Many weddings take place in churches or other houses of worship, and it is important for guests to dress appropriately. These days there can be some confusion about the proper attire for church weddings, especially among younger guests or people who do not routinely attend church services. This handy guide about what to wear to a church wedding will take all the guesswork out of getting dressed.

If there is one thing to keep in mind when dressing for a church wedding, it should be respect. Whether you follow the same religion as the bride and groom, a different religion, or no religion at all, your attire for the ceremony should show respect for the house of worship, and by extension, the bride and groom. The reality is that if a guest dresses in a fashion that is inconsistent with church-worthy attire, it sends a message of disrespect for the proceedings, even if that is not the intention. Better to err on the side of conservative attire rather than shock half of the wedding guests by wearing something too edgy or casual.

What does dressing respectfully mean? It means that the cuts of dresses worn by female guests should be fairly modest. In most churches, it is not expected that women will wear long dresses or cover their arms (although if the bride and groom belong to a very conservative branch of Christianity, that might be the case). However, a lot of cleavage is definitely out of the question, as are very short mini-dresses or dresses with very low cut backs. As a lot of fancy party clothes will be designed around those very features, the guest at an evening wedding in a church might need to get a bit creative. A wrap, shrug, or bolero jacket are easy ways to make festive party wear conservative enough for church; simply take off the cover up for the reception, and you will be ready to party.

Besides being too revealing, another common error made when dressing for a church wedding is to be too casual. Actually, this is a common mistake for all sorts of weddings these days. People get so caught up in being “comfortable” that they forget the importance of making an effort to look their very best. It is not good enough to say that one never wears ties or nice shirts in their everyday life; a wedding is by its very nature not an everyday event, and therefore is worthy of the extra effort. Jeans are an absolute no-no for a church wedding. Neatly pressed khakis are passable on men for an early afternoon wedding, although they are best on young men (adults would do better to wear a nice pair of tan gabardine trousers). Jackets are definitely appropriate for a wedding ceremony, whether worn with khaki pants or as part of a full suit. You can never go wrong with a handsomely tailored suit and a silk tie.

For the ladies, dresses are best for church weddings, worn with a few tasteful pieces of wedding jewelry. If you cannot find a pretty dress, a very elegant skirt with a dressy blouse or sweater would make an acceptable alternative, especially if you dress it up with great jewelry for the wedding. Hats are no longer routinely worn in most church congregations, however they are a very nice touch if you feel inclined to wear one. Shoes should be elegant; no plastic flip flops, sneakers, or Heaven forbid, Crocs! And gentlemen, please polish your shoes – scuffs will definitely bring down the look of your entire outfit.

Finally, wedding guests should dress festively. A wedding is a celebration, and your attire should embrace that spirit. While a female guest could wear a gray flannel business suit with a skirt and technically be properly attired, it completely misses the spirit of the occasion. If you dress with respect and celebration in mind, you will be perfectly attired to attend a church wedding ceremony.

Author Bio: Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, style, and etiquette. Treat yourself to wedding jewelry from http://silverlandjewelry.com/ and receive free shipping on your jewelry order over $99.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding jewelry, wedding guest attire, church weddings, what to wear to wedding