What To Wear To An Evening Wedding

It's an night wedding and you wondering what to wear to an evening wedding.  Have no fear. Most weddings occur in the daytime, usually in the afternoon. However, it’s becoming more and more popular to have an evening wedding, especially in the summer months. Why? Evening hours in the summer are cooler and more comfortable, and many couples find that evening hours are a more romantic time to exchange their vows.

What does this mean for you, the guest? Well, there is a distinct difference in suggested attire for a daytime wedding vs. an evening wedding. Evening weddings are, in general, more formal. But before you spend your emergency fund on a fancy new suit, check out the invitation first. Most of the time, it will be your first clue as to what attire is expected/suggested.

1. Semi-formal. Usually means a dressed-down (but not messy) version of formal wear. However, since the wedding you’re headed to is in the evening, it’s safer to stick with a more formal outfit, since evening automatically equals dressier. Try a black, dark gray, or navy blue suit, and coordinate your shirt and tie to match well.
2. Formal. Really kick it up a notch. Still stick with darker suit colors, but make sure it is a sophisticated style suit that is tailored perfectly. As far as shirt colors, if you’re going with a white shirt, make it perfectly white. Otherwise, stick with muted, basic colors. This is not the time to be flashy!
3. Black Tie. if the invitation says black tie, your only acceptable option is a tuxedo. If it’s Black Tie Optional, still try to stick with a tux, but feel free to add a little creativity to your look by choosing a darker colored shirt. If you just don’t feel like wearing a tuxedo, stick with a very dark suit and choose your shirt color, tie, and accessories very carefully to make the look as sophisticated as possible.
4. Accessories. Keep your accessories simple. A thin, black belt is always a good choice. A silk tie looks better than cheaper materials. As for shoes, go with a basic black oxford.

No matter what kind of wedding you’re attending, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Focus on subtlety and sophistication and you can’t go wrong. If you’re very close with the bride and groom, it’s perfectly OK to call them ahead of time if you’re still stumped for ideas on what to wear.