standout jewelry pieces and metallic heels is great for semi-formal events; A soft and feminine, fun and flirty, but not over-the-top outfit for formal events. 
Male (Left to right): a nice sports coat in a bold color paired with a pattered button up shirt is fabulous for casual affairs; A well-fitted dress shirt and tie is truly a key piece in any man's wardrobe, A formal suit in black is great and versatile for any formal event, invest some money in a quality suit and you'll always have something to wear when the occasion arises.


Whether you like weddings or you dread them (hopefully not your own!) nobody wants to be the worst dressed guest. Feeling out of place or dressed inappropriately is embarrassing. In order to avoid this, here are a few tips:

Pay attention to the invitation
Formal invitations where the bride and groom’s parents “request your attendance” are an indication that the event is definitely not a casual affair. If the invitations are professionally printed and look expensive, this is another clue to go to the more elegant side of your closet. Check the invitation for any notes about attire and look up the wedding and reception location. An finally, if you notice any color theme on the invite, it can be fun to pick out an outfit with those colors in mind (for those of us who love to try on our whole closet, this may help you narrow down your options. ;)

Use discretion and exercise caution
If you truly hate going to weddings, remember the loved one who invited you and what a special and enormous occasion this is for her/him. You can survive one evening in a dress or suit out of love and respect.
For all the fashionistas out there: if you must be bold, do it right and stand out in a good way. Choose either a single bold color or an all-over pattern. Go daring with your jewelry, shoes, and/or accessories. Try a fun textured clutch or wrap. And, as all great fashionistas know, wear something that makes you look and feel confident, compliments your figure, and doesn’t upstage the bride (Hint: if you could be mistaken for the bride or could cause eyes to stray as she walks down the aisle, don’t wear it!).

The givens
Ladies: Do not wear tube tops, strapless dresses, skin tight all over anything, or too short dresses! No matter how curvy or skinny or in shape or proud of your body you are, short and tight is not appropriate wedding attire.    
Men: Please do not wear sandals; wear socks with your dress shoes, and never a T-shirt. A sports coat paired with clean, ironed trousers is always nice for more casual events; and a well-fitted suit and tie/bowtie for more formal events is a must.


Have fun wedding revelers! Love, VW.

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