The question comes up every year around mid-August. The wedding is in late September, nobody knows if it will be 15 or 28 degrees, and the outfit must last from the town hall to the end of the dinner.
The problem is not the temperature, it's the range
A September day starts at twelve degrees and can climb to twenty-six in the afternoon, before dropping again as soon as the sun goes down. Dressing for the heat means shivering at the cocktail hour. Dressing for the cold means sweating during the ceremony.
The answer comes down to one piece: a light outfit, plus something that can be put on and taken off without changing the silhouette.
What works
A long dress in fluid crepe with a blazer draped over the shoulders. Crepe doesn't stick, it moves, and it doesn't hold the creases from three hours of sitting on a garden chair.
A pant suit, if you are one of those who can't stand dresses. Jacket open in the afternoon, closed in the evening: it's the same outfit but with a different look.
A cocktail dress with a long cardigan, if the dinner is outdoors.
What works less well
Linen, which will be wrinkled before leaving the town hall. Velvet, which should wait for November. Very thick fabrics, even if the forecast says cool: rooms are heated and photos take a long time.
New heels, too. It’s not a fabric issue, but it is the number one reason people leave a party at midnight.
Depending on your role
As a guest, you have the most freedom, with two rules that don't change: no white and no head-to-toe black. Details can be found on the guest outfit page.
Mother of the bride or groom, you will be photographed as much as the couple and on your feet for half the day. Our guidelines are gathered here.
When to start
Three weeks before the date, no less. You have to factor in the fitting, a possible size exchange, and alterations, which take a good week in the middle of the season. If you are ordering from Belgium or Switzerland, add a week.
All of our ceremony pieces are gathered in this selection. And if you prefer that we prepare everything before your arrival, there's Le Portant.