CHOOSING AN OUTFIT TO WEAR AS A WEDDING GUEST

Every little girl from the moment they realise that they are a different gender from that little boy down the street they play with, starts to harness a dream to one day be a bride to the boy/man of their dreams (sometimes it’s a Knight in Shining Armour)lol.  They plan, plan and plan some more, modifying the way that special day would be as they grow older.  Then that day finally comes and ...oh the realisation of a dream.  We are however not here to dwell on that little girl’s dream.  We are here to discuss the guest that would help her make that day glamorous. 

 

All Weddings are glamorous occasions, full of dreams being actualised or further enhanced. Weddings could be conducted anywhere and at any time of the day. Guests attend weddings for a myriad of reasons ranging from being friends with the bride or groom or just dropping by (mo gbo mo ya), just incase they find a partner of their own on this special day.  There are also those that just come for the food and booze...Lol.  Depending on what reason led you to attend the wedding your outfit could range from formal to informal.  The rules of good outfitting differ for different times of day as well as the level of formality required, though in Nigeria we mostly have day weddings as opposed to evening weddings.

Have you been invited to a wedding but aren’t quite sure what to wear?  Choosing an Outfit to Wear as a Wedding Guest can be a tricky game, and for some a nightmare.  No one wants to go to a wedding looking like a dweeb.  Your choice could range from a simple outfit made by your tailor down the street to a Vivienne Westwood or Giorgio Armani.  I will attempt to give you some guidelines that can help you in choosing that perfect outfit, but first let’s start with 6 tips on how to choose good outfits in general.  Please note that this post only focuses on clothes.  Shoes and accessories would be another discuss.

6 Tips on How to Choose Good Outfits in General

1.             Don’t buy clothes that are too tight or too short. It won’t look nice especially if you don’t have a slim figure. Good clothing often starts with the fit.

2.             Buy clothes that lay emphasis on your best parts and create an illusion of a very fit body no matter your size.

3.             Wear a good bra and underwear when you try these clothes on, be it a dress or a top and skirt. Make sure the item fits very well.

4.             Check the quality of the clothes. Make sure they don’t stretch too much and be sure the material is good quality. Look after your clothes to preserve them longer.  Read the label so you know how to wash, dry and iron them.

5.             Don’t just follow fashion blindly. Choose clothes that will flatter YOUR figure and suit you!  Not all fashionable clothes are meant for everybody, so find clothes that are right for you.

6.             When wearing pants (i.e. trousers), wear a very thin underwear beneath your pants to avoid those embarrassing underwear lumps.

In summary note that every human has the colour or range of colours that matches them best.  Knowing what colour matches your skin type or even eyes is the first step in dressing glamorously...but this is also a discuss for another day...for now, the main event.  The wedding guest outfit.

 Choosing the Wedding Guest Outfit....

The First Rule for choosing an outfit as a wedding guest is “Never, ever, ever get a better outfit than the bride or groom”...lol just messing with you. :) (smiley).  You had better outshine that bride or groom if you are still searching. 

 

Ok...In this part of the world, we have what is called the “ashoebi” which is a uniform fabric bought and shared by the bride for her family and friends to wear, to create a semblance of unity while adding a specific dash of colour to the occasion. This concept in reality saves us the ladies most times from the stress of thinking and figuring out what to wear.  Of course if you are still searching you would want to sew your own ashoebi in an enticing or classier way than the average.  The puzzle of what to wear sets in when there is no ashoebi or you do not qualify as part of the Close User Group (CUG) of the bride or groom to get one. If you fall in this category my dear friend, refer to the first rule above for starters lol. 

5 Eternal Tips for Deciding on that Drop Dead Gorgeous Outfit...

1.             Always always always refer to the 6 tips on how to choose good outfits in general above.

2.             You’ll want to wear a dress, which doesn’t need to be full-length unless it’s a very formal wedding. Just about any colour goes as long as it’s not white, except you want to compete with the bride. This rule may seem outdated but it’s actually just good etiquette to not compete with the bride on her special day...umm in white (p.s. you can compete in other colours you know...hehe!)

3.             Don’t wear sequins during the daytime. Anything sparkly will make you look over dressed.

4.             Please and please wear something feminine and appropriate out of respect for your hosts. Club wear, overtly sexy clothing (extremely short or see through) doesn’t belong at a wedding. Remember this, if you have to ask if it’s appropriate, it probably isn’t.

5.             Use better judgement.  If the invitation doesn’t specify the formality of the event, it makes it easier to shop from lace fabrics to florals and pastels, but please refer to tips No 3 and 4 above.

 

Well that's all folks...for now. 5 eternal tips for deciding on that drop dead gorgeous outfit to wear as a wedding guest.

Oh I forgot our male friends. (Smiley).  Well for our male folks it’s normally easy; dark suit will do for any time of day with a creative long tie or a bow tie.  You can go without a tie if it’s not stated that you must wear one, as long as your suit is well fitted and suave. Then a black tie if the invitation specifies “black tie event”. A tuxedo could be appropriate if you’re the groom’s man and the groom is also in a tux. 

 

Well these are my thoughts on the subject.  I may not be an expert but this has always worked for me.  I am however open to discerning views. What are your thoughts folks? If you are still in difficulty, I could also be of personal assistance if you contact me directly via my email. We could set up a meet either physically or virtually and I would try to advice you appropriately.  I also run a fashion business/personal shopper service.  Not to worry my rates are pretty affordable. Hi Steph ..here it is, well served I hope ;-)....You're still on the Musings of Luch.