Tips on What to Wear As a Wedding Guest

So you've been invited to a friend or relative's wedding but have no idea what to wear? This is a common concern as people worry about striking the balance between formal and comfortable. Your outfit needs to be in an appropriate colour, not too tight and not too loose so you can enjoy the evening meal and dance the night away. It can also depend on the venue as some will demand more formal attire than others. What's also important is that you stand out yet don't steal the spotlight from the bride and groom. Therefore there are lots of tips you can keep in mind when selecting your ultimate wedding outfit.

Men

Though for women it's not advisable to wear black to a wedding, for men it is acceptable as most suits come in the classic colour. If you do choose to wear black, be sure to select a light fabric in a modern cut and avoid business suit territory. To brighten up the outfit, wear a block-coloured shirt in a tone that suits your complexion. Don't overdo it on the brightness, but rather choose pastel or dark colour hues. Accessorise with a bow tie in a darker or lighter tone of the same colour for a creative appearance. If you're daring enough, choose to wear socks of the same colour as well. You can also jazz up the outfit with a scarf or handkerchief peeking out of your jacket's front chest pocket.

If you've decided to invest in something new for the wedding, opt for a lighter suit instead of black. Why not try grey? Alternatively, you can mix and match blazers and trousers. A great colour that suits most skin tones is moss or dark green. Wear it in a blazer with black trousers for a modern look that will get you all the right attention.

Women

Women can really have fun with wedding outfits. You can not only get away with wearing bright colours, but also patterns and what could, in other situations, get deemed crazy hats.

A thing to avoid is floor length ball gowns. These should be left for the bride and bridesmaids to shine in. Instead, choose knee-length or over-the-knee gowns as shorter cuts could be inappropriate in many venues and could cause offence to elderly guests.

Experiment with colours to see what you can get away with. Pastels and brights are all ok but avoid neon tones as these are too informal for a special event. In terms of patterns, florals, stripes and polka dots are all ok, but avoid animal prints and psychedelic patterns that are appropriate for clubbing but not a formal occasion.

Shoes should be classic and not feature heavy buckles and other metallic elements. Instead, choose more feminine styles with bow detailing and pretty prints. Remember you're likely to spend a lot of time on your feet so you might want to consider either flats or shoes on a low heel. Whatever you wear, make sure it's not the first time you've worn the shoes.

Accessorise liberally but make sure your jewellery suits the outfit you've selected and doesn't clash with the print of your dress. Don't overdo it on the jewellery if you're also planning to wear a hat.

Most shops specialising in womens clothing will have a selection of dresses, skirt and blouse combos and accessories suitable to wear for weddings. If in doubt, ask for the sales staff to give their opinion.