If the wedding invitation asks for formal attire, know that this will be an elegant affair and you should dress accordingly. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to wear a tuxedo or something to that effect, however, you do have that option to if you would like.
Men
A suit is mandatory with formal attire. Stick to a dark suit with a white shirt and tie. Pair this with dressy leather shoes and you are good to go. A tuxedo would not be inappropriate if you would like to wear one.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Women
If you are planning on wearing a dress, it should be floor length. An evening pant suit or smart separates is also appropriate. Stick to neutral or dark tones. Heels would be the best shoe choice with this type of attire.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Featured image: Unsplash
Square cakes have become a bold and modern choice at weddings in recent years as couples seek to be different on their big day. Instead of the traditional…
Why do brides get to have all the fun? There are so many ways for grooms to bring their personality out on their big day that won’t eclipse the proceedings. Once such way is with their boutonnière. Yes, florals are classic, but they’re also expected.
Let your personality shine through with a unique boutonnière that speaks to you and what you love most. Love Star Wars? Have a lightsaber-wielding Darth Vader hold up your florals. Dungeons and Dragons fans can use their dice as a fashion statement. You could also pay tribute to a loved one that has passed away by pinning their image to your lapel.
Take inspiration from these crafty gents:
Feature image: Unsplash
Having a farm wedding is a far cry from a glamorous suburban wedding in the city but we strongly believe all that glitters isn’t gold. Farm weddings aren’t…
Weddings and flowers go hand in hand. Every beautiful blossom tells a different story, complementing the bride on her big day. If you’re planning a wedding and aren’t sure which bouquet to go with, why not go with the tried and trusted florals? These are the most popular wedding flowers of all time.
10 – Gardenia
Gardenia’s represent purity and joy, making them fun and playful additions to your bridal bouquet. This flower’s smell is intoxicating and will add an extra sweetness on your big day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgbtVHJhhh4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
9 – Sweet Peas
With ruffled petals and a unique shape, sweat peas are romantic yet whimsical. They signify “lasting pleasure”, making this flower a very sweet and meaningful bloom to carry with you on your big day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4G9E1EA-4r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
8 – Stephanotis
This flower represented “marital happiness” in Victorian times, which makes it fitting for a bridal bouquet. A Stephanotis bouquet or boutonniere is incredibly traditional and is often favoured by the more classic couple.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BshrU1hniLQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
7 – Ranunculus
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to roses, look no further. The rananculus is fuller, fluffier and whimsical, making it perfect for the unique bride.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vkUm6Fvc2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
6 – Peony
Peonies represent love, happiness and ambition. Voluminous and romantic, this delicate flower is an expensive yet worthwhile addition to any bridal bouquet.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B62VXpXBVsS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
5- Hydrangeas
This beautiful bunch makes for a perfect bouquet with its full, bushy shape. Use three stems to create a full bouquet, or simple add one or two into a bunch with other flowers to create dimension and fullness.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzXjHoVpLTJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
4 – Lily of the Valley
This small, delicate bunch features bell-shaped florets, and has come to be known at the “ladder to heaven”. It’s a royal favourite, having appeared in Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet back in 2011.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu_SKHCj-6A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
3 – Calla Lilies
Also known as the arum lily, this flower offers a unique trumpet-shape that appears elegant and modern yet romantic. This flower originates in Africa and has come to represent magnificent beauty. Calla lilies are the perfect choice for a summer wedding.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcP5lAOHB4c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
2- Tulips
Tulips have become popular wedding flowers for their representation of love. This flower is fresh yet elegant, perfect for the colourful bride wanting to be different. The most popular varieties are Dutch tulips, French tulips and parrot tulips.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwuvk28g_1k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
1 – Roses
Are you even surprised? Roses, the red variety to be specific, have symbolised love, passion and romance for decades. Roses are perfect for the classic bride. With over 3,000 varieties of roses to pick from, you’ll be spoilt for choice with this flower.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B00DnfQFQYy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Image: Unsplash
Younger actress Hilary Duff, who recently tied the knot to Matthew Koma, shared some adorable pictures of their honeymoon in South Africa. After an intimate wedding ceremony, the…
Rehearsal dinners are by no means compulsory and, of course, are not the main event. However, I’m sure we can all agree that they are part of the fun of wedding celebrations. In fact, they set the tone for the beginning of the festivities.
The event commonly comes after a run-through of the wedding ceremony. While the rehearsal dinner is centred around fun, food, family and friends, it also serves some important purposes.
Often, the rehearsal dinner is the first time that all friends and family of both the bride and groom are under one roof. Many guests will be meeting for the first time. This is important as it allows all the guests and important attendees to get to know each other; it ensures that, on the special day, everyone is getting along and comfortably able to have fun with each other.
Another important function of the rehearsal dinner is the speeches. Most people prefer to keep the speeches on the wedding day to a minimum, with only the parents of the couple, the maid-of-honour and best-man saying a few words. Obviously, there are more people who might want to celebrate the happy couple with a word or two; maybe some friends, siblings, or other close family members. The rehearsal dinner is the time for all of these speeches. It allows for everyone to say what they want and feel as if they are a part of the wedding, without extending the duration of wedding speeches unecessarily.
But what is the origin of the rehearsal dinner, you ask?
Wedding historian Susan Waggoner notes that “Hundreds of years ago, attending a wedding could mean days of travel. The night before the event would find the tent, hut, castle, or manor house jammed to the rafters with friends, relatives, and emissaries, all of whom had to be fed.” Essentially, the tradition was created as a result of necessity. The couple would invite guests from far and wide and because traveling back then was not as easy as it is now, the visitors were often hungry on arrival.
After this, however, the tradition evolved to something a bit more fantastical. The rehearsal dinner, while still serving as a mass-feeding of arriving visitors, also became an opportunity to chase evil spitits away. It was believed that if attendees of the event were loud and rumbustious then evil spirits who wanted to ruin the couple’s chances of having a happy life together would be scared away. So, the idea was to gather all the guests for a dinner before the big day, and have everyone be as noisy as possible.
Today, the event remains useful in many ways and is sure to be a good idea.
Image: Unsplash