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Wedding Attire
Choosing your wedding party
attire is a very important and time consuming process for several
reasons. First, you must consider the time of day and style of your
wedding in selecting the most appropriate designs. Second, you
must plan ahead to allow time for ordering and fitting. Third,
wedding attire is often quite expensive so you'll want to shop wisely.
And finally, selecting clothing for others to wear requires
careful thought and understanding about taste levels, budgets, and
figure concerns. Follow these guidelines when making your
decisions.
Your Wedding Gown
Because every bride wants to feel
like a princess on her big day, one of the most important decisions
she will make is what dress to wear. While choices were once
limited to white ball gowns, that is no longer the case. Today,
many dresses are available in everything from ivory to red, pink to
peach , and of course, classic white. Styles have changed too,
so that you may select a gown that's romantic, sophisticated, even
downright sexy.
Since the bride's dress sets the tone for the entire wedding party,
you will want to select your own attire first. Most wedding
gowns are custom-made and take up to 3 months for delivery, plus extra
time for alterations, so it's wise to start looking for a dress 6 to 9
months before your wedding.
Take a few weeks just to visit different bridal salons and department
stores in your area. This is sure to give you a better idea of
the styles, fabrics, and range of costs available to you. If you
love an old gown your mother or grandmother wore o her wedding
day (and it can be altered to fit), by all means wear it. If you
are borrowing a dress, have it cleaned before you return it and
perhaps give the donor a gift for her thoughtfulness.
Keep in mind the season of your wedding: Though many fabrics may be
worn year-round, some are heavier than others. Cotton, chiffon and
organza are light and flowing - perfect for the warmer summer months.
Brocade and velvet are lovely for winter weddings, and satin can be
worn for all seasons.
Bridesmaids' Dresses
To some degree, your bridesmaids'
dresses should be similar in style and formality to your own. If
you're wearing a very formal gown with a cathedral-length train, your
bridesmaids might be in floor-length gowns accessorized with
headpieces and gloves. If you've chosen a simpler floor-length
dress, your attendants could wear cocktail suits or tea-length floral
prints. Consider maids' dresses with a skirt style, sleeve, or
neckline that echoes your own for a coordinated look. Keep in
mind that all dresses need not be an exact match. You may choose
a complementary but unique look for your maid of honor, or have all
the bridesmaids wear a different style in the same color or fabric.
A "rainbow" wedding, in which the attendants wear the same
dress in different colors, is another popular choice.
While you might want a few of your bridesmaids' opinions about what
kind of dress they prefer, you would be wise to do your shopping with
just the maid of honor. Try to choose a color and style that
will look as attractive as possible on everyone and might even be worn
again for another occasion. When making a selection, look
carefully at the backs of all the dresses as they will be facing the
guests throughout the ceremony. Once you have made your
decision, you can arrange a time for the bridesmaids to go for
measurements and ordering. You may also ask the bridesmaids for
their shoe size and order the shoes dyed to match all together - which
might save the aggravation of trying to coordinate them later on.
Bridesmaids are responsible for purchasing their gowns, accessories,
and shoes. However, if there is a woman you want as your
attendant that you know cannot afford the costs, you might offer to
purchase the gown (keep this between the two of you however). Another
idea to help defray expenses is to offer to pay the deposit (50% of
the purchase price) on your bridesmaids' gown as their gift from you.
Men's Formal Wear
Usually a lot less fuss than the
bridesmaid dresses, the groom and his groomsmen can simply order their
attire from a formal-wear retailer. To insure a good fit,
however, they should go in to be sized. Shoes may also be rented
for a more uniform look.
If the groom is a member of the military and he wants to wear his
uniform, then he should do so. However, if some of his
attendants are in the military and some are civilians, those in the
military should dress in civilian clothes for a unified effect.
Like the bridesmaids, the groomsmen must pay the fees for their
attire. After the wedding, the groom may ask his best man or one of
the ushers to gather all the renter outfits for their return to the
store.
Mothers of the Bride and
Groom
Traditionally speaking, the mother of
the bride usually chooses her gown first and then calls the
groom's mother to inform her of her choice, describing the dress in
detail. This is done so that both dresses complement one
another. It also presents a more pleasing appearance when the
two women are near one another, as they are likely to be in a
receiving line. However, each mother is entitled to dress in the
style she feels comfortable. There's really no need for the
bride to be concerned, beyond making sure that the dresses don't clash
frightfully.
If there are any stepmothers involved in the wedding, it might be
thoughtful to also give them a call to inform them what the other
mothers are wearing.
Fathers of the Bride and
Groom
Since the bride's father usually
walks her down the aisle, it is important that he dress similarly to
the groomsmen - in most cases that means a matching tuxedo. The
father of the groom may also dress in the more formal attire if
he so chooses. If there is a stepfather involved in the wedding
ceremony, he should be dressed in similar attire to the groom's
attendants. If he will be present but not involved in the
ceremony, he may dress similarly to the guests.
Child Attendants
There is nothing more charming than children dressed up in
their very best. It is an undoubtedly exciting time for them, as
they are finally a part of the "big guys" or "big
girls". The child's clothing should be in a style and color
that coordinates with the bridesmaids' gowns or groomsmen's attire,
but avoid dresses that are too sophisticated for a little girl.
A flower girl looks just beautiful in a full skirt and pouf sleeves,
perhaps with ribbons or bows in her hair. A ring bearer is
adorable in a miniature version of the groomsmen's attire, but
remember that young buoys often dislike getting dressed up and may be
more cooperative without the added burden of a cummerbund or
waistcoat.
Flowers
The best time to start looking into flower arrangements is 3 months
before the wedding. Talk to people you know about finding a good
florist that won't break your budget. Again, choose your bouquet
first, as all the others will reflect its style. Today the
options are plentiful, as almost every variety is available year-round
- for a price, of course. While an all-white bridal bouquet was
once the norm, many brides now choose to carry a more colorful
arrangement. Keep in mind that your bouquet should balance out
your overall look: An ornate bouquet works best with a simple gown, a
quietly classic design will flatter an elaborate dress.
Likewise, a petite woman should not be dwarfed by an overly large
bouquet, and a tall woman should avoid a diminutive arrangement,
which would appear unimpressive.
Bridesmaids usually carry a smaller bouquet similar in style to yours
with ribbons that match their dress color. Something extra can
be added to your maid of honor's bouquet (more flowers, stronger
colors) to make it stand out. Flower girls can carry a basket
full of matching petals. The groom may wear a white carnation or
rose boutonniere (his flower should match one of the varieties in your
bouquet) and his attendants may either wear the same or else one dyed
to match the bridesmaids' gowns.
The mothers of the bride and groom usually receive special corsages,
and the fathers also receive boutonnieres. If there are other
people who mean a great deal to you or your future husband
(grandparents, godparents, aunts). it is a thoughtful gesture to give
them flowers so that they are recognized as someone close to you.
What to Wear When
Daytime Weddings (Before 6P.M.)
| Ultra-Formal |
Bride
Floor-length gown, long train and veil, gloves |
Bridesmaids
Floor-length gowns, headpieces, gloves |
Groom
and Groomsmen
Traditional: A cutaway suit with trousers, wing-collar shirt.
Contemporary: A contoured, long or short tuxedo with trousers,
a wing-collared shirt |
Formal |
Bride
Floor-length gown, long
train and veil, gloves |
Bridesmaids
Floor or tea-length
dresses, gloves (optional) |
Groom and
Groomsmen
Traditional: A stroller, waistcoat and
striped trousers, white shirt, striped tie.
Contemporary: A formal tuxedo, dress shirt, bow tie, and vest
or cummerbund |
Semi-Formal |
Bride
Floor-length or shorter
gown, short veil |
Bridesmaids
Tea-length or shorter
dresses |
Groom and
Groomsmen
Traditional: A formal suit with a
white or striped shirt and four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary: Dinner jacket or suit, shirt, bow tie, and vest
or cummerbund |
Informal |
Bride
Short gown or suit, veil
or hat optional |
Bridesmaids
Short dresses or suits,
similar in style to the bride's |
Groom and
Groomsmen
Traditional: A suit with a white, color
or striped shirt and four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary: Dinner jacket or suit, shirt, bow tie, and vest
or cummerbund |
Evening Weddings (After 6P.M.)
| Ultra-Formal |
Bride
Floor-length gown, long train and veil, gloves |
Bridesmaids
Floor-length gowns, headpieces, gloves |
Groom
and Groomsmen
Traditional: Full dress tailcoat, matching trousers, white
waistcoat, whit cow tie, wing collar shirt
Contemporary: Long or short contoured tuxedo with trousers, a
wing-collared shirt |
Formal |
Bride
Floor-length gown, long
train and veil, gloves |
Bridesmaids
Floor or tea-length
dresses, gloves (optional) |
Groom and
Groomsmen
Traditional: Dark dinner jacket with
matching trousers, dress shirt, bow tie, vest or cummerbund.
Contemporary: A formal tuxedo, dress shirt, bow tie, vest or
cummerbund |
Semi-Formal |
Bride
Floor-length or shorter
gown, short veil |
Bridesmaids
Floor, Tea-length or
shorter dresses |
Groom and
Groomsmen
Traditional: A suit, striped shirt,
four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary: Dinner jacket or formal suit, dress shirt, bow
tie, vest or cummerbund |
Informal |
Bride
Short gown or suit, veil
or hat optional |
Bridesmaids
Short dresses or suits,
similar in style to the bride's |
Groom and
Groomsmen
Traditional: A suit, striped shirt,
four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary: Dinner jacket or formal suit, dress shirt, bow
tie, vest or cummerbund |
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