Casual wedding/formalwear?

[olivia_NY]

I'm planning to have a rather casual wedding - renting an enclosed lodge in one NY's most beautiful state parks, short outdoor (mostly standing) ceremony, reception in the lodge. We'll either hire a DJ or purchase a small system and do the music ourselves, and we'll be doing much of the food ourselves (though I am going to hire several people to serve food/drinks, etc). I'd like a lot of wildflowers (not sure on placement or anything though), etc. My question is, is formalwear still appropriate for the wedding party, or should we be dressed more casually? I imagine many in my family will wear something along the lines of khakis and blazers (men) and light summer dresses (women) and his family will wear khakis or jeans and nice dress shirts (same dresses for the women). I like the idea of tuxes and a wedding dress, but will it seem ridiculously out of place in such a casual wedding? This is probably the only time in our lives I will see my FH in a tux...so if it wouldn't be too silly, I'd like it. Any thoughts (or reassurances)?

[neebelung]

You'll hear this time and time again, but it's your wedding, wear what you want to. If you've dreamed of a beautiful white gown, and your FH in a tux, then go for it.

We attended an outdoor wedding last Spring, in a beautiful state park. The whole wedding party was very traditionally (formally) dressed, and guest's attire ranged from dressy to khakis. It was perfectly fine.

The only thing I might suggest is to go with either no train or a sweep train (but again, it's your party, so wear what you want to!)

[RosieAngel]

The bridal party can be as snazzy as you want them to be, I'd say! You are the stars of the show!

Now if all of the guests were wearing tuxes, that would be a little weird.

EDIT: I agree with neebelung; if you want a dress with a train, keep it small or keep it bustled. Grimy wedding dress hems make baby angels cry.

[olivia_NY]

Good points so far...
I've been looking for a dress with a short/no train - I'm not a very dressy person and a klutz besides. Two friends (who will be in the bridal party) have both asked why I want to do that, the train is the prettiest part, etc. I just feel like it's a waste of money I would likely trip over anyway!

[harleybride]

I am getting married at a State Park Lodge as well. I wanted tuxes and all. Our GM are in tuxes, BM are in long dresses and my dress has a small train. Everyone else will probally dress semi formal. Its your wedding do what you want and what will make you and your Fh happy

[neebelung]

Two friends (who will be in the bridal party) have both asked why I want to do that, the train is the prettiest part, etc.

So tell them when they get married, they can have a trail! :rofl:

[Katiegirl]

Olivia, your wedding sounds almost exactly how we'd like ours to be! :D FH has said he doesn't want to wear a tux, and I don't really care either way. He'll most likely wear a suit. My dress is going to be pretty casual. I don't want a really fancy gown, just a pretty empire waist dress with a flowy skirt-no train. :D

[brendalin]

We are getting married outside as well in a more laid back ceremony, but we will still be dressing up. I do not think it will be wierd at all!

[fireprincess2009]

Our wedding is also outside (at our home.) Though I haven't picked a dress yet, I won't have a train. I'm ultra clumsy and our aisle won't be straight so that solves that. As for tuxes or whatever, find your dress first and go from there. As long as the wedding party is a cohesive unit, I wouldn't worry about anyone else.

[acidcookie]

I wish I didn't have a train! I got a major bargain on a discontinued dress in the specific color I wanted so I just have to put up with the chapel train. It's beautiful, but I too will be coming up the "aisle" outside (walking a gravel path up to a deck) so ... not practical. I'll likely have it bustled the entire time.

[10Nov2008]

Take advantage of seeing FH in a tux!!!!

FH choose what he wanted to wear and since he's pretty sure that I'll never see him in a tux again, that's what he went for. My dress is your typical wedding dress, train and all (didn't want one but fell in love with the dress). We're getting married in a garden in Hawaii and the bridal party will be dressed formally for the ceremony. Right after taking pictures, we're going to "dress down" and go to a luau. We'll be saving our wedding finery for the reception at home five days later.

[Ellen]

We had a very short civil ceremony outside and the reception in a banquet room of a hotel. I wore a traditional wedding dress and my hubby wore a tux. Our bridal party wore bridesmaid dresses and tuxes. My dress did have a train when I bought it, but I had it removed. Our guests were all dressed differently - some were dressed up, some were more casually dressed. I agree with everyone else, wear whatever you have dreamed of and feel most comfortable in.
Where are you from? I'm from the Rochester, NY area.