I knew it was time to address this topic when wedding photos started popping up in my Facebook newsfeed again.  The further we get into our 20′s, the more wedding invitations find their way into our mailboxes. That means, of course, the more outfits you must carefully prepare!  And eternal love, blah blah blah.

I’ve seen some wildly inappropriate selections at the 9 weddings I’ve been to in recent years.  I’ve also seen some great choices.  I’m going to give a few tips on what works and what doesn’t – not that you need it…but someone you know might.

Consult the invitation

I just got an invite for a wedding this summer and “black tie” was written in very small font on the very bottom of the card.  It goes to show you should pay attention and read very carefully.  Another detail to observe is the style of the invitation.  Is it very formal in design or is it quite simple?  What are the main colors?  You can often derive the tone of the wedding (fancy or laid back) as well as color schemes from these cues.  Use this to structure your attire. We don’t want to show up looking like bridesmaids, now do we?

Tone it down a bit

I’m not suggesting you look boring.  I’m merely reminding you that there will be older generations and religious figures involved.  Give yourself a serious once over and make sure you aren’t showing too much. Try and avoid overly bright colors and/or anything you would wear to a club.  This includes extreme shoes as well.

Take your mom shopping

Unless your mom is more Dina Lohan than Charlotte York, bring her along to pick out a dress.  Chances are she’ll gravitate more towards a classic style and will have been to enough weddings to know what will fit in.

I said DRESS

It’s the simplest way to get fancy enough.  Base the style of dress on what you learned above.

Do I really need to spell this out?

Unfortunately, yes.  I’ve seen multiple women show up wearing white.  Once I even saw a LONG, WHITE DRESS.  I’m not going to say this again – only the bride gets to wear a white dress.  The End.

Where do I go?

I’ve found some really excellent dresses at The Limited for small prices.  Try your luck at H&M but proceed with caution  -quality can be an issue sometimes.  Any department store dress section will offer a wide variety in many price points as well.

The moral of the story is, the bride and groom are looking the best they ever have in their lives.  Shouldn’t you honor them by putting some effort into your look?  Be appropriate, and really think about your styling.  Cheers!

photo is property of Whitney Middleton

Looking for some great gift options or even just an affordable shopping fix? Buy Choice consignment shop is the way to go!

Buy Choice has gently used items for sale including all types of women’s clothing and shoes, and brand new accessories too. I saw an amazing dress, perfect for New Years, and a gorgeous winter white leather jacket for sale last time I stopped by. Katji, one of the owners, has a great eye for choosing versatile and stylish items.

Pictured is a bib necklace I bought for $24 and a Chanel-esque pin for $5.

Now through January 1, Buy Choice is having a Buy 2 Items, Get 1 Free sale on all merchandise! You can’t beat that.

Buy Choice  – 3860 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL

773-296-4525