Irish wedding

[bouncydog]

Can any mumsnetters point me to anything about dress code for Irish weddings. I’m MOB and need to make sure I don’t look totally out of place! All day event starting around noon and going on into the early hours at a single outdoor/indoor location!

@theleafandnotthetree I’m sure they looked lovely but if we are talking ‘traditional’ MOB style though it wouldn’t be the norm to wear trousers and no headgear.

Can you talk to the MOG and discuss outfits?

Simple. Chic. Elegant. Expensive. This is what MOB wore at a civil wedding at a destination venue. Hatinator to match. She looked stunning.

A d whatever you do choose shoes you can wear all day and night!

I'm really surprised at some of the responses here if anything I find people are going for more a elegant understated look rather than the whole in your face glam look. The church across the road from me has weddings constantly and no one dressed in evening style clothes always nice dresses but never ott.

@JaneJeffer

My mum considered an amazing fishtail leather skirt with a silk top and fitted jacket but didn't want to risk scaring the very traditional in laws. I wish she had worn it, it would have been amazing. I can just see the MN thread about upstaging the bride

Reminds me of all the coverage and commentary when Miriam O'Callaghan upstaged her daughter on her big day.

I think that as an Irish woman who lived in England for 20 years with casual friends, I always get caught out with weddings.

• more formal, more structured or tailored dress or suit.
• def at the least a professional blowdry and hair recently cut and coloured. If you’re getting it done on the day in ireland you’ll be fine as the hairdresser will know to go all out.
• Body lotion and a good exfoliate are always on my list even though I hate fake tan! I think you’re just trying to avoid the ‘my upper arms haven’t seen daylight in 3 years’ effect that I def sport myself sometimes.
• I do my own makeup to a high standard - lots of Lisa Eldridge videos, and I splash out on some nice new products.

I try to go for a super high end natural look. I love both the English way of pop on a quirky dress and have no makeup, but it probably worked better for me as a lissom 25 year old! 20 years on the Irish way is appealing more.

The main goal I always think is if you have to be at the top table for hours (Irish speeches are long but the craic will be ninety!) then you don’t want to spend the whole time thinking ‘why the fuck didn’t I put some handcream on my claws / get a bit of volume in that blowdry / buy that fancier dress / get new comfy but glam heels/ buy a new mascara’ while surrounded by utter glamour pusses. The amount of Irish weddings I’ve left thinking ‘I must do better next time!’

Oh, and culturally in Ireland, I think it’s not seen as putting this pressure on yourself, but more valuing yourself, making the most of yourself, treating yourself etc. Very, very different to england which has a vibe a bit more like Germany? (Clean, neat, presentable, don’t make a fuss!)

I'm amazed at the suggestions, there is no need for fake tan unless that is a regular thing for you, I can't remember any of my friends doing that when they were the bride, I certanly didn't and neither did my mother. As for pearls and hats, well not this century (or most of the last) unless, again, that's a regular look for you. A lot would depend on your age and normal style if you were attending a wedding or suchlike, my mother in law was in her early 70's when we got married 12 years ago, she wore a dress and jacket with matching hat, it suited her, she's a tall statuette woman who would wear this kind of clothes, my mother was in her 60's, 4'11" (in heels) and she wore a glamorous bright red lacy dress with a lacy shawl/shrug for the church, no hat but a flower robbed from my bouquet by the hairdresser clipped in her hair. The important thing is both women were absolutely comfy in what they wore, mil went to the traditional shops that sell these outrageously overpriced dresses/suits, dm spotted her dress in the window of a small shop in a village as she drove by!! Wear what you will be happy in, remember you'll hardly be noticed, all attention is on the bride and groom. Have a great day

Thank you all. My normal style is trousers and Chanel style jackets if I have to dress up as much more a jeans lady! So I’ve decided I’m going to wear trousers and slightly longer jacket in a luxury fabric with heels and a smart clutch and just be an upscale version of myself! At least I’ll be comfortable and able to be myself enjoying a wonderful celebration. And I just know that if I went with spray tan etc my future son-in-law and DH would make reference in their speeches!

Whats MOB?

@pinkpantsrock

Whats MOB?

Mother of the Bride.

I was watching 'Today' , an afternoon magazine show here in Ireland just now and the fashion segment was MOB/G outfits and I thought of this thread.
This is three from the six they showed, all very expensive and exclusive, all accessories expensive too. Hopefully this can give you an idea of what to wear to a wedding in Ireland, they tend to be fairly dressy affairs!!

The fashion on The Today Show is awful. I never see anything nice on it. What OP said she's wearing sounds lovely.

Oops, didn't rtft, just posted when I thought of this thread.
Yes black sheep, the fashion segment on today is generally awful.

@Beefstew

I was watching 'Today' , an afternoon magazine show here in Ireland just now and the fashion segment was MOB/G outfits and I thought of this thread. This is three from the six they showed, all very expensive and exclusive, all accessories expensive too. Hopefully this can give you an idea of what to wear to a wedding in Ireland, they tend to be fairly dressy affairs!!

They're very grumpy and not flattering.

Frumpy

@bouncydog

Thank you all. My normal style is trousers and Chanel style jackets if I have to dress up as much more a jeans lady! So I’ve decided I’m going to wear trousers and slightly longer jacket in a luxury fabric with heels and a smart clutch and just be an upscale version of myself! At least I’ll be comfortable and able to be myself enjoying a wonderful celebration. And I just know that if I went with spray tan etc my future son-in-law and DH would make reference in their speeches!

Sounds perfect, My mother in law wore similar with a few sparkles and a fascinator to our wedding and she looked fabulous!

Thank you for the photos from the Today programme. Without wishing to offend anyone, I just asked my husband if he thought they would be suitable. In short they made us start Sunday morning with a good laugh! I’m afraid they are definitely not something I, nor my friends would wear. Even my mum of 87 would consider them unsuitable! As somebody upthread said, they are very frumpy.

I am going to say something very unpopular but I bloody hate facinators. I'm not gone on hats either. It is very few people hats suit. I think you need to be an Amal Clooney type person.
.

Goodness!
What A lot of fuss!
I am Irish living abroad and have been to 100s of wedding there.
No set of rules in my experience.
Just dress up and relax....you're in for a long day and night......and early morning!
Yawn!

Do you want to wear what's expected ?
Then it's very dressy , full make up , hair & nails.
If that's not you then just do you.

@Theblacksheepandme
You hate fascinators. That is a popular view on Mumsnet.
I like them and pashminas. Now that's an
unpopular view on Mumsnet. But I don't care.

Well I thought I would update the thread in case anyone else asks a similar question! Wedding was black tie so I went all out! 2 long dresses - both Adrianna Papell so full on beads and sequins - make up and hair done. Everybody there looked fantastic. I received many compliments so very grateful for the help I received. Would also advise anyone else in a similar position to ask the bride. My DD was very laid back as was her fiancé and just wanted people to wear whatever they wanted and enjoy themselves so no prescriptive colours etc.

Sounds fab, delighted you had a good time!

DH’s family is Irish and I love this!

We had a family dinner the night before with all our immediate families and bridal party and best man, plus anyone who’d travelled from overseas.

The day after was Mother’s Day, and we had a massive section booked at the local Irish Centre’s Mother’s Day ‘Do’ any anyone who wanted to could come. Our parents and siblings came and most people who had travelled from overseas.

it was a lovely few days.