When did it become common to wear evening dress for weddings?

[CoastalGrey]

Looking at the pics of Gordon Ramsay’s daughter’s wedding and there seems to be much less traditional wedding wear and more evening dress/black tie. I didn’t think that was usually a thing for daytime weddings - is it common among real people or just celebs?

I’ve got 2 weddings next year and while I’m not a pastel coat dress/pashmina/fasinator type of person I wouldn’t pull off a slinky satin number either!

I did at my SIL's wedding in 1971.
I was a bit of a hippy and it was one up from a caftan.

Yep. Many many other countries and cultures dress up for weddings in comparison to British weddings.

As others have said it's the American influence and the fact that they tend to have evening weddings. In my mind a traditional British wedding is in the late morning or early afternoon followed by a lunch/late lunch and then photos and an evening party.

I do think young people tend to have very little idea about weddings except what they see on American films/TV. I blame the no child trend. My kids are 15, 17, 19 and haven't been to a wedding since they were toddlers so have no idea of 'normal' customs. Therefore young people planning weddings rely on American stereotypes.

Says someone where money must be of little concern.

I thought similar. I wondered if it was because it’s a “Christmas” wedding and so used this as an excuse to be more ball gown than daywear

Black tie must be particularly appealing to men with no imagination.

They all look freezing

Depends on the wedding.
if it is a late wedding with dinner, then DJs for men and evening wear for women is fine, especially if this dress code is on the invitation.
For day time I think maxi dresses are fine as long as a daytime style .
That’s just me though!

British weddings are traditionally fun family filled affairs, American weddings a tend to be a bit boring and stuffy. Wearing black tie is beyond tacky in the UK but most weddings now are pretty awful, I blame Instagram and the Princess culture that goes with being a bride. Also the expenditure involved by people who can't really afford it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. Save your cash and keep it simple.

It’s definitely an American thing, probably taking hold here thanks to Instagram influencers and people being obsessed by themes. Personally I think it looks very OTT for a daytime wedding. Some of the MoB outfits I’ve seen are just so ostentatious and scream ‘look at me’ when it should be about the bride and groom. But then I’m very old😂

Tea dresses can be very nice.

But apparently it’s just an American thing 🙄

@LeafyMcLeafFace have you never been to a non English wedding then?

Never trust a man who wears a bow tie in the morning, he's still got it from the previous night.

Well, I considered it at my wedding 29 years ago but it was a little bit way out then and would only have considered it for a wedding later in the day.
I agree that other cultures dress more evening glitter and sparkle whether British Middle Eastern, Jewish for example or Southeast Asian.
Traditional Church of England white British weddings are less snazzy and generally lounge suits or morning dress with smart dresses.

Primarily an American import as pp have said, the invitation should always tell you what the dress code is if it’s anything other than ‘standard’ wedding outfits.

As a side issue, where’s the hate for tea dresses coming from? Many are lovely and perfectly suitable for a wedding, especially in warmer weather.

Since people started looking at what they wear to weddings in America for some reason. I hate seeing evening wear worn to the day time wedding. I think it looks completely inappropriate.

There are stores all over the US that sell these kinds of wedding guest dresses and shoes.Most weddings are evening receptions too. My relatives think it's great as you can rotate accordingly . No coordinating hats or fascinators or bags or fake tan or tights . Just hair and makeup .
Went to a UK wedding a mixture of styles . Noticed some of the guests especially Irish wore specially nice dresses whilst a lot of others seemed too casual. Slinky dresses too but think some youngish girls need to be reminded to wear the right undergarments . Very unflattering.

I think for tea dresses people just mean a smart day dress

Any kind of dress is dressing up for me 😀

I remember when I went to weddings in the 90s it was a lot of effort and expensive. Dresses, jackets, shoes, hats, handbags, everything matching. Pressure not to wear the same things twice.
Now they just seem to wear often a dress they already own and that’s it. It’s definitely an easier option.

As a side issue, where’s the hate for tea dresses coming from? Many are lovely and perfectly suitable for a wedding, especially in warmer weather.

I enjoy a good tea dress but the bland ones that people wear to work in the summer are too boring for a wedding. That’s just me though, I love clothes.

I love an Indian wedding as the colours are beautiful and I looked much better than I thought I would in a turquoise saree!

This. Also if the wedding is in a church, black tie is going to look odd, isn’t it?

I have never worn a tea dress to work.