We're received some inquiries on preferred attire for our Castle Wedding. We appreciate any questions you may have and we'll try to answer as comprehensively as possible.
At the end of the text, we've provided links to short articles that review tips for how our friends and family might approach dressing up for our event. To further spare guests the headache of deciphering wedding attire code, we will share some insight regarding specifics of our celebration that may influence your choices.
Formal Attire to Black Tie Optional to Black Tie
To help guide your choices, consider the other wedding events, (pub, night, tea party, rehearsal dinner) what their attire is and how your choices compare. Tuesday evening's rehearsal dinner calls for "semi-formal or cocktail". It may help to keep in mind that the "black tie" attire for the wedding should be a little more formal in comparison to what you choose for rehearsal dinner.
Click here to see the above terms defined:
A note on length of ladies' dresses
I would encourage guests to wear a longer length gown because that is what I would want to do. I don't often attend such formal affairs and I'd take advantage of the chance to go beyond the cocktail dress. That doesn't mean that there aren't beautiful and shorter yet formal gowns out there. Consider the fabric and color as well. A cotton, bright and floral maxi dress may be long but does not qualify as formal attire and might be better suited on a beach. A shorter dress can be pretty, elegant and appropriate if the color, pattern and/or color imply a certain fanciness. Mid-length or tea length dresses are very pretty if it suits your taste and you find one that fits your body type. It's a classic silhouette that's always a very pretty option and one of my current favorites. At the end of this post, you'll find some examples of styles mentioned here.
"How fancy should I dress?"
Ok, guys and gals. We're getting married in a castle. A castle! When was the last time you toasted to never ending love in a centuries old castle on the Emerald Isle? When will you have this opportunity again? So have some fun and get fancy! With that said...
Ceremony and reception locations, the weather
Keep in mind that the ceremony will be at 3 pm, outdoors in the castle garden. If it should rain or the weather gets too chilly (it could happen even in May), the ceremony would be held indoors. Your dress should be elegant and formal but comfortable enough for a short and sweet outdoor ceremony before moving indoors to the castle for cocktails and then dinner and dancing. The weather in May is historically in the 60's or 70's (Fahrenheit) and if the sun is shining it could be pleasantly warm, unless you are wearing a heavy ball gown with tons of itchy beading...you get the idea. I would avoid anything too cumbersome and focus on feeling pretty and moving easily enough to show off your best moves on the dance floor.
Click here for helpful guidance from Bride's magazine
Click here for the Knot magazine's take on formal and black tie wedding attire
