What to Wear

What to Wear?

As a Wedding Officiant, my choices for attire are pretty simple.  I have a white, satin robe, a black suit, or a number of dresses in various colors to blend with the colors of the wedding party.  For the bride and groom, this choice may be a little more difficult.

Let’s start with the groom, because he is less likely to concern himself with appearances.  Most modern grooms take into consideration the colors he and the bride have selected, the venue and what is special about it, and his personal comfort, as well as the comfort of the groomsmen.  While black tuxedos are standard fair at church or formal weddings, generally speaking, wearing a vest in the color of the couple’s choosing, while maintaining the formality of the black tux can add personality to the clothing choice.

For less formal events or weddings on a budget, a sport suit suffices.  It is almost always the case, however, that the groomsmen and the groom match their clothing as much as possible.  Khakis and a sport shirt are nice for outdoor, summer weddings, and at the beach, cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt add flair.  Once again, it is the preference of the couple, but this can be based on preference, personality and budget.

Theme weddings, which are gaining in popularity and expense, call for different styles of attire, many of the details of which can be purchased at stores like Great Party.  Halloween costume stores or Vintage/Antique/Thrift stores can be excellent sources for theme clothing, but you may have to do a great deal of shopping around as sizes tend to be limited.  These weddings take a little extra work, but they are charming and promote the couple’s personality in a lovely way.  Some themes that couples enjoy are Hollywood, Flower Gardening, Steam Punk, Gay 90’s, Sports, Boating, Cowboy/Western, Motorcycling, etc.  Just about anything that is a big part of your life can be transformed into a theme for a one-of-a-kind wedding.

The bride’s attire is considered the centerpiece of the wedding ceremony, and often, her dress is one of the greatest expenses as her taste, figure, and dreams find expression in this one symbol.  Choices involve white or not; pearls, lace, sequins, rhinestones, or plain; fitted, gathered, ball gown, sweetheart, princess, etc.  Needless to say, the choices are endless, and prices can go anywhere from $500 to $5000.  Certainly, budget plays a part here, but if one is looking forward to an heirloom gown, mother’s may not fit.  Once again, shopping the Vintage circuit, whether it is antique stores, thrift stores, eBay, Etsy, or other online sources, you can find a dress to make your day special. Of course, there are other options for the ladies, just as there are for the gentlemen.  Poodle skirts for a 50’s theme are cute, bathing attire for the beach, ethnic costumes, etc. 

Anything goes in today’s wedding.  It should reflect your personality, the things that are important in your life and the feelings you wish to share and convey at this special time.