Your wedding day will be one of the most memorable days of your life if you choose a style that is truly your own. Deciding on which style of wedding is best for you will depend on who you are as individuals, who your families are, and who you are as a couple. Do not worry about trying to please all your relatives; even in the closest families this is an impossible task. Instead think about how your families have influenced you, what traditions are important to you and how you might incorporate these traditions into the style of wedding you desire.
Following is a description of what determines a wedding to be formal or informal. Use this as a guide to create the style of wedding that suits you. Feel free to mix up the styles or add a theme to create your dream wedding.
Very Formal
The ceremony is held in a church or house of worship.
Bride wears floor-length gown, a full train and a veil.
There are usually at least 3 attendants on each side.
Bridesmaids wear floor length gowns of the same style and/or colour.
Mothers wear formal evening gowns.
The groom, fathers, and groomsmen wear formal dress, complete with hats and gloves.
Formal
The ceremony is held in a church or house of worship.
Bride wears floor-length gown, a full train and a veil.
There are usually at least 2 attendants on each side.
Bridesmaids wear floor length gowns of the same style and/or colour.
Mothers wear afternoon dresses of shorter or longer length.
The groom, fathers, and groomsmen wear formal dress.
Semi Formal
This ceremony can be held in a church, at home, or other location.
The service could be a civil or religious one.
There are usually at least 2 attendants on each side.
Bride wears medium to floor length gown, no train, with or without a veil.
Bridesmaids wears medium to floor length dresses, all of the same length but not longer than the brides.
Mothers wear short to medium length dresses.
The groom, fathers, and groomsmen wear dark business suits.
Informal
Usually a civil ceremony or nondenominational ceremony.
All women wear regular dresses.
All men wear business suits or dress shirts and pants.
There is only one maid of honour and the best man.
The ceremony would be small, attended by relatives and close friends.
