Not your wedding, I mean should you be packing for a weekend away to attend someone else’s big day. Britain has lost any semblance of seasons. For instance, yesterday it drizzled half the today, yet today it was clear blue skies and mild, Spring-like in fact. This is why British residents, new and old, are obsessed with commenting on the weather as it is genuinely fascinating and unpredictable. It is for these climes that you must be ready for when going away for even two days for a wedding in Britain.
Last May, I went to a wedding in Yorkshire. Usually, whether Winter or Summer, when I disembark from the train in Yorkshire I can feel the temperature drop at least a couple of degrees in comparison to London. When planning my outfits, I was taking no chances in goose bumps forming. My fail safe wedding attendee combo is LBD (Little Black Dress) and statement jacket. In my opinion, people fall into the trap of over complicating their ensemble with hats, lace and floral print; if you must, choose only one. A statement jacket is fun to wear and looks sophisticated and will also keep you warm in the church or if the sun fails to shine. If you are lucky to have a balmy day, a LBD never fails to look glam in the photos or when you shimmy onto the dance floor.
Beware of damp grass. As mentioned above, it may well have poured the day before the wedding so any grass around the church or reception venue will most likely be soft. Soft grass is the foe of stilettos so you have two options: flats or larger surface heeled high heels. I opt for the latter as they look more feminine but always have flats in my handbag should there be too much standing around or need to get my hair waving to the disco. For said Yorkshire wedding, I wore cheap silver wide heeled ankle boots from Primark (never mind if they get ruined!) These were teamed with black strapless dress (no longer available from Wolford (this one is similar) and a jacket my dad’s new wife had made but is now too small for her.
Primark ankle boots, Wolford dress and bespoke jacket
If the ceremony is on a Saturday and going on into the evening, you will most likely be invited to some sort of post party analysis on the Sunday. Hopefully this is late morning at the earliest. For this slow start (and probably the hanging around for proceedings on the wedding day) have some respectable PJ/lounge trousers. I say respectable in case you are called from your sleeping quarters at any moment to assist with the preparations and do not what to display indecent amounts of flesh to the attendees you will be spending the weekend with. The following day is usually a much more casual affair, with some regretting enjoying the Port so much. Although more casual, in case you ended up revealing more of your party side than you intended or want to be smug the others did, it is always good to opt for smart-casual. To me, this means smart black jeans with a crisp shirt and elegant jewellery.
My “respectable” lounge gear
Throughout the weekend keep make up simple, toilets and areas to touch up will probably be erratic and not suitable.
So sun can shine in Yorkshire…
My packing list (toiletries and obvious aside):
Wedding day-LBD, tights x2/3 (one is always laddered in transit), jacket, heels and/or flat shoes, handbag
In between events- smart PJ trousers, hoodie and plain t-shirt (to lounge/sleep in)
The next day- black jeans, shirt, statement jewellery
