Dress Week: the etiquette of weddings and wedding attire

Another beautiful Kelly Beane photo of my lovely dress!

The Etiquette of Weddings and Wedding Attire:

 Informal:

• Location– chapel or home
• Time of day – any time of day
• Reception – any type
• Number of guests – few, intimate
• Groom attire – three piece suit
• Bridal gown –
• $ (dress can be worn on other occasions at a later date)       
• street or tea length       
• any color, but black
• Veil – may or may not wear veil

Semi-formal:

• Location – church or home
• Time of day – any time of day
• Reception – hors d’oeuvres
• Number of guest - 100 or less
• Groom attire – dinner jacket for evening or three-piece suit for afternoon
• Bridal gown –
• $-$$ 
• Floor (or less) length without train or sweep length train
• White or pastel
• Veil – no longer than hip length

Formal:

• Location – church
• Time of day – any time of day
• Reception – buffet type meal
• Number of guest - 50 or more
• Groom attire – tux, classic cut away
• Bridal gown –
• $$$
• Floor length dress with sweep or chapel length train      
• White, or in today’s times eggshell or pastels
• Veil – short or long

Ultra formal:

• Location – church
• Time of day – afternoon or evening
• Reception – sit down dinner
• Number of guest - 50 to 500 guests
• Groom attire – coat with tails
• Bridal gown – (as shown above)
• $$$$
• Floor length dress with cathedral length train     
• White, or in today’s times eggshell or pastels
• Veil – long
• May wear long sleeves or gloves

• Groomsmen attire should be similar, but not identical to groom. Groomsmen assume rental fees for tux/suit.
• Bridesmaid’s attire should match formality. Any color but white. Bridesmaids assume cost for their dress. Brides should consider cost and ability to repeat wear. *A good idea for the bride is to select about five dress options and let bridesmaids vote or choose any of the five options.
• Flower girl(s) attire should match formality, may resemble bride or bridesmaid’s dresses (same or similar fabric). Parents or guardians of flower girls typically assume dress cost.
• Ring bearer’s attire should be a miniature version of the groomsmen or best suit. Parents or guardians of ring bearer typically assume suit/tux cost or rental fee.
• Mother of the bride and mother of the groom’s attire should match formality in length and style and be age appropriate, but flattering. Each mother’s dress should be individual. Mother of the bride chooses dress first.
• Father of the bride and father of the groom’s attire should be similar to groomsmen or formal suits.  

Bride and Groom Expenses:

• Typically, grooms assume the cost of the bride’s engagement and wedding ring, the bouquets, boutonnieres, both mom’s corsages, groomsmen’s gifts, gift for the bride and the honeymoon.
• Typically, bride and/or brides family is responsible for EVERYTHING ELSE!

1. Sweep: Classified by the train length extending 3-12 inches
2. Chapel: Classified by the train length extending up to 24 inches
3. Cathedral: Classified by the train length extending more than 24 inches (my dress, in the top picture, is an example of cathedral length)

I hope this weeks' post have been informative and helpful. Best of luck to all you brides!