Navy Blue Bridesmaids and Black Tux's for an early afternoon ceremony?

sjkirby

Hi, I am getting married in the Mountains in Colorado Next August, 2014.  I wanted my colors to be Navy and my fiancé really wants to wear a traditional tux.  We are having a noon Wedding Ceremony in a chapel, with a 4:30pm Reception in the evening. I cannot decide about what my bridesmaids should wear: long or short? And also if tux's won't look appropriate for that time of day.  Thoughts?

MobKaz

By traditional standards I believe it is considered improper to wear a black tux in the morning/daytime.  Having said that, however, in my area, almost every afternoon wedding I have attended has the groom and groomsmen wearing tuxes. I guess I would consider it a victimless faux pas.  It also seems more cost effective to rent a tux than to expect your bridal party to purchase identical suits.  I would be interested in hearing other opinions regarding this.

On the other hand, I have to ask about the gap you appear to be having between your ceremony and reception.  I would be more concerned about that definite etiquette error than what my bridal party is wearing.  Are you hosting something during that gap?

Maggie0829

Hi, I am getting married in the Mountains in Colorado Next August, 2014.  I wanted my colors to be Navy and my fiancé really wants to wear a traditional tux.  We are having a noon Wedding Ceremony in a chapel, with a 4:30pm Reception in the evening. I cannot decide about what my bridesmaids should wear: long or short? And also if tux's won't look appropriate for that time of day.  Thoughts?

Tuxes are appropriate after 6pm, nut with that said my H and his GMs wore tuxes for our 4:30pm ceremony so wearing a tux before 6 in my opinion is a victimless faux pas. But you can also rent suits as well if you wanted to go in that direction. As for the BM dresses, I would ask your girls if they prefer short or long and then go with the majority vote. As with PP, I have to ask about your gap. If your ceremony ends at, say, 1pm, then what are your guests going to do for the 3.5 hours before the reception?

MairePoppy

I agree with mobkaz ad Maggie0829. Although tuxes are considered evening wear, I have been to afternoon weddings where the grooms and their men wore tuxes. Morning suits are the appropriate formal wear for men, but good luck finding rentals.  http://www.blacktieguide.com/Supplemental/Morning_Dress.htm

My daughter had a mid afternoon ceremony, followed by cocktail hour, dinner and dancing into the evening. She and her fi were hung up on the formal wear rule for men. Fortunately, we have a locally owned formal wear rental shop that specializes in suits. The suit rentals were less expensive than tux rentals would have been at the national men's chain store and included shoes, shirt, jacket and slacks and tie came to about $85. My SIL had his own suit made because he figured he deserved it : ) and he loves clothes. 

Best case scenario is that you find a shop where the men can rent suits. Your new husband could change into the tux of his dreams for the reception. If that isn't possible, then I'd go along with his wishes and have all the men rent tuxes for the day  ceremony and the reception. At the end of the day, it won't make a difference to anyone.

Like the others, the gap between the ceremony and reception is more of a social faux pas, since it really inconveniences the guests. 

edit - spelling

Havana2014

Most men here wear morning suits. Would they be an option? Tuxes are really only worn for the most formal, evening weddings.

doeydo

Havana2014 said:

Most men here wear morning suits. Would they be an option? Tuxes are really only worn for the most formal, evening weddings.

TBH, I hate that look. My FI plans on wearing a tuxedo and we will most likely not have an evening ceremony.  I think most grooms nowadays wear tuxedos or regular suits regardless of what time of day it is.

Havana2014

Everyone and everywhere is different I guess. Personally I think tuxes are too formal for anything other than a black tie event (unless my definition of a Tux is different? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuxedo). And I think long dresses would look better.

But at the end of the days thats just one opinion - all that matters is that it works for the B&G and fits their vision for the day.

Maggie0829

I was always under the impression that the morning suit was the equivalent of a daytime tux.  Meaning that a morning suit was quite a bit dressier then a regular suit.

PrettyGirlLost

Maggie0829 said:

I was always under the impression that the morning suit was the equivalent of a daytime tux.  Meaning that a morning suit was quite a bit dressier then a regular suit.

Pretty much.  Morning suits look nothing like a regular suit. . . they consist of a morning coat (tailcoat), a waistcoat, striped or checkered pants, shirt etc. 
Morning suits are where ppl get the idea that tuxedos have tails. . . no, tuxedos never have tails.  A tux is a completely different article of clothing that don't involve tailcoats.