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Original poster

Fancy US wedding

153 replies

Lemongrassicedtea · 05/12/2023 22:34

Dh and I have been invited to a fancy wedding in the US - they are getting married in an actual cathedral! Dh has to wear a tux, what should I be wearing? I’m guessing very fancy?

any thoughts very much appreciated. I’m an athletic build and have an open budget. Tia

OP posts:
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Original poster
Lemongrassicedtea · 06/12/2023 21:19

New York. Afternoon wedding in cathedral then fancy hotel in the evening.

OP posts:
noooooooo · 06/12/2023 21:25

Lots of jumping off points here

https://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/winter-wedding-guest-dresses/

the Anthropologie dress on there is breaking my heart. Excellent choice of friends, congratulations 😂

The 15 Best Winter Wedding Guest Dresses

The only thing you'll need to worry about is shoes.

https://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/winter-wedding-guest-dresses/

LylaLee · 06/12/2023 21:26

What time of year? What weather?

gotomomo · 06/12/2023 21:28

Tends to lean towards black tie so full length gowns. Not a given though

Original poster
Lemongrassicedtea · 06/12/2023 22:19

Winter wedding. Size 6, 5ft 8 budget under £500. Small chested so nothing with a wrap top as they always gape. Let’s say a fancy central hotel as I’m giving away quite a lot of detail already

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 06/12/2023 22:26

With your height and build I'd go full length satin/silk possibly with a open/cowl/drape type back.

Time of year would dictate colour:

  • spring - pastel
  • summer - bright/bold
  • autumn - olive/burnt orange/dark grey
  • winter - navy/deep red
FrangipaniBlue · 06/12/2023 22:31

I live this but it's the wrong colour for a wedding!

www.nastygal.com/gb/satin-long-sleeve-cowl-back-maxi--dress/AGG56776.html

Original poster
Lemongrassicedtea · 06/12/2023 22:36

That is pretty frangipaniBlue but I really can’t do wrap tops. Also, I appreciate I am a cold blooded English woman, but a cowl back seems a bit chilly for winter

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Original poster
Lemongrassicedtea · 06/12/2023 22:39

Wow! That clubLondon dress is very sultry! I’m not sure I can carry that off. Is that really wedding attire in the US? I am so in over my head. Dh would wonder who I was and what had happened to his wife if I showed up in that!

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FrangipaniBlue · 06/12/2023 22:41

I love the club L one

A cathedral type hotel in NY where the men are required to wear tuxedo screams red carpet glamour to me! (But I could be totally wrong!!)

Soonenough · 06/12/2023 22:43

NY weddings are usually night . If DH has to wear a tux , then you should wear a formal long evening gown. And a cathedral is just a big church with a long aisle !

LittleMy77 · 06/12/2023 22:49

If it’s a tux for the guys, you’ll need to look at quite formal (by English wedding standards) dresses, similar to evening gowns etc. If you want to fit in, Avoid typical English floral print wedding guest type dresses as these are not the done thing there for events like this. Depending on the background of the families marrying, will dictate a lot of the style

If it’s the cathedral Im thinking of, check if you need to have head and / or shoulders covered

Original poster
Lemongrassicedtea · 06/12/2023 22:59

Gorgeous dress Wallow, can I ask what you wore over it? It all seems very slinky and that just seems odd to me, which I suppose is just the difference between a US/UK wedding. I don’t want to look out of place but I also think I would feel a bit weird wearing a slinky/sexy dress to a cathedral. It just feels wrong- which I think is probably a very English way to view church!

OP posts:
Illuminatedluminary · 06/12/2023 23:14

I’m always underdressed in the city. And I tend to feel frumpy in comparison to other more glamorous people at parties. I don’t think you can overestimate just how fancy it could be BUT it depends on the age/lifestyle/industries of the couple, the age of most of the guests etc. there would be a lot of clues there.

The club London dress could be right on the money. But then again, they might be a lot edgier.

if you are looking for broader ideas, a lot of the department stores in the US have wedding guest dress sections - in my price range ($300-$400 for a special party dress that I’d wear more than once) I always check out Bloomingdales and Nordstrom for ideas and go from there.

I’d look at something simple. Black if possible, midnight/navy. Understated rather than sparkly.

If you think it’s going to be high end, also book a blowout, nails, make up etc. Americans can be groomed to perfection!

Gracietaylor · 07/12/2023 00:22

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LylaLee · 07/12/2023 00:24

Op double sided body/clothing tape will allow you more choice without gaping/wardrobe malfunctions.

Crankyaboutfood · 07/12/2023 00:30

I am a New Yorker. You don’t need to wear full length. A nice quality black or dark colored dress in the winter would be fine. Don’t wear a pattern.

Gracietaylor · 07/12/2023 00:46

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GreatGateauxsby · 07/12/2023 04:52

Lemongrassicedtea · 06/12/2023 22:19

Winter wedding. Size 6, 5ft 8 budget under £500. Small chested so nothing with a wrap top as they always gape. Let’s say a fancy central hotel as I’m giving away quite a lot of detail already

Honestly with the body shape pretty much anything from self portrait or rixo

Mirrormeback · 07/12/2023 04:56

Look at Selfridges or Harvey Nichols

Mirrormeback · 07/12/2023 04:57

They actually have a wedding guest section

Mirrormeback · 07/12/2023 05:00

I'd wear any of the Whistles ones