What To Wear: To An Evening Wedding

So even though these days most weddings, we find, are scheduled during the daytime followed by an evening reception, some couples are still opting for the romance (and usually formality, unless it's on the beach) of an evening wedding.Which is lovely and all, but typically leaves the guest receiving the evening wedding invitation wondering (read: panicking over) just what exactly one is expected to wear for an evening ceremony.

Dressing for a daytime wedding is pretty simple most of the time, and with a break between the wedding ceremony and the reception we often even have the option of changing into something more evening-appropriate/cocktail-y for the later festivities. But an evening wedding?

Well, first of all - the evening wedding is by it's very nature generally a more formal affair, and this is where the wording on the invitation comes in. If the invitation specifies "White Tie", "Black Tie" or "Black Tie Suggested (or Optional)" ladies should be wearing a floor length gown (more on that in a minute), though a dressy cocktail dress can be appropriate for a black tie suggested. If the invitation doesn't say, we'd suggest consider the location and setting of the wedding, and always err on the side of dressiness (life rule #452 - it's always better to be overdressed than under-dressed).

So, you're asking yourself, are there any rules for exactly what kind of floor length evening dress (or in slightly less formal circumstances, cocktail dress) is appropriate for a wedding? This isn't the Academy Awards after all, and if you're like most of us, evening gowns are not something we deal with a whole lot beyond, oh say, the last time we were a bridesmaid. So here are some guidelines (along with some dresses we love) to help you strike the pitch-perfect evening-wedding-guest tone:

1. The Question of Color. Consider the season and the wedding theme, but generally if we're talking a black tie evening wedding, neutrals are best, and black is completely acceptable (and always chic!). If you want to do a color, think deep rich jewel tones (and always keep in mind what the wedding colors are, so as to not accidentally look like a member of the wedding party who got left behind).

2. Silhouette. Fitted is fine, but super sexy? Not so much. Keep it simple and classic - a simple A-line or sheath is flattering to most body types, and a fit and flare doable as well. What to avoid? Ball gowns and mermaids - save those cuts for the bride.

3. The Question of Sparkle. Okay, there are all kinds of places we'd be totally good with getting your bling on, but a wedding is not one of them (it's the bride's night to shine). That being said, a little shimmer or sparkle is not out of the question, just keep it focused and low key. Big blingy silvery gems and stones? Um, no (with the exception perhaps a neckline that takes the place of jewelry). Tone-on-tone or clear sequins accents on a classic silhouette? Definitely.

For some of our favorite evening wedding guest gown picks, check out our slideshow ....