Dear FO Personal Stylist: Wedding Officiant Needs to Accessorize

My niece is getting married this summer and has honored me with the request of being the officiant at her wedding. When I asked her what she would like me to wear for this important duty, she said that whatever I chose would be fine. Her only request was NOT GREEN (probably because she will be using a tomato red color for her bridesmaid dresses and flowers).

I purchased a champagne colored dress with lace at the hem that I really like for the occasion. It is a very neutral color and should match just about anything, but I’m wondering what exactly to do with it. Despite what my niece says, I want to make sure that I am appropriate for the wedding, and am a little concerned as the dress has spaghetti straps.

Oh, and one more piece of information…this is taking place in Ohio in July and it will be HOT!

Many thanks,

Deanna H., San Francisco, CA

Dear Deanna,

I’ve learned that in general, no matter how much you agonize over what to wear to someone’s wedding, there will always be someone a) more overdressed than you, b) more underdressed than you, and c) more inappropriately attired that you could ever conceive of being. That being said, you are in the unique situation of officiating over the wedding, and despite your niece’s laissez-faire approach, it is important that you are without a doubt suitably dressed for the occasion.

It sounds like you have a good neutral base for your outfit with your dress. I think it’s best to err on the side of conservatism in this particular situation, so given the spaghetti straps and the heat, I would strongly recommend donning a lightweight shrug or shawl over your dress.

I’ve put together three possible officiant ensembles for you. As always, they are ultimately meant to provide some inspiration to incorporate into your pre-existing wardrobe.

Potential Outfit #1

Outfit #1 is the most neutral of the ensembles. An ecru shrug corresponds to the dress easily (the shrug’s beaded texture makes it less necessary to match the color exactly). It would be nice to bring some of your niece’s wedding colors into your outfit, but unless you have an exact swatch of what she’s using, it would be difficult to match the color exactly. A skinny tomato red belt is small enough that it won’t draw attention if the color is slightly off, and it keeps this outfit from being too monochromatic. See if your niece’s florist can give you a flower to pin to your shrug or wear in your hair, and complete the look with neutral metallic sandals.

The Items

Just Cavalli’s Champagne Gown, $225 (orig. $444)
Ann Louise Roswald’s Crochet Shrug, $455
Taryn By Taryn Rose’s Jewel Sandals , $106 (originally $239.95)
Uniform’s Varnished Belt, $98

Potential Outfit #2

If Outfit #1 is too much of a vision in beige for you, consider bringing another neutral color in to mix things up. Outfit #2 features one of my favorite color combinations: grey and beige. Here a grey beaded shrug and gunmetal heels are matched to your ecru dress for a look that is rich yet muted. Vintage coral earrings match back to the wedding colors and add a little extra personality to the outfit without going overboard.

The Items

Brian Reyes’ Corset Slip Dress, $430
Lutz & Patmos’ Beach Shell Cardigan, $525
Michael Kors’ Berkley Sandals, $98.50 (originally $128.95)
Fay Cullen’s Art Deco Coral Earrings, $1050

Potential Outfit #3

If you would like to go for a slightly less structured look, Outfit #3 uses a shawl in lieu of a fitted shrug. A loosely knitted (and not-too-oversized) shawl is draped over your shoulders and fastened with an oversized statement pin. Silver-toned earrings and sandals complete the look.

The Items

Badgley Mischka’s Isabella Beaded Tulle Dress, $477 (originally $795)
Trendy Knitting’s Mohair Shawl, $75
Pour La Victoire’s Enid Sandals, $249.95
Alexis Bittar’s Anemone Flower Pin, $225
Kohl’s Tahitian Pearl Stud Earrings, $314.99 (orig. $700)

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