What to Wear to a Winter Wedding

Winter weddings are not only lovely, but they’re the easiest type of wedding to dress for. More than likely, the event is on the formal side, so there’s no guessing what the dress code is. Unless you’re in a warm climate, the wedding is always inside which makes outfit planning a breeze. However, there are still a few details to keep in mind when dressing for a winter wedding.

The Dress: Unless you are the bride, your dress should never be white or off-white. While most people wear black to winter weddings, I would recommend that you mix it up a little bit with metallics or deep jewel tones. If the wedding dress code is “black tie”, you’ll need a floor length gown, otherwise a shorter hem should do just fine (just not too short, we’re going for classy here).

Formal Outwear: Every woman needs one coat that’s a little bit fancier to wear to weddings. Leave the puffer at home and opt for a longer coat with more elegant details such as a tie at the waist, heavy buttons, or a fur / faux fur collar.

Shawl/Wrap: Unless you have sleeves on your dress, come prepared with a shawl in case certain elements of the ceremony or reception are a little colder. For example, you could be seated next to a window and would rather not borrow your date’s jacket.

Clutch: Always a clutch, never a big purse. Here’s my guide for what to pack in a clutch.

Shoes: I like either a nude pump or a darker shoe for a winter wedding that will compliment your dress. I’m not a huge fan of open toed shoes during the winter. Save those shoes for the Spring/Summer weddings you’ll attend. If it’s snowing, bring boots and change when you get inside. I haven’t had to do this, but if it were snowing pretty hard, I would wear boots in a heartbeat.

Nylons: Please don’t skip the nylons! They make nylons so sheer that it’s near impossible to tell you’re wearing them. They make a huge difference throughout the day when wearing a dress.

Jewelry: Make it fancy – winter weddings are normally formal so don’t be afraid to bust out your glitziest items.

This past weekend I attended the wedding of my dear friend, Katrina, at the Detroit Country Club. She loves all things gold, so I knew wearing the gold dress on the far right was the winner. It matched the Great Gatsby art deco theme that the reception had. Any of the three would have worked well for a winter wedding.

February 3, 2015 by thedressdecoded | 8 Comments