Wedding Attire 

 A bride's wedding attire has consisted of various styles and colors down through the ages.  In the past brides have worn the color red for no particular reason other than that's what they liked.  They have worn green wedding attire to signify youth and blue to signify constancy, but never yellow for that signified jealousy.  Queen Victoria has been credited for beginning the tradition of white wedding attire when she married in 1840.  A white wedding gown came to symbolize purity.  Today a white wedding gown can be worn by anyone, whether this is your first, second or third time as a bride.  White or ivory still remain the most popular color for wedding gowns although there are some new pastel shades that are gaining in popularity as wedding attire.

A bride's wedding attire always begins with the selection of the dress first.  The style of the wedding dress will determine the formality of the entire wedding.  The veil, tiara and shoes are accessories and should match the formality of the dress.  The following is an excerpt from Emily Post's Weddings and will clarify what type of wedding attire is appropriate for the most formal to informal of weddings.

"Most Formal Daytime Wedding Attire:

Bride: Long white dress, train, and veil; gloves optional
Bride's Attendants:  long dresses, matching shoes; gloves are bride's option
Groom, his attendants, Bride's father or stepfather:  Cutaway coat, striped trousers, pearl gray waistcoat, white stiff shirt, turndown collar with gray-and-black striped four-in-hand or wing collar with ascot, gray gloves, black silk socks, black kid shoes.
Mothers and Stepmothers of Couple:  Long or short dresses; hat, veil, or hair ornament; gloves

Most Formal Evening Wedding Attire:

Bride:  same as most formal daytime
Bride's Attendants:  same as most formal daytime
Groom, his attendants, Bride's father or stepfather:  Black tailcoat and trousers, white pique waistcoat, starched-bosom shirt, wing collar, white bow tie, white gloves, black silk socks, black patent-leather shoes or pumps or black kid smooth-toe shoes
Mothers and Stepmothers of Couple:  Usually long evening or dinner dress, dressy short cocktail permissible; veil or hair ornament if long dress; small hat, if short dress; gloves

Semiformal Daytime Wedding Attire:

Bride:  Long white dress; short veil and gloves optional
Bride's Attendants:  same as most formal daytime
Groom, his attendants, Bride's father or stepfather:  Black or charcoal sack coat, dove-gray waistcoat, white pleated shirt, starched turndown collar or soft white shirt with four-in-hand tie, gray gloves, black smooth toe shoes
Mothers and Stepmothers of Couple:  Long or street-length dresses; gloves, head covering optional

Semiformal Evening Wedding Attire:

Bride:  Same as semiformal daytime
Bride's Attendants:  Same length and degree of formality as bride's dress
Groom, his attendants, Bride's father or stepfather:  Winter, black tuxedo; summer, white jacket; pleated or pique soft shirt, black cummerbund, black bow tie, no gloves, black patent-leather or kid shoes
Mothers and Stepmothers of Couple:  Same as semiformal daytime

Informal Daytime Wedding Attire:

Bride:  Short afternoon dress, cocktail dress, or suit
Bride's Attendants:  same style as bride
Groom, his attendants, Bride's father or stepfather:  Winter, dark suit; summer, dark trousers with white linen jacket or white trousers with navy or charcoal jacket; soft shirt, conservative four-in-hand tie; hot climate, white suit
Mothers and Stepmothers of Couple:  Short afternoon or cocktail dresses

Informal Evening Wedding Attire:

Bride:  Long dinner dress or short cocktail dress or suit
Bride's Attendants:  same style as bride
Groom, his attendants, Bride's father or stepfather:  Tuxedo if bride wears dinner dress; dark suit in winter, lighter suit in summer
Mothers and Stepmothers of Couple:  same length dress as bride

Groom's Father or Stepfather:  He may wear the same costume as the groom and his attendants, especially if he is to stand in the receiving line.  If he is not to take part, however, and does not wish to dress formally, he may wear the same clothes as the male guests as follows:

For Most Formal Daytime:  dark suit; conservative shirt and tie
Most Formal Evening:  If women wear long dresses, tuxedo; if short dresses, dark suit
Semiformal Daytime:  dark suit
Semiformal Evening:  dark suit
Informal Daytime: dark suit; light trousers and dark blazers in summer
Informal Evening:  dark suit"

Click here to see a complete line of traditional tuxedos and accessories including jackets, trousers, shirts, vests, cummerbunds, ties, and patent leather shoes, from top names like Perry Ellis and Lord West.

As you can see, there is quite a lot to know about the proper wedding attire for your wedding.  Knowing the right wedding attire for your style of wedding will give you confidence when selecting your gown and instructing your groom and other participants on their attire for your wedding. 

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