Wedding in the UK (wedding reception, shop, pub)

[jenn02674]

OK so I am going to a wedding in the UK and have some questions. My parents are English but I was born and raised in the US and I think my dad would be clueless if I asked him

Anyway,

1. First off, what is a wedding breakfast? Invitation says ceremony at 2pm followed by a wedding breakfast.

2. How dressy/formal are we talking. Here in the US an afternoon wedding would be more casual but my cousin said that people tend to be pretty dressy. So for someone familiar with american terminology are we talking nice sundresses or are we talking cocktail dresses.

3. Do many people wear hats?

Thanks so much! I also would am curious if the dress styles are pretty much the same as here in the US right now. Are people wearing the long dresses?

[Scotslass]

Where are you thinking of getting married, England or Scotland? Formal attire varies country to country i.e here its kilts. So does the ceremony.

[chilaili]

According to Wikipedia a "wedding breakfast" is "A wedding breakfast is a dinner given to the bride, bridegroom and guests at the wedding reception that follows a wedding in England or New Zealand. While not normally a morning meal, the name apparently arises from the tradition that the bride and bridegroom would have been fasting before the wedding, and so the reception would be the time when they would break their fast. Another theory on the origin of the term is that the wedding breakfast is the first meal of a couple's married life, just as breakfast is the first meal of the day."

Yes weddings in the UK are pretty formal, ie; cocktail dresses. Some people wear hats but it's usually the older generation (mother of the bride, etc). But it's up to you. If you want to wear one, go ahead.

[PA2UK]

My mother always said it's better to be overdressed than underdressed so whenever I'm not sure, I go with the dressier option. I would expect most to be in cocktail dresses - you might see some people in sundresses but your cousin is right that people - ie women - tend to be dressier over here in the UK even on a daily basis. Just recently I went to the pub with a woman who insisted on wearing a dress, heels, full makeup, etc... to the pub! And there was me, the casual American in jeans and a fitted T.

I'm going to a wedding in Jamaica (the couple getting married is English) and I was looking at cocktail dresses - for a moment I thought "it's a Caribbean wedding, maybe I should wear a sundress". But then I quickly remembered 90% of the people there will be English and I won't be the only one in a cocktail dress no matter where the wedding is taking place. I will be my first English wedding but I'm pretty confident I won't be overdressed in a cocktail dress.

I have read that long dresses are in right now and I see a lot of them on sale. But if the wedding is in the summer (you don't say when it is), I personally wouldn't get a long dress. The UK doesn't have the hottest summers but it still just doesn't seem right to wear a long dress (unless you're in the wedding party) in the summer.

[Poopy00]

Wedding breakfast is just the meal after the ceremony. Although the ceremony is at 2 the meal might not be served until 4-5.

Hats and fascinators are still worn (more so at a church wedding rather than a civil ceremony). Most things go dress wise but NO JEANS! Pant suits, dresses. Check out the shop below to see what standard wedding attire is.

Womens Evening Wear - Coast UK at www.coast-stores.com

[jenn02674]

Thanks guys! I knew I could count on you!

The wedding is in England and I am just a guest. Thanks for the link to Coast stores. I had looked quickly at debenhaums and next, wished Selfridges had an online store to get an idea of dresses and they do look like whatever I would pick here.

I doubt I will wear a hat unless I find one while I am over there. Just don't know how in the world I would pack it without ruining it!

I'm excited! Like I said before my parents are English and I have been over to England a ton but I have never been to an English wedding!

[chilaili]

They're really not that different.

Laura Ashley (Dresses at LAURA ASHLEY) and Hobbs (Partywear, Womens Dresses | Hobbs Womenswear) might also be alternative dress resources

[violent cello]

Yeah, if it says formal or semi-formal, you're going to see cocktail dresses and some funky hats. Some English people, of course, have wear-jeans-in-the-mud weddings, but the invite usually says so A lot of people will be in pretty clothes as well, dresses but with beautiful accessories. The English like their accessories! (Speaking as a Brit myself)