Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small but perfectly formed. Others have six groomsmen, six maids of honour and a $4 million price tag. The recent Palm Beach nuptials of Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz are one way of doing things, but they certainly aren’t the only way. The most important ingredient of a wedding will never be money, but love.
That, and an outfit that makes you feel confident and occasion-appropriate. While we were supplied with myriad details about Brooklyn’s custom-made Dior suit and his bride’s Valentino couture gown, what most people really want to know is what the congregation wore. Who looked chic? Who looked eek? Can anything worn in Miami ever translate to Manchester? With up to 75,000 weddings postponed throughout the UK during the pandemic, 2022 is set to be a bumper year for nuptials. Whatever your relationship to the happy couple, read on to ensure that when the first strains of At Last / Songbird / Canon in D play out in the village church, you will be dressed for the occasion. Laura Craik
The mother of the bride
What with “a bit mother of the bride” having become shorthand for something that’s mumsy, predictable and overly shiny, the actual mother of the bride has one of the hardest sartorial challenges of the day. Obviously she wants to look her best, but certain areas are off limits – anything in the white spectrum, anything too revealing, anything that’s going to sit in her wardrobe unworn for the next 30 years. Unless your style is ultra edgy or boho, LK Bennett is a really good place to start, from well-finished silk dresses at between £400 and £500 to more affordable (and probably less creasable) viscose and polyester mixes at around £300. It does matching hats too, although at most weddings (and presumably you’ll have some input in the dress code) they’re less and less mandatory, so don’t wear one if it makes you feel self-conscious. Spend the money on some gorgeous colourful shoes that will add some flair to your outfit.
Cefinn also has some lovely dresses this season. Reiss is the place for well tailored trouser suits. Both labels cover a lot of different body shapes and work hard on the fit of their dresses. That said, with off the peg, there’s always a chance you’ll need to get some alterations, even if it’s just the length. But they’re definitely worth it as the photographs will stick around for years. John Lewis is another good place to hunt as it stocks so many wearable, well-made brands and in the Oxford Circus branch in particular, the buyers do an excellent job of making sure items can be built into chic outfits. For slightly more outlay, Ridley London (from £400) will make jackets, skirts and dresses with matching linings to order. What to wear on top? To avoid messy horizontal lines, consider a toning, lightweight coat that’s the same length – Max Mara brands are always worth investigating. If you fancy something more fashion forward than a dress, trouser suits are an increasingly popular option – try Paul Smith, The Fold and Cefinn. Lisa Armstrong
