Ask Luke Reichle: What to wear to a wedding

Ask Luke Reichle

Secrets of the red carpet

You've got questions, and we've got answers! SheKnows' contributing beauty and style expert, Luke Reichle, is taking your submissions and dishing out no-fuss answers! Today, we're wading into wedding season. What do you wear to bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners and the weddings themselves? Luke's here to help!

Dear No Repeating,

My goodness, it sounds like your life is either a. very glamorous or b. you landed a three-episode story arc on Revenge. What were these brides thinking? You’d think they would have gotten together and made some sort of pact, or arranged a group ceremony, like they do in some of the nicer cults. I suppose it’s too late to prod any of them into elopement?

Darling, unless you’re willing to leave town and/or come down with a mysterious illness, you'd better saddle up.

Get organized

You know the old saying about how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. If you want to keep your sanity during the coming wedding season, break it down into digestible chunks. Put together your wedding, rehearsal dinner and bachelorette party looks on different days. By focusing on one type of look at a time, you’ll avoid fatigue and the inevitable rending of garments.

Get help

If you’re not born to shop, attach yourself to someone who was. Go directly to your nearest department store and make an appointment with the personal shopper. Most of the larger chains have them and they’re free. Or ask one of your friends who is shopping adept to help you (preferably someone who doesn’t dress like the cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, unless you’re from Paramus, in which case, I apologize).

Get a massage

No, really. This is just as stressful for you as it is for the bride. Well, maybe not as stressful, but close. A few well-placed visits to your favorite day spa will keep you looking fresh and you’ll be less likely to crack under the pressure. If this were me, I’d approach it like I was going into training for an endurance sport, like a triathlon, but with prettier clothes. Pace yourself, get enough rest and for the love of god-dess, don’t shop hungry. No one makes their best dressing decisions while in the grip of a blood sugar crash. And remember, these are parties. They’re supposed to be fun!

And one more thing. I know you think that I don’t have to say this, but… under no circumstances is it appropriate to wear white to a wedding unless it’s your own. I made this error myself, so learn from my mistake. It was summer. It was Gucci. That still didn’t make it OK.

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