Ask The Experts: What to wear to a courthouse ceremony?

We are getting married at the courthouse (small ceremony).   How should I dress for the courthouse and the reception?  — Patricia, Bride

Like so many decisions in any wedding, there is no established etiquette that demands or even suggests that you wear a certain style in a certain color to a courthouse wedding. With the brides that I have worked with in the past that are planning civil ceremonies, I have found that many turn from the traditional wedding gown styles and look more toward simple tea-length bridesmaid’s designs. Most, if not all, of these collections even carry neutrals and white color choices for such an occasion of wanting to feel like a bride without all of the frills.
You could consider looking for a sophisticated dress among the designer racks at department stores or in specialty boutiques. The new fall and winter collections are in stores now and are often designed a little more formal than the summer styles.
A formal suit with a skirt or slacks also are seen often in courthouse weddings as a more practical approach to dressing for the day. The jacket, slacks/skirt, and shirt or camisole would be available for use in your daily wardrobe even after the ceremony. To set yourself apart on your special day, consider finding a pair of flashy shoes or jewelry to dress the ensemble up.
During your hunt for the perfect dress, if you have something close, but not exactly like you want for your special day, consider having it altered more toward your dreamed design. Advance alterations will not only make the garment fit better, but it also is an opportunity for you to have drastic design changes made. For example, a sweetheart neckline rather than straight or a narrowed skirt rather than flared.
These are just some ideas of things that brides have discovered in the past when searching for their gowns. I hope they will help you in your journey to find the perfect wedding dress!
-Hayley Mann
Hayley Lauren Couture LLC
(850)668-0259