Marriages can be an excellent reason to dress up but several sartorial restrictions still apply, particularly when it comes to female clothing. One principle is to not upstage the bride on her big day perhaps by wearing white or dressing too flamboyantly. A further guideline is not to don a black dress to a wedding for the reason that, in Western culture, black in considered the shade of grieving. That said, precisely what is really the appropriate garb for the female guests and when could evening gowns be donned?

There seem to be as many styles and concepts for marriages nowadays as there are brides-to-be ranging from the very conventional to the avant-garde. Bush and beach weddings have been increasing in appeal over the past couple of decades and they represent the most informal of all the wedding styles. The apparel codes for these types of wedding ceremonies likewise are typically relaxed, even casual. In fact, it isn’t unusual for guests to be barefoot at a seaside marriage ceremony without a single male tie in sight…

This year saw the uncommon incidence of a couple of royal marriages in the space of a few months. First the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate followed by the marriage of former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock to Prince Albert of Monaco. These regal marriages were extraordinary not only because they involved royalty and were held close to one another during the very same year but because they are examples of the kind of formal wedding ceremony that we do not see a lot of. Although many people still have traditional wedding celebrations which frequently incorporate formal aspects, evening dresses are not normally seen on female wedding guests except in the case of royal marriages, and while you might observe ladies sporting longer-length dresses, they’re more likely to be maxi-dresses than true evening gowns.

Charlene’s wedding was the perfect example of an occasion where an evening gown was appropriate. Although the ceremony itself was a mid-afternoon event, the reception were held in the evening therefore most of the ladies wore long evening gowns. There was a break between the service and the wedding party to allow the attendees to swap to evening attire because, even in the case of a royal wedding, it isn’t normal for evening gowns to be worn for a wedding and reception at any time except in the evening. This means that if you’re attending a night time reception it is acceptable to put on an evening gown but it is too over-the-top at any other time of the day time.

As a general rule, you should try to wear something elegant and understated, so if you’re considering purchasing an evening gown especially for a wedding event then you may want to opt for a short cocktail gown rather than a long one. A shorter gown is more versatile and you will be able to use it again on another occasion. Metallic garments are acceptable for day time however you may wish to reserve the sequins and satins for evening weddings, and depending on the time of year, you may want to pair the gown with a cover-up or possibly a short jacket or bolero for additional comfort and visual appeal.