EASTER is such a theme that can be used in so many ways it works well on a shoestring budget and on a large sum of budget.
Getting the right decorations, favours, attires, flowers, cake, music and invitation cards will bring this kind of theme to life.
You do not need to have a full or complicated theme to give a nod in Easter’s direction. A fresh, colorful, simple but elegant and memorable wedding matches an Easter Holiday theme well, was last week’s article.
This week we will look at what to wear as female invited guests.
When you receive that beautiful wedding invitation card from a family member or friend it is just the beginning of an exciting wardrobe hunt.
No one should upstage the bride, but shopping for a variety of ideal wedding guest attire should also be fun, enjoyable and fabulous, just like when the bride is searching for her wedding gown.
Every woman wants to look her best especially when a team of professional photographers will also be in attendance.
Nowadays photographers are on top of the game working well with the snap and give trend, so you just have to snag great attire for that lovely photograph.
Start off with the invitation card immediately you receive it. Find out if it is flowing engraved black script on a heavy cream or white beautiful scented paper with formal language and to be held at an expensive venue?
Odds are that the wedding will be similarly formal and elegant meaning you have to look fabulous and apply the right deodorant.
Some invitation card will tell you directly the dress code, well then you just have to follow that.
The nature of the service matters as every card has a name of the church that the bride and groom attend so please respect their belief.
Does the religion or culture of the couple require head covering? Would bare shoulders and arms, spaghetti tops, shorts be offensive? All these must be taken into consideration.
Think about where the wedding is going to be set. If its outdoors avoid anything that will get caught in the wind because you won’t like the battle of wills between the wind and your modesty.
Avoid tooth pick heeled shoes because they will sink in the grass or sand. If it is in a hot location or hot season avoid the suit and go for breezy dress to help you keep it cool.
Indoors at a guest house, hotel or fancy restaurant, make your outfit slightly more tailored and dressy.
Dressing for a formal affair should never mean anyone should sacrifice style for comfort. In fact with the right wedding guest attire, add a little extra shine with a strapless bandage dress, but remember to top it up with a similar look, it can be a tailored jacket or even your favorite cardigan.
Formal weddings calls for extra special silhouettes which will truly turn heads look for a great beaded gown in a long ankle-length style for a perfectly appropriate nighttime ensemble.
Always remember to keep the colour palate nice and dark, think black, navy to avoid out shinning the bride herself.
Every girl from the flower girl to the mother of the bride should feel her most confident and have fun at the reception. That’s why wedding guest dresses come in so many shapes, style and colors to suit every taste.
As a female invited guest you should use good judgment if the invitation does not specify the formality of the event.
A pastel suit, soft floral dress for daytime or a black dress for evening that is after 18:00 hours will take you almost anywhere.
When you are invited for a wedding you should wear something famine and appropriate, out of respect for your hosts, strapless, see-through, club wear doesn’t belong to a wedding.
It may be your style but for a wedding it is not appropriate.
For an informal daytime and semi-formal daytime a slightly below the knees length dress is good and a suit for business attire is ok for a morning wedding session which many call the church service.
Informal evening and semi-formal evening a cocktail dress which is any dress for example a black dress that’s not full length.
A formal daytime wedding calls for knee length dress or suits.
Hats, chitenge or any cotton material wrapped around the head, although it is rare to see hats and chitenge wrapped at most weddings, let’s bring back this fashion trend.
Make sure to tie it with style and class, it should be different from the way you tie it when going to bed or when doing house chores.
For the make-up start with the foundation and then apply loose powder with a large powder brush. Line both the top and bottom lashes with black mascara, team sultry eyes with a deep berry blusher and a juicy color on lips like a berry or melon shade.
Blow dry your hair straight and then use a straightening iron to give the hair a neat shape and create a small fringe.
Add an interesting accessory such as a beautiful head band, this season’s must have.
Formal evening or black-tie wedding you can wear a long or dressy below the knees length cock tail with some accessories and for an ultra-formal or white tie goes well with a long gown, furs and shiny accessories.
For the black-tie keep the eye make-up simple and elegant. An up-style is the perfect hairstyle for more formal occasion.
Loosely comb or brush hair up and back and then secure with an elastic band.
Wind the hair around the elastic into a chic bun so that the accessories and the details in the dress are seen.
For the day time wedding a fun floral dress, skirt with sling back shoes will work well, you can also wear a light colored suit and try by all means to stay away from black and white, sky blue matched with navy blue as these colours are worn as uniforms by many companies so avoid anything that looks like you are going to the office. Company uniforms are not to be worn to a wedding.
To an evening wedding make sure you dress as you would if you were going out for dinner or on a date.
A cocktail dress would do you proud as long as it is not reveling, but something fun to dance in black is fine, this is a year where black meets gold so to that black attire just add a gold clutch, scarf or accessories.
This month of April clash of prints is a great way to ensure that your look is unique and easy to do.
Wear dark colours and look for something sophisticated, avoid beads unless if the invitation specifically says black tie.
As a woman or lady when you attend a wedding for a friend or family member don’t wear white because it competes with the bride. There are plenty of other colours available.
This rule may seem outdated, but it’s actually just good manners not to compete with the bride on her special day.
As a guest do not wear black during a daytime wedding because it will look as if you have just come straight from a funeral.
Anything too sparkly will make you look overdressed. Now that is bad!
You don’t have to worry about wearing the same colours as the bridesmaids or mothers.
All is forgiven because you are just invited guests who know nothing about the wedding colour theme. You can’t possibly coordinate with everyone in the wedding party.
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