Hi all,
From the get-go, FI and I knew we wanted an outdoor, non-religious ceremony. We live in the wine country in CA and neither of us feels tied to a religion, so this makes perfect sense for us. Our outdoor venue is called " *** Farms and Gardens", since it is neither a church nor a winery, but an outdoor setup. But I am aiming for a "simple elegant" affair. No black tie, no black tie optional. I just hope that people understand that we're classy and are hosting a classy outdoor event. Catered meal, open bar, ball gown, tuxes for the FI and GMs, etc.
Normally, I wholeheartedly trust my guests to dress themselves (and to accept any reactions to their appearances, which are not on me). But I recently learned that my mother's two sisters thought that the event was to be quite casual. One of my aunts asked my mother if I would even be wearing a wedding dress (I have a ball gown!), given the atmosphere. My mom assured her that, yes, I would be in a fairly formal gown, as it is a semi formal event.
I don't hold it personally against these women, but I'm wondering if I'm doing something to give the impression of a casual backyard get-up? I hope all the guests aren't thinking the same things. (Invites have yet to be ordered/sent, btw.)
I know it's not right to explicitly state the formality of the event anywhere, but what else conveys the formality if not a church? TIA.