Winter wedding

[pointypand]

So I know I'm planning quite far ahead at the minute and there probably isn't much in the shops to buy right now but I like to plan things out in my head for events. And there's nothing much else to do at the minute and I'm excited so find this quite fun (that may be sad but hey ho)

I'm at a wedding in December in the highlands of Scotland and it's going to be very cold. I need a dress and coat combination and I honestly don't have a clue. I've only ever been to 1 wedding in the summer so I've come for a bit of advice before I buy etc.

I'm thinking of a nice trench coat and a midi dress underneath. I'm 5'7" and a size 16 so this style I feel comfortable in and hoping a trench coat will be trendy and also practical.

It's the colour I'm getting stuck on, if I could wear a cream coat that'd open a few more options but that's far to close to white and the bride is very certain that no white, ivory, cream is to be worn (which of course is absolutely fine).

So I'm thinking either dusty pink coat, different shade of pink dress.

Camel coat, rust coloured dress.

Maybe a navy coat? And then not sure what colour dress to go.

Any suggestions would be very helpful!!

Thanks so much

I don't think cream or dusky pink would be all that practical for winter, as it might get wet or splashed on from rain.

It's obviously cold in the highlands in December. I lived there for one year and the temperature got to something like minus 16 in December that year. Trench coats aren't warm. They're usually spring coats I think. I'd go much warmer!

I'd maybe go with a wool dress with tights and boots you can fit socks underneath and I'd also wear a base layer. Then a warm coat which looks ok, but warmth is your priority. Unless it's all going to be indoors with central heating or something, in which case don't worry about your coat and just wear a dress.

Ok, let's break it down a bit.

How 'outside' is the wedding going to be? How long will you be wearing the coat for, ie how important is it to the overall outfit? Is the ceremony in a church or a nice warm hotel?

A trench coat is maybe warm enough to wear to go from a heated place to another heated place via the medium of a heated vehicle but it is not going to do anything else for you in December in the Highlands.

And are you happy to splurge for one/occasional wear? Like, I'd happily pay for a wedding dress but if I was buying a coat as well I'd expect it to do more than occasional wear, which would have an impact on the colour/practicality.

I'm a Highlander. Rain is a much bigger enemy than cold! Occasionally, as PP said, it does get down to serious minus figures, but mostly it's around 0-5 I reckon, so not super cold. Colder inland, warmer and wetter on the coast.
Wind and rain will ruin your hair though! If the forecast is nasty I'd take a waterproof jacket with a hood for walking to the venue etc, then wear a cardigan/nice jacket under it. Umbrellas won't work unless you're lucky and it's not windy.
Whatever jacket you decide, you don't have to keep it on for the photos anyway, just the travelling between places.
I'm assuming the wedding is inside, and not a December beach BBQ or something equally mental? If it is, you will need at least six layers, as standing still outside for a long time is a different beast...
Would keep your main dress a normal thickness (not thick and woolly) as if dancing inside you'll roast. Weddings are always boiling imho.

I agree with the previous poster - the coat is key for just keeping you warm and dry. If you are inside a woolly dress will roast you.

Yes, as I said, if it's indoors just wear a normal dress, obviously! If you're going to be standing around outdoors, you will need All The Layers.

I assume some of it is outdoors though, or op wouldn't be worried about her coat!

I had a December wedding and my photos were all outside in -3 degrees. I look at them now and you’d think it was 20°! We weren’t outside long (around half an hour) but I think the adrenaline (and each other) kept us warm. We let the guests get inside and at the mulled wine and just got arrival shots of them at the church and indoor after. I just wore a dress and veil that couldn’t been worn at any time of year. And had extra picked by the Christmas tree.

Oh wow. Sorry missed the crucial part that you’re NOT the bride

Hi Op. Is this the style you have in mind?

I attended a wedding on a Scottish island at a beach side side hotel in mid November a few years back. To be honest we weren't outside for very long as it gets dark so early!

If it was me, burgundy wool trench coat, velvet dress.

Is it in a draughty castle?