With restrictions lifting again in the UK, and weddings that have been rescheduled now looking likely to go ahead, knowing what to wear to a wedding will be important this summer! What to wear falls under three basic principles that apply across the board no matter what wedding you will be attending. Understanding these principles will serve you well and allow you to enjoy the day rather than worry about whether or not your wardrobe is appropriate.
Know the wedding dress code
Knowing the dress code for the event is the first step in knowing what you should wear. More than likely this information will be furnished within the wedding invitation and indicate either formal, semi formal or casual. If this information is not made available then feel free to ask a member of the bridal party or someone connected with the wedding planning.
For a formal wedding a formal dress suit is ideal though in today's day and age a dark suit is also acceptable. Essentially choose whichever garment you already own, and if you own neither rent a dress suit.
If the wedding is Semi Formal then you should either wear a suit or a sport coat. There is no real ideal here, and either is appropriate; so choose whichever garment you are more comfortable in and looks the best.
For a casual wedding either a sport coat or button down collared formal shirt would be equally appropriate. Again there is no right or wrong choice here and it all depends on the venue and any indication you have been given from someone who is planning the event. If you are unsure, wearing a sport coat is always the safer bet as it is far better to be slightly overdressed than woefully underdressed for this type of occasion.
As with any dress event you're going to want to accessorize to a level that matches your outfit. Cufflinks are only appropriate with formal attire and may look inappropriate when worn with a sport coat. Similarly, make sure you are wearing the right type of shoe to match your outfit.
Know the wedding venue
Knowing the wedding venue will help you make a more informed decision about what type of clothing will be appropriate. For instance if the reception is being held in a ballroom yet the invitation indicates semi formal attire you should probably make the assumption that the wedding couple are being polite and not requiring that everyone rent a dress suit; however, a dress suit is definitely appropriate for a ballroom venue.
If you are attending a semi formal outdoor wedding and are not sure whether you should go with a sport coat or suit it is safe to assume that a lower tier of formality is appropriate and wear a sport coat. Additionally for outdoor events it is safe to break the tradition of wearing dark coloured sport coats; and instead choose a jacket made out of a lighter material such as, cream or khaki coloured cotton which teams nicely with a crisply pressed pair of chinos or khaki coloured gabardine trousers.
Know your partners outfit
Lastly you'll want to take into consideration what your partner will be wearing to the wedding. It is important that both of you dress to the same level of formality. Few things look as in appropriate as when someone's partner shows up in a tailored evening gown or suit and their partner is wearing a polo shirt!
It is not necessary that you match the colours of each other's outfits (which in fact can be considered quite tasteless) however, it is good to have the colours complement each other.
Take a look at our ready to wear jackets, and ready to wear shirts and accessories if you have a few weddings coming up.