Wedding Etiquette?

Question

I'm going to a friend's wedding tomorrow and I am really going to be pushing it with the time due to an unforseen and unavoidable work commitment.

The ceremony is at 2.30pm, followed by the reception at 4.30pm

My question is this:

What will be the general opinion if I turn up to the ceremony (church) in my work clothes (tailored pants and smartish top - more on the casual side for Saturday duties), then duck home and get glammed up and return to the reception in appropriate attire.

I don't want to look like I didn't make the effort for the ceremony, but I don't want to go to work in a cocktail outfit!

Will my idea work, or will it look like a social faux pas?

Answer 1

you could change clothes but if you are pressed for time, could you just wear something a little dressier to work? it doesn't have to be a cocktail outfit, just a skirt and a nice top. maybe with a jacket or something over it that you can take off for the wedding. to make the outfit appear less like work clothes. it may not be ideal for you, but that saves you the time from going home to change. just bring some makeup and do some touchups. the bride is the one who has to be gorgeous, so it's really ok if you don't look your absolute best. she might just appreciate it-one less person she'd have to compete with.

however, if you are like me and hate to wear super dressy stuff to work when you don't have to, well then just head home and change for the reception. if you sit toward the back during the ceremony and slip out, (forgo a receiving line because you can congratulate her later and those are super annoying anyway when you don't know everyone) and quickly change. no one may even notice you wore something different.

good luck!
and if you decide to make a fast wardrobe change, well then i wish you little traffic, no slow drivers, and all green lights!

Answer 2

For an afternoon wedding slacks may be appropriate in some circles. Though it is a church wedding. Why not bring a skirt along to work with you and slip it on before the ceremony. I do not think you would really need anything more than that even for the reception. She is your friend and you do want to make a good showing. You would be safer to enter the Church in a skirt atleast. The pants would be less appropriate. Remember this is your friend's day. The most important thing is to honor her with your attendance. Good Luck and Have fun.

Answer 3

The fact that you'll be at the ceremony is whats important. The bride will be more worried about what she's wearing along with being so delireiously happy that she probably won't notice what you're wearing at the ceremony, but she will notice if you're not there! If she is worried, then that's here problem and she needs to understand that the world doesn't stop just becuase she's getting married.

If you're playing a role (usher, prayers, biblereading etc) its a different matter, and I htink you should try and look your best then.

So duck home and get changed - what else are you going to do in between?!

Answer 4

Can you pack a nicer top and take it with you to work? Can you pack a dress in your car and take it with you and make the change in between ceremony and reception?

DON'T miss the ceremony due to fashion difficulties. Even if there is no other way than to wear your work clothes, it sounds like they will at least be presentable, so you should be fine. A friend will understand you having to attend in smart looking work clothes, but would be upset if you missed the ceremony due to that.

Answer 5

You'll be more "noticed" at the reception, anyway, so no worries about the wedding attire. It is better to go in your work clothes than not at all, and I HATE when people just go to the reception - I think that is the rudest of all. The fact that you are posing this question makes you much more thoughtful than MANY of the wedding guests I have come to know in my time.

Answer 6

Take something nice to work to change into before the ceremony. You can still go home and get glammed up before the reception.

Answer 7

i think of of it this sort: having a greenback dance at a marriage, a wishing nicely, a money tree or in spite of is partaking in a convention. assorted cultures rejoice marriages in this sort, and for a lot of human beings it somewhat is element of the exciting and truthfully saves the situation of a visit to Macys. alongside with on your invitation a request for money or presents is a controversy of etiquette because you're implying, no count number in case you advise to or no longer, that giving presents (the presents you like, needless to say) is needed of visitors. This distinction would look a sprint stupid because of the fact maximum of human beings does no longer dream of showing up for a marriage with no modern. however the present is a fashion of celebrating, no longer a call for. The invitation is meant as a honor to the recipient, a fashion of asserting "I care sufficient approximately you to decide on you at my wedding ceremony." Diminishing that message with a money seize is rude. contained in the tip, i think of etiquette is generally approximately demonstrating know for human beings greater advantageous than following some ridiculous record. Chewing with your mouth closed is well mannered because of the fact finding at 0.5 chewed nutrition is disgusting, no longer because of the fact pass over Manners says it somewhat is well mannered. that's a fashion of respecting your eating companions. in short, traditions would be achieved in methods that are conserving with etiquette and in methods that at the instant are not. enable's take something on no account approximately money: the finished garter toss. If the groom eliminates the garter, strains up his single pals, and tosses it over his shoulder, that's quite positive. on the different hand, the groom ought to stick his head up the bride's dress and root around whilst the groomsmen make a ruckus. Granny is embarrassed and the minister is blushing. the daddy of the bride needs to kick the groom contained in the pants. it somewhat is nonetheless "classic," however the groom isn't demonstrating know for his visitors. So. I say the two concerns are equivalent and not at all unique.

Answer 8

Why not wear a simple pencil skirt to work with a satin cami underneath a jacket or sweater? Then take off the sweater, add some jewelry, maybe change your shoes, and you're set.

Answer 9

I would change clothes at work before leaving to attend the ceremony...

Answer 10

What kind of wedding are you going to? If it's a black tie formal event, showing up in work clothes isn't going to work.

I think going to a wedding a dressy casual is fine. No one is really going to be too picky about it.