What to Wear Wedding Style - The Informal Wedding

Now I know you noticed the word informal in the title of the post. That's because there is no such thing as a casual wedding!!!!!!! Now this is a blog so I hope that you my reader understands that blogs are the direct opinion of the person authoring it, and differing opinions are to be expected and welcomed..... with caution ;) . Unless there is a specific theme associated with a wedding, ie. a wedding my father attended a few years back where the reception consisted of beer, BBQ, and fishing; there really is no such thing as a casual wedding. Casual is for going to the movies with friends. Casual is for going to Hershey Park, or Kennywood, or Disneyworld. Casual is for attending a friends outdoor labor day backyard BBQ. Casual is NOT appropriate for a wedding. So you may ask "Amanda, when you speak of an informal wedding, what do you actually mean?!" and to that I would reply, less formal than semi-formal but still stylish, attractive, and an outfit that expresses to the bride and groom and guests that a lot of thought and care went into what you put on. If it took you 15 minutes to get dressed, it should appear that it took much longer (though I would argue that should be the case anytime you step out of your front door).

Now here is the good news for you budget conscious ladies. The informal wedding is the one most likely to strike a chord with your existing wardrobe, and allows for the most flexibility with regard to style.

For an evening informal wedding an afternoon dress or cocktail dress is appropriate. Now here is where you want to be careful NOT to wear too much bling or lace, or to be too over the top. Keep it simple and sophisticated. One of my dearest and closest friends is getting married in June. It is an informal wedding but I've seen pictures of the gown so I know she might blow a gasket is anyone showed up wearing cullotes.


For this wedding or weddings like this I would suggest these looks:
 

Harvey Leger for BCBG

I like this dress because it's fun and simple, and flattering for different body types. You can keep it casual with flats or make it dressier with a pair of great pumps or heels.

Kettle Corn Dress in Afternoon - Modcloth

This is great for so many occasions. I love the off the shoulder detail and the color. Again, very easy to dress up or down making this a great choice for an afternoon or evening wedding.

Karen Millen Cotton Iris Print Dress

This dress is great for almost any age. Don't be afraid of the hemline. Often when pictured on a model the hemlines are shown higher than actually are. When ordering online check the measurements to make sure you comfortable with the actual length. 

Alice and Olivia Perfectly Iris Maxi Dress

The maxi dress is a great option for an informal summer wedding. This one from Alice and Olivia is a stunner. The silk fabric and beautiful iris print make this dress appropriate for many special occasions.

The other exception to the informal wedding is that dressy pants for women are acceptable for the afternoon. Again tread carefully in this. It can be done, but if not correctly it will be questionable. Skirts are also acceptable for the daytime and afternoon wedding, so if you have a really great skirt pair it with a fun pretty blouse.
To find the dresses pictured here you can click on the caption and it will direct you to a link for the designers and online retail stores where you purchase these dresses and other similar looks. I hope you now have a better understanding of the differences between the formal, semi-formal, and informal wedding. Till next time, and don't forget to follow me on twitter @amandastylesyou .