Weddings > Ideas & Advice > Dress the Part: Formal or Semi-Formal, Traditional or Contemporary
Dress the Part: Formal or Semi-Formal, Traditional or Contemporary
Use these guidelines to coordinate your wedding party to your and your grooms wedding style:
Traditional Styles
Use these guidelines to coordinate your wedding party to your and your grooms wedding style:
Daytime Weddings (before 6 pm)
Ultra-Formal
Bridesmaids: Long dresses. Short veils or other headpieces, gloves and shoes to match.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - A cutaway suit with trousers and a sing-collar shirt.
Contemporary - A long or short contoured tuxedo with trousers and a wing-collar shirt.
Formal
Bridesmaids: Long or short dresses. Headpieces, accessories, gloves and shoes to match.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - A stroller, waistcoat, striped trousers, white shirt and striped tie.
Contemporary - A formal tuxedo, dress shirt, bow tie and vest or cummerbund.
Semiformal
Bridesmaids: Long or short dresses. Shoes and accessories to match.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - A suit with a white, colored, or striped shirt, and four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary - Dinner jacket or formal suit, dress shirt, bow tie and vest or cummerbund.
Informal
Bridesmaids: Maid of honor is dressed in a short dress or suit, similar in style to the brides.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - A suit with a white, colored, or striped shirt, and four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary - Dinner jacket or formal suit, dress shirt, bow tie and vest or cummerbund.
Evening Weddings (after 6 pm)
Ultra-Formal
Bridesmaids: Long dresses. Short veils or other headpieces, gloves, shoes and accessories to match.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - Full dress tailcoat, matching trousers, white waistcoat, white bow tie, and wing-collar shirt.
Contemporary - A long or short contoured tuxedo with trousers and a wing-collar shirt.
Formal
Bridesmaids: Long or short dresses. Headpieces, accessories, gloves and shoes to match.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - A stroller, waistcoat, striped trousers, white shirt and striped tie.
Contemporary - A formal tuxedo, dress shirt, bow tie and vest or cummerbund.
Semiformal
Bridesmaids: Street-length dresses. Shoes and accessories to match.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - White or colored suit, striped shirt and four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary - Dinner jacket or formal suit, dress shirt, bow tie and vest or cummerbund.
Informal
Bridesmaids: Maid of honor is dressed in a short dress or suit, similar in style to the brides.
Groomsmen:
Traditional - A suit with a white, colored, or striped shirt, and four-in-hand tie.
Contemporary - Dinner jacket or formal suit, dress shirt, bow tie and vest or cummerbund.
Dressing the Bridal Party
Carry your wedding style through to your bridal party's look.
Bedecking the Bridal Party in Style
Yes, you have final say on what the bridesmaids will wear, but don't torture them. Keep in mind their budgets, body types, and personal styles. Remember, happy maids will be helpful maids.
Letting the bridesmaids choose the dress they'll all wear may not be as big a favor as you think, because then it becomes a decision by committee - often of people who don't know each other well enough to express their desires openly. Instead, consider having them narrow the field, then you make the final choice.
If groomsmen are renting their tuxedos, make sure they try on every element - including cufflinks, studs, and shoes - before leaving the shop to make sure the outfit's complete and everything fits.
Make sure your flower girl can walk comfortably in her dress, especially if she's on the younger side. A full tulle skirt is easy to trip on, and you don't want her to get hurt.
