What do you wear to a church ceremony? Would a strapless mini dress be appropriate? Someone might tell you that it’s a wedding, why not? Someone else might tell you if others choose to stare, it’s their fault -not your outfit’s. You might like the dress, so you think to yourself, it’s not like I’m going to be the only one! What do you do? Do you wear it anyway? Do you choose another dress that is modest, but that you don’t like?

Any guest who is invited to an event knows what a real challenge it can be to choose an outfit. If the event involves a church ceremony, this might take the challenge to another level.

What to Wear to Church?

Modesty is not just for women, and it is not only about appearances. The focus of this blog post however is on how to dress, modestly, to a church ceremony. Why? As a sacred space, it’s important to show respect when visiting a church. Dressing appropriately is key to dressing modestly. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing what to wear to a church ceremony.

The Dress Code

Is there a dress code noted on the invitation card? A formal dress code dictates a different choice of attire to a business casual dress code. If there isn’t a dress code specified, it is worth asking the couple how formal or informal the event is.

The occasion

Is it a baptism, a first-communion or a wedding? Baptisms and first communions are low-key intimate family affairs. Although, in today’s world these low-key events have turned into an affair that is like a wedding. In general, business casual attire is appropriate to those events, unless a formal dress code is specified on the invite. Weddings tend to be bigger, more extravagant type of events and formal attire is common.

For more ideas on what to wear, check out my blog posts: What to Wear to a Christening, What to Wear to A First Communion?

The Time

If it is a daytime ceremony, opt for something that is not too formal, unless advised. If it is an evening event, consider jazzing-up your outfit. A knee-length black dress is more appropriate for a daytime event than a ball gown might be.

The Venue

It is important to dress appropriately to church if there the event involves a church ceremony. For the reception, if it is held at a ballroom for example, you might want to opt for formal attire than if it were held in a private house.

It’s a good idea to include a dress code on your event invitation card. This will reduce the stress and confusion guests experience when deciding on what to wear.

So, what might not be appropriate for a church ceremony?

• Figure hugging clothes: Is it too tight that it shows every curve or maybe your underwear?
• Revealing attire: Think mini-skirts, strapless, plunging necklines, sheer, backless outfits. How much is the dress revealing? Is it a mini dress or is it a strapless mini dress with a split? Is it backless maxi dress with a high split?
• Ostentatious details: Anything will draw too much, unnecessary attention to yourself. Think excessive designer labels, big puffy sleeves, ostrich feathers, bold prints and bright colours.

It’s not only what you wear, but how you wear what you wear that can also make a difference. Every detail matters and maintaining balance is key. For instance, if you’re intending on wearing a bright pink dress with balloon sleeves, are you pairing it with bling accessories, matching bright pink shoes and smokey eyes with pink lipstick? Or are you toning it down with black suede shoes, simple stud earrings and neutral makeup?

Choose accessories well.

Dressing modestly doesn’t come without its challenges since what is available might be fashionable but not necessarily modest.

Accessories such as scarves, shawls, sequined or silk jackets will cover up shoulders and neckline for the ceremony.

It’s important to keep in mind that fabrics like organza and lace provide little coverage. What’s the point of using see-through fabrics if the aim is to cover up?

Conclusion

It is often challenging to know what to wear to an event let alone to choose an outfit that is pretty and modest. 

If you are attending a baptism with just close family members followed by lunch at a private house – the nature of the event, the timing of the event, the venue and the number of guests will dictate a choice of outfit that will be different to what you will wear to an evening wedding held at a high-end venue with a guestlist of 500 or more.

For a church ceremony, it’s important to dress appropriately for the occasion in a way that doesn’t draws too much attention and that respects the sacredness of the space.