Choosing What to wear to a wedding ceremony in a church can be challenging. The dress code is formal, the people you’ll be standing next to are your friends and relatives, and you know you’ll stand out in an ocean of black. With guidelines on proper attire and accessories, I hope that you can confidently walk into a church wedding ceremony ‘dressed-to-impress’ without feeling standoffish. Read on for what to wear for a christian wedding and what to wear to a catholic church wedding.
Not everyone enjoys wedding ceremonies, is invited to every wedding, or wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress. If you find yourself in one of these situations, here are a few last minute tips on what to wear to a wedding ceremony in a church.
You might be interested in knowing how best to wear your clothes to a wedding ceremony in a church. You may not have even thought about it before seeing this blog post headline, but you would definitely appreciate having the information I am about to share with you.
In a proper wedding ceremony, it is important to make sure that your outfit is appropriate for the venue and other guests. Here are some tips on what to wear for a wedding ceremony in a church.
- A long-sleeved dress or skirt with tights or opaque leggings underneath
- A blazer or sweater over your dress (optional)
- Closed-toe shoes
What To Wear To A Wedding Ceremony In A Church
Dressing for a wedding ceremony in a church can be tricky, because you want to be respectful of the space and not wear something that could get you kicked out (like no heels). But at the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re going to Sunday brunch instead of a wedding!
Here are some tips for figuring out what to wear.
- Avoid white or cream-colored clothing, which is reserved for bridesmaids and other special guests at some churches.
- If you’re wearing a skirt or dress that has an open back, make sure it’s long enough so that nothing shows when you sit down—and be careful about how low cut it is if it’s sleeveless because this is also considered inappropriate in some places.
- Wear comfortable shoes that won’t make noise when you walk on hardwood floors (like ballet flats).
Right here on Churchgists, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on casual church wedding attire, what to wear to a wedding reception female, what kind of dress to wear to a wedding, and so much more. Take out time to visit our Website for more information on similar topics.
What To Wear To A Christian Wedding
For a casual church wedding, this might mean a short-sleeved sundress that hits just below the knee or a relaxed, linen suit. For a more formal affair, formal attire such as a full-length silk gown or black, tailored suit will likely work best.
When you’re invited to a wedding ceremony in a church, it’s best to dress conservatively. For women, this means wearing a dress or skirt. The appropriate length for skirts and dresses is knee-length or floor-length. It’s also better for your hemline to be A-line than straight. Men can wear either suits or tuxedos with button-down shirts and ties (or bowties).
Wear a dress or skirt
As you’re gathering your outfit, think about a dress or skirt. A dress or skirt is the most traditional option for church weddings, and it will be comfortable to wear during an entire ceremony. Plus, you won’t have to worry about being overdressed if everyone else is wearing jeans and T-shirts!
If you want something more formal than a dress or skirt (and are willing to spend more), consider pairing your outfit with a blazer instead of a cardigan. This will give your look more structure without being too stuffy. If you prefer something even more sleek, opt for either a bolero jacket or a suit jacket over your dress or skirt.
Wear neutral colors
When deciding what to wear to a church wedding, it’s important to keep in mind that the ceremony will be held in a church. This means you should avoid wearing any clothing with strong or flashy colors. You also shouldn’t wear white or black clothing because both of these colors are associated with funerals and death, which is not appropriate at a wedding ceremony. If possible, try to find something that is more neutral in color and pattern—such as navy blue or tan—so your outfit can be worn again without looking out of place.
Wear appropriate shoes
If you’re planning to wear heels, choose a pair that is comfortable and appropriate for the occasion. Wedges are another good choice if you are in between heights. If, however, you are short or tall and cannot wear heels without feeling uncomfortable, opt for flats instead. Avoid flip-flops at all costs—they may be cute, but they’re not appropriate for church weddings!
Flats look great with long dresses and skirts; try experimenting with different styles of flat shoes to see what looks best on your body type. You can also add height to pants outfits by wearing wedges or even high heels! Use this opportunity to find out which kind of shoe most suits your style so that next time there’s an event requiring formal attire it won’t be such a struggle deciding what shoes will work best with what outfit (especially if there aren’t many options available!).
Avoid wearing patterns
When deciding what to wear to a wedding ceremony in a church, avoid wearing patterns. Patterns are distracting and can be too loud or too busy. If you have a patterned dress or suit, make sure it’s not too bold.
Cover your shoulders
Your outfit should cover your shoulders, as well as the tops of your arms. That means that it’s best to avoid strapless tops, short-sleeved shirts and low-cut tops. You can also choose to wear a tank top or spaghetti strap dress if you’re comfortable with it—just make sure they are long enough to cover your bra straps!
If you don’t want to go sleeveless but still want an open back look (like a lace top) then consider wearing something that has a high neckline or a halter style instead. It will give the same effect without revealing too much skin on your back.
Opt for a modest hemline
Your skirt should be modest, which means you should avoid short skirts, mini skirts, and tight skirts. You also want to make sure that your hemline falls just above or below the knee. If you’re wearing a dress with short sleeves and an open back (which is typical for summer weddings), make sure that your arms are covered by a shrug or jacket.
Avoid short sleeves
For a church wedding, it is important to follow the dress code of the church if you are a guest or member of that particular denomination. If you are not sure what this is, ask someone in advance or look up the information online. Some churches require women to wear dresses or skirts and blouses with sleeves at least three-quarters down their upper arm; others prefer longer sleeves that cover all of an arm (but below elbow length).
If you want to show off some skin by wearing your favorite sleeveless dress, make sure it’s still within their guidelines by making sure its neckline isn’t too low-cut and doesn’t reveal too much cleavage.
What To Wear To A Wedding Ceremony In A Church Woman
It’s best to wear a conservative dress or skirt to church weddings.
- A dress or skirt is the best option for a church wedding. Skirts should be worn at or below the knee, as should dresses. Longer hemlines tend to look unflattering in photos and are also not appropriate for weddings held in churches.
- Neutral colors are best when choosing what you want to wear to a church wedding ceremony, but if you’re feeling daring, try wearing one color from head-to-toe instead of relying on an outfit with multiple colors that could clash with each other.
- Shoes need to be appropriate for walking around during the service and long enough heels that they don’t show off any part of your foot (or worse yet, flip-flops). Avoid wearing open-toed shoes; they won’t match with anyone else’s attire so they’ll stick out like sore thumbs (and possibly distract everyone else from paying attention during the ceremony).
- Avoid patterns like stripes or polka dots; they can sometimes be distracting since they aren’t usually seen in everyday life outside of clothing stores selling formal wear like prom dresses or wedding gowns–which might make them feel out of place at a religious event such as this one!
- Make sure that whatever top you choose does not expose anything above your shoulders–this includes spaghetti straps as well as low cut necklines on anything less than sleeveless tops/shirts/blouses (unless otherwise specified by host). The same rule applies even if it wasn’t specified by someone else beforehand–always err towards caution when choosing an outfit because even though people may forget what their dress code was supposed to entail beforehand there’s always someone who remembers afterward which means there could still potentially be consequences involved later down the road so it’s better safe than sorry here!
Casual Church Wedding Attire
It is often the case that when we are invited to a wedding, one of the first things to consider is what you will wear to celebrate the occasion. Particularly when no dress code is given, it is important to ensure that you are wearing an outfit that reflects the formality of the occasion, and often there are particular things that both male and female guests will need to consider, particularly if the wedding in question will be held in a church.
So, what do you wear to a church wedding? Church weddings require guests to be respectful of religious connotations along with any requests of the bride and groom. So, it is usually advised that guests wear ‘Sunday best’ to a church wedding. For men, this might mean a suit with appropriate footwear and for women an outfit with a modest hem and neckline and covered shoulders.
Typically, the dress code for any wedding is indicated by the formality of the invitation and depends on the time of day, location, and preferences of the happy couple.
How Should I Dress For A Church Wedding?
You should dress formally yet elegantly for a church wedding. It is also generally advised to wear a shawl or coverup over the shoulders.
It is always better to ‘over-dress’ than to take a more casual approach at a wedding (unless specifically advised by the bride and groom).
Weddings are usually quite formal celebrations in that there are many traditional elements that couples often choose to uphold.
Traditionally, wedding attire is relatively formal, hence our advice as to what to wear to a church wedding.
If you are unsure of the formality of the wedding celebration you are attending, I would always advise speaking to the happy couple to ask for their opinion.
It is quite common for guests of a church wedding to dress however they wish, but to bring with them a jacket, scarf, or shawl to the church ceremony.
Covering up a slightly more revealing outfit is seen as a sign of respect in the church.
The term Sunday best originates from the nineteenth century, where people’s best clothing was typically reserved for special occasions and attending church.
Nowadays, the phrase refers to formal clothing.
Attending any wedding, I thoroughly enjoy looking at what others are wearing.
This weekend we attended the wedding of our friends – held in a church.
Most of the men in attendance were wearing formal suits with ties and smart dress shoes.
As it happened, the majority of the men wore blue suits but any color – black, grey, brown – would be acceptable for a church wedding.
The women wore a variety of different outfit styles.
Some wore smart skirts, blouses, and jackets, others were in formal dresses and a few of the female guests wore pantsuits.
I was surprised to see that a few of the guests wore halter-neck dresses or dresses with very narrow straps.
This got me thinking about whether or not shoulders need to be covered in a church.
So, I did some research. Read on to discover what I found.
Do Shoulders Need To be Covered In Church?
When attending a wedding mass in a church, it is advised, (but not enforced) that women should cover their shoulders. This is a long-standing tradition of modesty during church services and does differ depending on the church. For example, during a Catholic wedding mass, it is more likely that women would be expected to cover their shoulders.
That being said, it does not mean that you cannot wear an off-the-shoulder or strapless dress to a church wedding.
Quite the opposite, in fact, it may just take some forethought and a root around in your closet or trip to the store to ensure that you have a jacket, shawl, or simple throw to cover your shoulders during the church ceremony part of the wedding day.
Some churches do have a slightly more modern view on appropriate attire and so sleeveless dresses or shirts are absolutely fine to wear.
Often, churches will have a website where this sort of information can be found so guest can plan their outfit accordingly.
And, again, if there is any uncertainty in your mind about whether or not to cover your shoulders at a church wedding, we would highly recommend seeking the guidance of the wedding couple beforehand.
What Not To Wear To A Church Wedding
As with any formal event or occasion, there are certain things to avoid wearing to a church wedding. These include trainers, sportswear, highly revealing outfits, swimwear, the color white (unless explicitly stated), denim, clothing that is ripped or has holes in, sweats, and t-shirts.
It goes without saying that it should only be the bride – or brides – in white on their wedding day.
So perhaps steer clear of that white dress in your closet. Even if it is white with patterns or print on, I would recommend avoiding so as not to cause any upset.
Men, in particular, should avoid wearing trainers with their suits.
Not only does it look bad, but trainers are considered informal attire by most establishments – including some bars, nightclubs, restaurants and you guessed it- churches.
A dress shoe in either black or brown often works well.
Sweats and sportswear are also not appropriate in that they are just a bit too casual for an occasion such as a wedding.
If you are wanting to be comfortable at the wedding, instead opt for a floaty dress or loose-fitting shirt.
On their wedding day, the bride and groom (or any other combination of those roles!) understandably should be the star of the show, so guests should try to avoid wearing a highly revealing outfit to the wedding.
Not only does this detract attention away from the happy couple, but it may be viewed as disrespectful in a setting such as a church.
Denim is also a no-no for wedding attire, being more of an everyday look, guests are encouraged to make an effort with their appearance and so avoiding a casual denim look is encouraged.
Finally
Weddings are momentous occasions in peoples’ lives.
The formality of the happy couples’ nuptials will often be dictated by the formality of the invitation.
Either way, making an effort with your outfit as a wedding guest for a church wedding is the best way to go.
And if you are looking for inspiration or a particular outfit, head over to Church Dress Collection on The Dress Outlet.
Trust me, you’ll find something there.
And while they meet the criteria, if you don’t shop there and decide to do so elsewhere, have in mind the phrase Sunday Best when selecting your outfit for a church wedding.
What To Wear As A Church Wedding Guest
What To Wear To A Wedding Ceremony In A Church
If you’re attending a wedding ceremony in a church, it’s important to dress in a way that shows respect for the venue.
This means keeping the amount of skin exposed to a minimum and making sure that your clothing is appropriate for those around you.
If it’s cold outside, wear a coat and scarf or gloves, but don’t cover your face completely—this is still a public place and you want to be able to see what’s going on around you.
Wear shoes that are comfortable enough for standing for long periods of time, and make sure they’re clean so as not to soil the carpeting or make other people uncomfortable with dirty footprints.
Conclusion
When attending a church wedding, it can be hard to know what to wear. A good rule of thumb is that you should wear something that’s appropriate for mass. If you’re someone who dresses modestly during your weekly visits to church, then this probably won’t be new territory for you. If not, remember that the key is being respectful of the religious setting and dressing appropriately.