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Original poster

Wedding - morning dress for ceremony and black tie for evening??!

56 replies

Somerville · 07/04/2016 16:28

Just seen all the bumpf about a wedding I'm attending in a few weeks. The dress code is morning dress for the ceremony & drinks, then black tie for the reception. (Two hour break between the two.) I have never encountered that before. What would you assume this means in terms of what female guests should wear?

I know men will need to change their suits, but I'm wondering if it'll be acceptable to buy a cocktail-ish dress that matches one of the jackets I already own, then take off the jacket for the evening and change my shoes.

I also had a sinking feeling that 'morning dress' being specified meant women will all be in hats for the ceremony, but I've just googled and apparently that's very much a matter of individual guest's preference?

I don't know any other female guests who will be there, though I'll be meeting one next week so can ask what her plan is then. But I'll be leaving it a bit late to find things if I hear then that they're all wearing hats and/or really glamming up for the evening.

OP posts:

WellErrr · 07/04/2016 16:34

It means normal wedding/races gear plus hat for the day, tails for men. Then more formal dress for the evening, men in DJs.

It's a bit odd though. Is it a particularly smart wedding? although if it really was it would be white tie....!

WipsGlitter · 07/04/2016 16:36

Sounds a bit OTT to me.

I went to a white tie wedding and all the women were in long dresses / ballgowns including in the church bit.

WellErrr · 07/04/2016 16:37

Is it in someone else's castle in Cheshire? bitchy

Original poster

Somerville · 07/04/2016 16:50

Not in a castle

Country house in south west

It looks like it's going to be really fun. Accommodation is included for overnight. And there's a very politely worded request for no gifts (suggestion for a charity to make anonymous donation to if they're desperate to give a gift), which again I've never encountered before.

Don't know how smart. I'm going as new boyfriend's plus one, and I've asked about the weddings of others in this friendship group and he's been crap vague.

OP posts:

Original poster

Somerville · 07/04/2016 18:03

I've googled a bit more and very opinion seems to be two outfits.

I've got a tea dress that I wore to weddings last summer so that'll have to do for the ceremony. I don't want the palaver of finding two new dresses.

OP posts:

Twinklestein · 07/04/2016 18:15

It seems un-necessarily prinky. I've been to white tie and tiara weddings - eurotrash minor royalty type - and even there you wear one outfit for the whole thing.

A tea dress for the ceremony sounds fine. Just get a nice evening dress.

HelenaJustina · 07/04/2016 18:18

The jacket/shoe change idea sounded genius...

HelenaJustina · 07/04/2016 18:19

A hat+jacket which you then remove would mark the difference even more

firesidechat · 07/04/2016 18:26

So all the guests have to wear morning dress and then change into a Tux for the evening. The bill for clothes hire is going to massive.

I'm pleased that you think it will be fun op. (it's my idea of wedding hell)

firesidechat · 07/04/2016 18:26

So all the guests have to wear morning dress and then change into a Tux for the evening. The bill for clothes hire is going to massive.

I'm pleased that you think it will be fun op. (it's my idea of wedding hell)

firesidechat · 07/04/2016 18:27

Sorry for the double post. My computer is playing up.

Twinklestein · 07/04/2016 18:53

Most married men will have morning dress, no? And most men will have a tux.

It's the women who will have to fork out.

Original poster

Somerville · 07/04/2016 19:28

Ooh, good thought about the hat to change up the outfit Helena

Twinklestein
There are white tie and tiara weddings
I've been to a lot and I've never encountered anything other than morning dress or the odd civil ceremony black tie affair. Never both at once.

And yes my chap owns a morning suit and a tux so doesn't really get why it's a hassle.

He did just agree to asking some female friends if they'd mind talking to me about what they're doing. Hopefully they take pity on the newbie and offer up some tips.

fireside chat I like weddings.

OP posts:

firesidechat · 07/04/2016 23:00

Twinkle you really think most men have this hanging in their wardrobe? I strongly dispute that.

Wedding - morning dress for ceremony and black tie for evening??!

Twinklestein · 07/04/2016 23:15

Most married men I said - If they got married in one. My husband, as does OP's. My dad is very proud he can still get into his.

firesidechat · 07/04/2016 23:25

I still dispute it. Don't most people hire theirs? It's ridiculously expensive to buy one just for one day. Perhaps we ought to do a poll on this.

PerspicaciaTick · 07/04/2016 23:30

I don't know any men who own morning suits. Hardly any own a tux either, or they own one but haven't fitted in it since the leavers' ball at uni.

Twinklestein · 07/04/2016 23:30

I don't know anyone who hired theirs but I've really no idea what % of UK population do. It was a question not a statement of fact.

Cel982 · 07/04/2016 23:33

Of course most people hire rather than buy them. You must move in very smart circles indeed, Twinkle

firesidechat · 07/04/2016 23:33

I would say that it is incredibly unusual for the average man to own a morning suit. It's not like you can wear it as a guest at a wedding, so it would get one or maybe two days use. My husband has never worn one. He did buy a tux because we had a yearly company do, but that has stopped now. He has probably worn it 4 times.

ApocalypseSlough · 07/04/2016 23:42

Ah Twinkle
What are you like?
tility head

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 07/04/2016 23:46

Most men I know have a dinner jacket and quite a few have tails. Morning suit, not so much (although admittedly a lot of people I know got married in dress uniform).

It's unfair - nobody really notices/cares what men wear (unless it's very unusual), but women are much easier to remember!

Yes, I'd hope kind friends take pity on you and help out - probably the safest bet!

Twinklestein · 07/04/2016 23:51

You can absolutely wear it as a wedding guest. My H and my father wear theirs to weddings with morning suit dress code.

They're nothing like as expensive as wedding dresses, and those you really only wear once. You can get them for £200-£300 - and they'd cost £100 or so to hire. The average UK wedding is 20 grand.

PerspicaciaTick · 08/04/2016 00:00

Yes, you can wear it as a guest, but you do look a bit of a tit when the groom is in a lounge suit.

Twinklestein · 08/04/2016 00:03

It will say on the invitation. If dress code morning suit you wear morning suit. If the groom is getting married in a lounge suit, then the dress code is lounge suit.

This is not rocket science.

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