What should I wear to this wedding?

Question

We are attending a reception this Saturday. It is outdoors at a park, so I was thinking sundress, but the time is evening where I would normally wear semi-formal cocktail attire. Invitation only indicates Cocktails, Dinner, and Dancing beginning at 5. Wording is a hybrid between formal and informal, so that is no help. It's a friend of my husband, so I have no idea what their families' events are like, and hubby's eyes glaze over when I try to ask about the differences in attire. What do you think...

White and red floral print sundress with pearls and pumps to dress it up?
-or-
Black cocktail dress with silver jewelry and sandals to dress it down.

It's not a daytime wedding... Dinner is at 6 o'clock. Black cocktail dress is actually a bridesmaid's dress that I bought to stand up in a wedding last year - so, no, not funeral-y.

Answer 1

There's nothing wrong with the black dress if you accessorize. Black is classic and timeless, whether inside or out. Make the dress pop with a different color shoe (try wedges for a dressed down look instead of sandals, sandals may look funny with a black cocktail dress). Try a silver shoe, or even a red to make the outfit pop. Accessorize to match the shoe, but stay away from black. Have a great time!

Answer 2

Black cocktail with colored jewelry and the sandals. The only reason I say toss a little color in somewhere is because all black might be kinda funeralish. I've havn't seen the dress so can't say for sure. If the invitation is a mix of formal and informal it is probably meant to be formal but the bride isn't skilled at invitation wording.

Of all the traditions that have survived not wearing white to a wedding is a big one. I wouldn't risk it even with the floral print.

Answer 3

A ring is a symbol, it does not define. I recently lost my wedding band - it slipped off while we were planting this past spring. I have worn that ring for almost 24 years now. It is one of the few material things that had meaning. I remind myself it is just a material 'thing' but I am sad it is gone. We do not have the money at the moment to replace it, but we will at some point. So, right now I am married and not wearing a ring (I never wanted an engagement ring). I try to joke about it - I tell my husband to keep his distance when we're out as I might be able to pick someone up - lol. Also, I know couples who are allergic (I have a friend who can't wear any metal) or whose jobs require they wear no jewelry. Sometimes there are good reasons people do not wear a ring when married. I probably would not notice if someone was not wearing a ring. It does not matter to me.

Answer 4

Black Cocktail dress

Answer 5

You should not be wearing black to anyone's wedding. Period. Now you need something more formal than a sundress because the affair is after 5PM you were right with the cocktail dress idea although at a wedding you could wear a gown if you want but ditch the black.

Answer 6

Wear the black cocktail dress. The dress will blend in if people dress formal or dress down.

Answer 7

Black cocktail dress with silver jewelry and sandals to dress it down.

Answer 8

Black cocktail dress is perfect. You can wear black to a wedding these days, even bridesmaids are wearing black now.

Answer 9

Pumps in the dirt are NO fun. You may want to wear the cocktail dress with sandals. (Just make sure they aren't flip-flops, as nothing screams anti-wedding ware like flip-flops)

Have a good time :)

Answer 10

I think black is perfectly fine for an evening wedding, even when it's outside. If is somewhere between formal and informal I think your second choice if the better option.

Good luck and have fun!