What Should You Wear to a Wedding?

Quck answer

When attending a wedding, it is important to dress appropriately for the occasion. The attire can vary depending on the type of wedding and the dress code specified by the couple. Generally, for a formal wedding, women should opt for a cocktail dress or a formal gown, while men should wear a suit or a tuxedo. For a semi-formal wedding, a dress or a skirt and blouse for women, and a suit or dress pants with a shirt and tie for men are suitable. Casual weddings allow for more relaxed attire, such as a sundress for women and slacks with a dress shirt for men. It is always best to check the invitation or consult the couple for any specific dress code instructions.


Have you ever attended a wedding ceremony? If yes, then you are probably aware of the various special traditions associated with weddings. Many of these traditions relate to the attire worn by people at weddings.

As a guest, you are expected to dress formally. If you are a girl, you might have worn a special dress, and if you are a boy, you might have even had to wear a tie! However, even in your formal attire, you were most likely not as elegantly dressed as the bride and groom.

Brides usually wear special dresses known as wedding gowns. Many brides spend hours and a significant amount of money to purchase a unique wedding gown that they will cherish forever. Some brides even have their wedding gowns custom-designed.

On the other hand, grooms typically wear special suits called tuxedos. These suits are more formal than regular suits and can be quite expensive to buy. As a result, most grooms choose to rent tuxedos and return them after the wedding.

While most wedding gowns are white, not all of them conform to this tradition. White is the traditional color for wedding gowns, but throughout history, wedding gowns have been available in various colors. However, after Queen Victoria’s wedding in 1840, white became the most popular and traditional color for wedding gowns, as brides desired to have a wedding similar to Queen Victoria’s.

Of course, wedding dress traditions differ across countries and time periods. For example, frontier women in America often wore regular dresses that could be worn again after the wedding. However, over time, the norm shifted towards special wedding dresses that were intended to be worn once and then preserved or passed down to a daughter, friend, or relative.

While white wedding gowns are popular in the western world, many brides in the eastern world, including countries like China, India, and Vietnam, often wear red. Japanese brides may wear multiple dresses during a wedding ceremony, starting with a white dress and eventually changing into a red dress. This symbolizes the end of her old family and the beginning of her new family with her husband!

Give It a Try

We encourage you to engage in one or more of the following activities with a friend or family member:

Which dresses do you prefer? Why? What type of dress would you like to wear, or see your future spouse wear, on your wedding day?

  • Do you enjoy looking at wedding dresses and envisioning your future walk down the aisle? If you are a girl, you might. Boys may not daydream about wedding dresses, and that’s perfectly alright. Wedding dresses can be appreciated by anyone who recognizes that clothing can be a form of art. Grab a friend or family member and explore the following online wedding dress photo galleries:
    • Wedding Dress Photos
    • Wedding Dresses
    • Designer Wedding Gowns

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