What to Wear to Weddings
Guess what time of year it is?! WEDDING SEASON!!! I typed that in all caps not because I’m excited, but because that sh*t can get seriously overwhelming. What do I wear? What colors are okay? Is it acceptable to wear pants? Will everyone notice that I’ve worn the same heels to every wedding I’ve been to this year? *gasps for air* I need to catch my breath, but who’s got time for that when they’re focused on catching the bouquet? Okay, pause. Before we continue on any further, we need to make things very clear. I am NOT at all interested in catching anyone’s bouquet any time soon. I mean, who would I even marry? My bed? Ooooo now that actually sounds kind of nice.
Let’s get back to the facts. Wedding season expects so much from us wedding goers, especially if you’re one of those lucky enough to get included in the wedding party. But for those of us that aren’t, we don’t have the luxury (or horror) of somebody else picking out our head to toe look for us. That means, SHOPPING!!!! Obviously, one of my favorite things. I’m all about some shopping, even more so for the spring season, but sometimes it’s difficult figuring out just what to wear to the next wedding on your calendar. Have no fear! I’ve broken it all down for you, so you don’t have to stress about it. Just follow my basic tips below, and shopping for wedding attire will be a breeze!
1. Revolve, 2. Mango, 3. Urban Outfitters
1. Color
Let’s take a hot sec to talk about acceptable colors. I don’t think I need to mention this, but just to clear the air do NOT wear white. Do NOT wear Ivory. Do NOT wearing anything that even looks like it could be a shade of white. Unless otherwise stated on the invitation (black & white only), don’t be like Jane Fonda in Monster in Law. Let the bride be the center of attention. I mean, it is her day anyway. On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, I think it is totally okay to wear black to a wedding. It depends a little bit on the season and timing of the wedding. I don’t know if I would really suggest wearing black to a Spring wedding in the middle of the day, but as long as you don’t look like you’re attending a funeral, black is okay. Aside from white, there are a few other colors that you should probs stay away from. If you find a dress that is any shade of the highlighter variety, please do the bride a favor, and put it back on the rack. Traffic cone orange might look phenomenal on you, but chances are everyone will be looking at you instead of the bride. On any other day, I would totally say go for it. I am all about self love and wanting to stand out, but someone else’s wedding is not the time to bring out your inner Sasha Fierce. Try soft, seasonal, classic colors and neutrals. You will look fab next to anyone!
1. Aritzia, 2. & Other Stories, 3. ASOS
2. Prints
Okay, so I’m totally anal and a perfectionist, and I absolutely will not allow anyone to wear prints to my wedding. Yes, I know that I’m psychotic, but I’m not trying to have cluster f*ck wedding pictures. In my opinion, it’s best to stick with solids, BUT if you are going to wear a print, go for the smaller, micro prints. Large, geometric prints stand out quite a bit. Florals are usually acceptable, especially during Spring weddings. If you’re not sure about wearing prints now that I’ve scared you, try going for solids with embroidery or pattern details. I wore this super cute navy dress to a wedding last summer, and even though it has floral details, it is monochromatic, so it is a bit more subtle.
1. ASOS, 2. Bershka, 3. & Other Stories, 4. Aritzia
3. Length
Remember that old middle school rule that your dresses and skirts had to be fingertip length? Yeah, I know we thought that was a stupid rule at the time, but it’s probably a good one to follow for weddings. The ONLY exception is for rompers because honestly, what romper could you find that is fingertip length and cute? My guess is like basically none. The idea here is to keep your sexiness under control. It is totally okay to look sexy. You can even wear bodycon dresses and other tight fitting styles (as long as they’re actually your size), but come on ladies. It is NOT cute when your bootay is hanging out the bottom of your clothing. It’s equally unattractive when you have to pull your dresses and skirts down every three steps you take. A cool trick to showing skin in a sexy way is by picking a dress with an open back, cut outs, or a slit. Just be aware of the decisions you are making when dressing yourself, and remember that the sexiest thing a woman can wear is confidence.
4. Pants
It’s a common misconception that you have to wear a dress to a wedding. Not all of us love wearing dresses, and that’s okay. There are some pretty cool pant options out there that might strike your excitement. The most obvious option is the jumpsuit look. I love me a good jumpsuit. They show that you have an elevated taste in clothing, and that you aren’t afraid to stand out. The only bad thing about wearing jumpsuits (and rompers for that matter) is that after hitting up the open bar a couple times, using the bathroom can get a little tricky. Make sure you pick a jumpsuit that suits your drinking habits, and isn’t too hard to get in and out of, and no, not for the reasons you’re thinking (but hey, that doesn’t hurt either). Another great pant look is separates. I am a HUGE fan of separates. It’s all about price per wear people!!! If you have separates, you can wear them a million different ways. You can either wear coordinating separates or just two individual, special pieces. Don’t be afraid to try something new and go for separates. I promise you will stand out in a good way. Your look will be elevated to the max.
Pro Tip:
Okay, so obviously, price per wear is a term I use a lot, and feel really strongly about. If you’re thinking, “Zoey, what the hell are you talking about?” Price per wear is basically determining the value of an item by dividing the price by the number of times you wear or plan to wear something. If you can wear it more often, the price per wear is lower, and has a much higher value as something you should purchase. A good rule of thumb is to only buy something if you can think of at least 3 different ways to wear it. Yes, there are exceptions and special occasions in which you should just throw that rule completely out the window. Somebody else’s wedding, is not the special occasion I’m talking about, unless you happen to be in the wedding party. Then don’t listen to me. In order to get the best out of your wedding attire, try to pick items that you know you’ll wear again. Score extra points if you can wear them to more than one wedding without anyone noticing.
Now that I've done all the work for you, shopping for the next wedding on your calendar should be a breeze. I challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and go for a style that you wouldn't normally pick. Why not have a little fun with it?
And while you enjoy all those lovey dovey, romantic vows and loads of totally adorbs wedding moments, I'll be enjoying my life as a single pringle cuddled up in my bed watching Netflix. Speaking of Netflix, what should I watch next?
xoxo,
Zoey Leigh