Afternoon Wedding Attire

It's your friend's wedding next week and you are obsessing about what to wear, especially since the wedding is to be held in the afternoon. Choosing the perfect wedding attire can be quite a painful process especially, when you are not sure whether it is a full-blown black tie affair or casual backyard wedding party.

Despite knowing the fact that almost everyone would be looking at the newlyweds, guests tend to obsess over the clothes that they have to wear.

Dressing for an afternoon wedding requires taking into consideration the time of the day and the possibility that it may be an outdoor ceremony. An attire that is dressy and too constricting or layered may stand out and look quite odd at an afternoon wedding.

Alternately, anything too casual like denims and tees would look quite strange for a formal ceremony as well. The important thing is to strike the right balance and make the right choice.

So, for all those confused people who got invited to a friend's wedding and do not know what fashion choices to make, here are some tips on choosing the perfect attire for guests, for an afternoon wedding.

The choice of your attire for the wedding is based on whether the ceremony is held in early afternoon or later in the day, and the place where it is to be held. While late afternoon ceremonies easily flow into evenings which require you to show up in a dressy attire, the early ones should include daytime dresses.

Light, brightly colored sun dresses look perfect for the occasion especially, if the wedding is being held in the warm summer months. You can also consider opting for light colored suit or a skirt. Stick to nice floral and earthy colors than the garish reds and blacks suited for evening parties.

If it is an outdoor setting, then avoid wearing heels that can sink into the grass or sand. Instead, stick to peep toe flats with your peppy afternoon wear. If you are wearing a strapless dress then make sure that you carry a wrap or cardigan to cover the shoulders during the ceremony.

The jewelry should be modest and fashionable. Huge chunky necklaces may look a little over the top. The makeup should also be natural and fresh so stick to coral, light pink and nude shades of lipsticks. Do not forget a small fashionable clutch to keep your essentials like the mobile phone, a lip gloss, some cash and your compact.

If the wedding ceremony is to be held in late afternoon then you might consider donning a fancy cocktail dress or even a suit. Although black is now an acceptable color for wedding attire, it is best not to opt for sequins or a strapless dress. Instead, choose a dress with simple lines that not only look fashionable but also appropriate for the wedding.

A colorful scarf or a nice jacket can add a touch of glamor to your dress. Add accessories like sparkly earrings and bracelets for the evening party. For a formal wedding the makeup can include a jewel toned eyeshadow and darker lipsticks.

~ Please do not wear white, cream or ivory. These are the colors for the bride and even if she chooses to wear a purple wedding gown, it is not appropriate for the guests to be dressed in white.

~ Do not wear jeans or shorts especially not ones which are torn, stained or with holes.

~ Avoid sequins and skin-baring clothes.

~ Do not go overboard with accessories.

Men can come dressed up for afternoon weddings in khaki and linen pants and nice button down shirts. If the weather is somewhat cooler then you can add sports jackets to the wedding attire. Fitted light gray pants with textured gray jacket and a nice sport shirt would look very good.

Choose colors that are light and fresh and light-weight fabrics that do not make you sweat a lot in the afternoon sun. Bright blues, greens and other pastel shades are your best option when selecting the attire. If the reception is outdoors then you can forgo the tie. However, for a church or indoor wedding, you need to wear a jacket and a tie.

If you are getting children along then have the little girls dress up in cute flowery dresses and the boys in a nice shirt and slacks. If the children are the ring bearer or the flower girl, then the attire would include dresses for girls and suits for the boys. Make sure that the dresses of the kids are comfortable and the footwear is appropriately suited for the venue.

If you are still undecided about the afternoon wedding attire for the occasion, you might want to take some hints from the formality of the invitation card or the ceremony location like a church or an exclusive club. What is more it is important to avoid undue stress, and have fun when dressing up for the wedding.