"Morning Dress" for wedding in UK - what should I wear?
My husband and I are going to a wedding in the UK in late October. It's at 4 PM, and the invitation specified "morning dress". I know what this means for men, but I have no idea what to wear myself. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
What I have seen in the recent past are full-length dresses for women. Not ball gowns, but just one step below that in formality. And hats!
Men in tails with a grey tie and waistcoat and diplomat's trousers. I think if the ceremony were after dark, the men would be expected to wear white tie. Top hat is optional.
I don't know much about what that exactly means, but I agree that if you're going to wear a hat, definitely buy it in the UK. The Peter Jones in London has a huge selection of hats - and they're much nicer than anything I've seen here in the States.
Maybe things have changed, but in all my years of going to weddings in the U.K. with or without a morning dress requirement I have never seen a full-length dress on anyone but the bride, bridesmaids and officiating clergyperson! 4 weddings and a funeral is an excellent suggestion for dress ideas, but really anything that's dressy (and isn't black or white) with a hat will be acceptable. Take an umbrella - there's often a certain amount of hanging around. One difference between US and UK weddings is that, unlike the US, the ushers will escort you to your seat, but they won't take your arm. The first time that happened to me over here it really spooked me
Ok, morning dress is a step down from black tie. So no ball gowns, but if its a winter wedding, you may get away with a cocktail dress, so long as its understated (not too many sequins or feathers!). If it isn't summer, a smart pants suit (or indeed a skirt suit) may stop you being cold. If you've got the invitation now, I'm presuming November wedding, so its likely to be cold, so unfortunately the summery frocks which are the stand by may just be too cold.If its a summer wedding, bizarrely black is less appropriate, but in winter, difficult to get away from. Elegance is always good however.
Hats are really your call. For a society type wedding, they are de rigeur, but increasingly not worn. I always do, because I like wearing them
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I have a better idea now. A regular length dress or suit - no problem. The hardest part will be deciding on whether to wear a hat. I don't own one and would probably never wear it again, so I'd rather not, but don't want to be the only person not wearing one.
Hat and suit. Hat should be purchased in the UK. Hats here are just not the same.
Rent four weddings and funeral, get some ideas.
lala
That was my experience. For an afternoon wedding, about half had on suits and half were wearing dresses. Pretty even split between hats & not-hats. But I also agree if you're going to wear a hat to buy it in the UK. Even if you never wear it again, it's quite fun to go shopping for them and wear it for the day
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I have a better idea now. A regular length dress or suit - no problem. The hardest part will be deciding on whether to wear a hat. I don't own one and would probably never wear it again, so I'd rather not, but don't want to be the only person not wearing one.
You really won't be only none-hat wearing person. At the last two wedddings I've attended, I've been the only person in my group of friends to wear one.
Isn't 4pm a little late in the day for morning dress? Especially 4pm in late October? I'm just wondering if this is the norm in the UK. I should think that black tie would be better as it would be getting darker soon at 4pm in late October than in June. Just my two cents.
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Isn't 4pm a little late in the day for morning dress? Especially 4pm in late October? I'm just wondering if this is the norm in the UK. I should think that black tie would be better as it would be getting darker soon at 4pm in late October than in June. Just my two cents.
Rarely (I'd say never, but I can't prove it ) is black tie worn at an English wedding.
Interesting. So I take it that there are no evening weddings? Or one just wears morning coat 24/7?
I once read a murder mystery where the bad guy forced the sweet young thing to marry him to prevent her from testifying against him, but the marriage was overturned/thrown out because the ceremony happened after 3pm and therefore was invalid (set in London registrar's office). Bad guy was eventually hung on SYT's testimony. I've always wondered if UK law really does require weddings to be perfomed before 3pm? Anybody know? Or was perhaps that the law in the 30's, but no longer?
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