Your observations on modern wedding guest attire please.

[TunaPaste]

Finally there's a wedding in the calender and I've released that I have no idea how a wedding will look in 2022.
So your observations and opinions please.
I'm in danger of panic buying and ending up looking like the mother of the bride from 'Four Weddings & a Funeral' heavily channeling the 1990s. (I'm 50, normally a bit scruffy Cos)

I also have two teen girls to channel in the 'right' direction, what does everyone wear these days?

And a husband? Do men wear formal suits, ties? He's the brother of the groom but not best man.

Help! Is this too dark for an upcoming wedding?
It is actually navy and does look more blue than black in real life.

That’s lovely @Horsemad. Definitely not too dark.

Thanks @Blossomtoes. I have worn it once before and it is very flattering and comfy! 😆 Just need to get some comfier shoes than I wore last time! 🙄

So it's a no to matching shoes and bag? But then what kind of bag to choose? That's just adding pressure argh!

@timeforteaforyouandme

So it's a no to matching shoes and bag? But then what kind of bag to choose? That's just adding pressure argh!

Only in style and beauty on MN.

I've seen a lot of photos from a lot of weddings that my nieces, nephews and dc have attended in recent times - they are fashionable young people in their 20s, and it is really normal for people to have shoes and bag that matches. It is very normal amongst my generation.

Really, don't 'not match' just going on this thread.

I agree that it’s normal. More people do it than not.

No. It's only a no if you personally don't like it.

It's reassuring to hear that weddings, even after the last two years, are 'make an effort'.

I want to make an effort, I love this couple, it's going to cost them a bomb to invite all of us - all the kids, the plus ones.

So from our wedding photos, my fil stands out because he wore his normal, out of time, weird school head teacher suit. The chap in Birkenstocks, with his creased linen, no jacket, no tie gets away with it because he's beaming in every photo. My friend in chinos and jacket looks scruffy, late a bit sad.

The women shape up rather well. The mothers are both rocking hats and look like the 'bridal party' . My Sil is in a weird made in Dubai bridesmaid dress, that I had no idea she'd had made, which was the same colour as my wedding gown!

I guess the point is you want everyone to be in the correct zone - bride & groom, centre stage, parents, significant top table others (are place settings still a thing? ) Top tier family & friends, everyone else....

I used to wear a lot of vintage and absolutely get away with it, sadly I no longer have the complexion and wide smile of my youth, my clothes need to be more polished, the colours strong. I love these points that others have picked out as successful for these invites.

My shape has definitely changed with age, the lovely fitted things I was wearing not that long ago, my teen girls are rocking. The amazing, but uncomfortable, shoes that I thought I'd love 15 years ago are still uncomfortable.

I can still do the odd vintage piece,shop my wardrobe, but it can't be head to toe, I feel inspired for a new injection.

DH will have to wait, have planted the seed, the check out the Instagram suggestion might really help there.

I’m really surprised by people saying they think chinos are fine. I have literally never seen that.

Any wedding I go to is lounge suits with a tie for men and a dress for women. Pretty groomed all round. Fascinators are not wall to wall but you get them and some hats, mainly at church weddings. Uber posh weddings - sometimes bridal party men and a few more in morning dress, and the women’s hat count flies up.

@Shiningpath

*”Hats are still worn (not compulsory) but facinators are very 90s. So not do that.” Why were so many worn at Megan and Harry's wedding then?*

Maybe there’s a difference between a prince having a royal wedding in the grounds of a castle and your mate Julie getting hitched at Wigan Register Office…

Not really? A wedding is a wedding - people dress up in suits and dresses, do their hair and quite often wear head gear.

I’m 50, size 10, 5’7” and wore this Coast dress to my niece’s wedding with black heels and a fascinator so probably broke 100 ‘rules’.

It's only one person Lured

Such a shame the pashmina is no longer considered fashionable - they are perfect for weddings where you just want something to throw over your shoulders at the chillier moments that doesn't cost a fortune. A jacket is often too bulky for a summer wedding and often cost more too.

In answer to the original question, the last wedding I went to last summer was lots of floral midi dresses or bright block colours. All the men wore suits. It was mainly teachers though so perhaps not high fashion! (DH and I are teachers too).

I think there's an anti-headgear campaign group on MN that WhatsApp each other when there's a "what to wear to a wedding" thread on MN.

They all the claim "no fascinators" in some for or other. Been reading that for at least the last 10 or 15 years.

The campaign isn't working mind you, not been to a wedding in all that time where there's been none or even a just a few.

I'm going to my first wedding in five years. My only niece who is on her third try because of Covid. Will be a fab occasion at last.

I have a chiffon-ey plain purple number with floaty sleeves (a must for me) and below the knee. Will wear a lovely mauve silk irridiscent shawl thing that I bought in China a few years ago, the colour changes in the light/sun and I am so looking forward to an excuse to use it! I am using a pearl grey shoe/silver bag combo, and ye gods..... a small dark grey rose clip. Hats will be worn and fascinators too, but I get a hat head, so the clip thing do the trick.

Tried on the outfit today, and honestly I couldn't be happier, I feel very comfortable in it, it looks great and the shoes have cushioned soles and mid heel and are like walking on air.

The wedding is not about me, but when you feel good, you look good and to hell with the influencers!

I hope you all enjoy the weddings.

@timeforteaforyouandme

So it's a no to matching shoes and bag? But then what kind of bag to choose? That's just adding pressure argh!

I would have thought less pressure?

The shoes I'm wearing to the evening reception (and which I would have worn to the cancelled wedding too) are pink-beige colored sandals with a block heel. I'm wearing them because they're reasonably comfy, and I can wear with other outfits and shorter hemlines for other occasions.

Don't really fancy a pink-beige bag. If I can find a black or beaded one that nods to the headband, then great. Otherwise will see what jumps out as elegant but practical. 🤷🏻‍♀️

We're off to a wedding at the end of August in Wales. I've got a Onjenu dress with long sleeves and also an Onjenu maxi with short sleeves. Great brand as their dresses don't crease. Same shoes and bag for both dresses. They are dresses I've had in the wardrobe and which I know are comfortable, but not knowing what the weather will be like I am taking both and will hedge my bets. I'm in two minds about headwear (if any) but suspect I may just go down the sparkly clip route.

Teenagers seem to be wearing short dresses with white trainers. Wish I could get away with it!

Unfortunately, any bag I get needs to be practical because I have an inhaler to carry, and those are bulky. And I tend to regret not having things like lippy and emergency tissues to hand.

Debating a great big envelope style clutch, but I also have a habit of putting things down in places and forgetting about them, so not sure if that'll pass the "practical" benchmark. 🤔

I am derailing, sorry. Sounds like you're getting somewhere with the advice in the thread OP?

@mdh2020

Teenagers seem to be wearing short dresses with white trainers. Wish I could get away with it!

Me too!!

Briefly considered something like satiny trainers with ribbon laces for this evening 'do I have coming up. But I don't think northeast Scotland is quite there yet with bending the rules that far.

Looking at my wedding photos, I can see that it is a mix for the men. Predominantly suits with a few kilts and chinos worn too, or what my husband refers to as “sports jacket and flannels”.

This thread reminds me of a wedding (an older relatives second marriage) where SIL told BIL it was a casual occasion and he didn’t have to wear a suit so he wore smart trousers and a shirt. When he got there every other man was wearing a suit, even difficult DH and FIL (who are notorious for not dressing formally). BIL was furious and spent half the wedding making digs at SIL and the other half not talking to her 😬

I can absolutely see that dynamic here @snottyLottie my DH & in- laws would always say 'its just a few drinks in the garden' the whole attitude is one of bored nonchalance at anything in the diary, nothing 'try to hard'.

It used to catch me unawares all the time. You'd turn up and sil & her friends would all be in something brand new, with smart bags and lots of expensive jewellery, I'd look like I'd come to take the dog for a walk, may be to a bit of light gardening.

They will 100% say, 'nothing fancy' 'very relaxed these days' . We'll get there and it will be new suits all round, bought months ago after special trips to far flung cities.

@raspberryjamchicken

Such a shame the pashmina is no longer considered fashionable - they are perfect for weddings where you just want something to throw over your shoulders at the chillier moments that doesn't cost a fortune. A jacket is often too bulky for a summer wedding and often cost more too.

In answer to the original question, the last wedding I went to last summer was lots of floral midi dresses or bright block colours. All the men wore suits. It was mainly teachers though so perhaps not high fashion! (DH and I are teachers too).

You are 100% right about a pashmina or shawl being better than a jacket. Also a jacket hides a dress in a way that a gauzy pashmina, dupatta or shawl doesn't.

You are however not correct about the unwearableness of pashminas (see thread below for lots of different opinions)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/4508525-Green-flat-shoes-Wedding-outfit-help-please

I do really love a wedding, I hope everyone has one on the calendar for this year.