to wear this to a family wedding?

[JaneS]

I have a wedding to go to tomorrow. I'm pretty sure they expect me to wear a nice dress (Coast-style, you know the sort of thing). But I've nothing that fits in the cupboard and I've trawled round town without any success.

We've been told to wear clothes that are warm enough so we can pose for outdoor photographs (but no coats for that).

Would it be unreasonable or rude to wear a smart black pencil skirt (it's heavy satin, it's reasonably dressy) and a pretty cardigan? I just can't think of much else but don't know if that would look rude.

Btw, I'm 25 and one of the 'youngies' so I don't know if I really should be in a dress.

Sorry, really trivial question but you know how these things can nag at you!

Sounds perfect to me

Thanks both. cat64 - they did say hats weren't necessary on the invitation. So I guess I'm ok! Whew ...

Does it look officey?

Someone came to our wedding dressed in a blue floaty skirt and a white blouse and I have to admit I was a bit as they looked like they were going to work and not smart at all.

Wear a jacket on top. Warm + more formal.

No coats in this weather!!??

I don´t think I´ve got anything that would be warm enough & smart enough for that!

I would have thought a jacket would look more office-y. I am a bit worried about it looking like that, Fab, but I don't really know what else to wear.

It's January, and even so I've not seen any dresses in the shops that would keep me warm for 45 mins of outside pictures (which we've been warned will happen). Suggestions? I mean I do have dresses, but they're all pretty summer-weight, and looking in the shops, smart does seem to equal 'thin and cold'.

Why not ask the nice ladies on Style and Beauty for help? I betcha they'll find you the perfect outfit.

Unless you're in the bridal party, you'll only be in two or three pictures that they'll take at the end, so if it were me, I'd stay inside the venue until the last possible moment.

And hope for rain!

dress, thick tights and boots, cardigan!

I got married in October, and I can honestly say that I cannot remember what any of the guests were wearing - and I certainly didnt care on the day.

Wear what you like, its January, as long as you are smart/warm/comfortable then its fine.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I know it was quite a boring/trivial question but I bet I'm not the only one who loses all sense of perspective after dragging around the shops in the rain.

I'm getting married and have just sent out the invites - have written 'smart' for the dress code and I'd be perfectly happy with what you've described particularly if you were wearing pretty, elegant or smart shoes (rather than clumpy boots).
At the end of the day if you've thought about it and come up with something you think is appropriate then that ought to satisfy them - after all they have invited you because they like you and want you to be there not because they know you'll wear a fancy frock.

I have written on here before that we married abroad and had two parties at home as wedding receptions. I had no 'dress code' (not even 'smart'). Some women wore Coast-style dresses, some men wore full Highland dress, others in jumpers and jeans, some of my girlfriends in plain black dresses changed into Juicy Couture-style velour tracksuits and Uggs near the end of the very late night. I loved them all equally and was hugely excited to share the night with them all. You will look gorgeous as yourself, no matter what.

Expecting you to pose outside for photos in January is rude, IMO!

The black pencil skirt and pretty cardigan sound fime to me,

Outside photos in January for 45 minutes??? Mad. Wear the black pencil skirt and pretty cardigan and be warm.

Your outfit sounds lovely. Some people lose all perspective about their weddings, tbh, and forget it isn't a sodding Vogue photoshoot. A good wedding, imho, is all about the people. Not a colour theme.

I think this is really cheeky too pikelit. Wear what you like and be warm for goodness sake- I'd never have expected my guests to hang about in Jan (but that's why I got married in Sept!).

My sister got married one November when it was about as cold as it is now, I wore a rather thin silk dress, a velvet embroidered wrap and matching gloves. I was actually really warm throughout the photos because my hands and shoulders were cosy - just a thought!

Your outfit sounds fine, though. And as others have said, on the day the bride won't be noticing what people are wearing (well, she shouldn't, anyway!)

45 minutes? God love you...I would consider a trip to the bar and a hot port before that!

Just an update with a happy ending:

The couple were absolutely oblivious to anything but each other and I don't think they noticed anything else at all! Great wedding .. thanks for all the advice, all.