I am attending a wedding on Sept. 17th at 2pm in a Catholic church with a reception to follow at the local library's terrace. The wedding is in Seattle and the weather is supposed to be cloudy and cool, no rain. I was planning on wearing a wool ankle length black skirt with a dark grey wool button-up sweater that has black "bubbly" knit trim around the wrists and collar (looks almost like a faux fur but it's a knit trim, I'm not sure how to describe it) and rhinestone buttons down the front. I also wanted to wear a black hat, it is like that Audrey Hepburn hat you see photos of but with a much smaller brim, and felt with grey beads around it where there would normally be a ribbon.
My first question is, is this too much black? And my second question is, what is the etiquette with a hat? Do I need to remove it in the church like men do? Are there any other common hat faux pas I need to worry about? I'm a little afraid of hat hair if I need to remove it often.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the invitation said formal attire.
Thank you for your help.
(This post was
edited by lorainma on Sep 16, 2005, 4:12 PM)
Dear Lorainma: Hat etiquette absolutely permits (even encourages) you to keep your hat on. A hat in Church (for a woman) is not only perfectly acceptable, but very respectful and most proper at a wedding. I always suggest that if you are wearing an oversized, larger hat, you might sit more to the side isles or further back so no to "block the view" for other guests...
Black hat? There is nothing wrong with wearing a black hat --- especially if it suits you and your ensemble.
A lady need not remove her hat throughout the entire ceremony or reception ...... even more apropos since the reception is outdoors. Have fun and don't worry. "You can leave your hat on" Gena Conti, Designer, Milliner http://www.genaconti.com
Hat Etiquette
