What to wear to a Wedding.

So you're headed down to the chapel to see your best gal get married off? First think long and hard about what you're going to wear. It should go without saying, but lets just go ahead and lay this out there as rule number one. No white. That also means no egg-shell, no creme, and no off-white. You should probably also stay clear of beige, champagne, and lighter shades of taupe. If a bridal gown might possibly come in it, you shouldn't be wearing it. We've all been in that awkward situation where you accidentally matched someone. Its exponentially more awkward if you're matching the bride...

What's that you ask? Isn't there an exception to this rule? The only exception to this rule is if you have just been named one of England's most eligible bachelorettes and the bride can't possibly be upstaged because she is in fact, marrying the future King of England. Oh, that doesn't apply to you? Then don't wear white.

Another good rule to follow, this applies to any wedding festivities, be it a shower, or the ceremony itself, is to dress to the occasion. I would think it obvious that you should not show up significantly under dressed, but let me spell it out for you just in case. I don't care if the invitation says casual, and I don't care if the bride is the most laid back person you know. Jeans are rarely acceptable, and T shirts are absolutely never acceptable. Ever. Especially Tuxedo T shirts. But you also want to avoid being over dressed. Unless you received an invitation that said black tie, and you happen to know that its a ball gown type event, don't assume it is. Gentlemen, unless you're sure its appropriate, or you're the one getting hitched, forget the penguin suit, and stick to a dinner jacket. Ladies... we all remember that moment in Bridesmaids when Rose Byrne's character Helen glides into the room gloriously overdressed, upstaging everyone... including the bride. Yeah, let's not do that. We all remember how popular her character was. 

I think the obvious things to consider next is the time and location.

Alaska in the November? You may want to skip the light summer dress and sandals. Texas in July? Keep it classy, but keep it cool. Temperature is a huge factor, especially if it is an outdoor venue. My advice? dress for the warmest it may be in the given region, then add a jacket, cardigan or pashmina to keep you warm if it gets cool. Speaking of weather, and outside venues, unless you're in the middle of an unwavering drought, put a small umbrella in your clutch, or even leave it in the car just in case. You probably won't even need it, but if you do, trust me, you'll thank me. Here's an important one. Shoes. Every girls favorite part of the outfit. But, here's something to consider, if you're going to be in a grassy area, do you really want your fabulous new stiletto heels to dig into the ground like a golf tee, and come out ruined? No, didn't think so. One option would be to opt for a flat sandal or a chunkier heel... but have you seen those shoes with that dress? Different shoes is hardly an option. Enter a miracle.The SoulMates High Heeler is a small plastic stopper that fits over virtually all heels, protecting your shoe from the wear and tear of the grass, and preventing sinking. No one will even notice you're wearing them as they add relatively no extra height and come in Clear, Black, White, Gold, and Silver, with custom colors available. One Solid investment.

Next lets think about activities. Okay, so you're probably not attending a wedding that's going to be involving rock climbing or relay races, but you will be do some other things that you should consider when finding something to wear.

1. Sitting. Okay that's an obvious one. But, make sure you think about this. You're going to be doing a lot of sitting. Does your dress keep yourself covered while sitting? Is it restrictive or tight when you sit (because its only going to get worse when you're sitting and eating). What about comfort? Is it beaded or embroidered? Because those details are going to start to get pokey and itchy after sitting for a while. 
2. Dancing. Oh, but I probably won't dance... Stop that. If you're at a wedding with dancing going on, and you're not participating, then you are one of two people: Great Aunt Betsy who just got both her knees replaced, or a the party-pooper. No one wants to be either of those people, so make sure you can move around in your dress without showing off too much skin, or passing out from lack of circulation. 
3. The Bathroom. You are not the bride. You do not have several bridesmaids at your immediate and constant disposal to help you pee all night, so make sure you can unzip, unlatch or unbutton all by yourself... or find a really good friend, and get on the same bathroom schedule. And remember, if you're drinking alcohol, you may be using the facilities a little more frequently than usual. 

Lastly lets think about how you feel overall in what you're wearing. We all love Spanx. They're great. They hold us in, they smooth us out, they push us up, and they make us look 10lbs lighter. We also like to say we're in a size 8, when we're really in size 10. It happens ladies. But at the end of the day, make sure you opt for the 10, you'll look better and feel better, and no one will even know the difference. And the Spanx? Wear them. Wear the hell out of them, they are a God send. But get ones that are comfy, and look best for you, with what you're wearing, or you won't be able to breathe all night. Most important thing you can wear? Your smile. ......that was too cheesy. ehhh. 

beeeventful always