Royal Wedding Dress Code

published 28 March 2018

While Meghan Markle definitely puts a fashionable twist on royal rules, it’s no surprise to find out that the royal wedding will be abiding by all the typical formalities. And in case their guests weren’t well-versed in British etiquette, Markle and Prince Harry broke down the dress-code on their wedding invite.

As reported by Town & Country, men are confined to wearing either a uniform, morning coat, or loungesuit. And as for the women? A day dress with a hat is the appropriate attire the event calls for.

Etiquette expert Myka Meier stresses that this is a conservative event, meaning that though the dress-code may seem simple outright, the occasion calls for more attention-to-detail. For example, “shoulders should be covered, and dresses should be an appropriate length: either tea length, below the knee, or just slightly above. Guests should also choose a look free of any cut-outs, and sheer details should be limited to the arms.” Given the season, women are encouraged to wear colours to the wedding, so long as they stay away from white or black (a colour of mourning).

More important than the dress however is the accessorising that accompanies it. Shoes should be close toed, the expert suggests. And while handbags should be kept small for convenience sake, Meier suggests that the opposite is true for hats. “The bigger, and the more decorated, the more festive. It’s almost like your way of showing your support for the occasion.”

It may be a lot to consider—but this is the royal wedding after all! And while most of us aren’t lucky enough to be on the invite list ourselves, it is fun to get a little inspiration from the festivities at hand. To see what we’d wear to the royal wedding, keep scrolling. Who knows? Maybe these looks will inspire your next wedding-guest getup.