Brunch weddings have become increasingly popular lately. Couples like them because they have a relaxed family feeling and also because they are less expensive to organize than a traditional wedding dinner. Attire for an early day wedding can be quite different from what you would wear for a formal evening wedding. This is what to wear to a wedding brunch.

Dressing well in the morning can be a bit confusing. The usual tricks we use to make a festive outfit, like sparkly jewelry, glittery fabrics, and the like, seem out of place for brunch. However, a wedding at any time of the day is a special occasion and therefore special attire is required. The time of year also makes a difference, as one will dress a little more formally for a winter brunch wedding than a summer one.

The wedding attracts men is quite simple. For brunch, the ideal is a good pair of pants with a jacket and tie. If the wedding ends up being more casual, it is quite simple to remove your jacket. Elegant loafers would be a good choice for shoes. In the morning, male wedding guests can feel free to experiment with more colors and patterns than they might at a formal evening reception. Extravagant ties, shirts with small plaid or colors other than white, and even fun socks (think diamonds) would be great.

Wedding guests have more freedom regarding what they wear, which makes dressing up more fun, but also more confusing. For a summer brunch wedding, a knee-length dress or skirt with a floral design would be pretty. It can be worn with cute flat shoes or fairly low sandals, pearl earrings, and a small bag. Even during the day, your everyday bag is not stylish enough for a wedding, so go for something like a cute little fabric covered bag. Other accessories to consider include a small cardigan or wrap to wear over a dress and possibly an elegant wide-brimmed hat with a ribbon. The hat would be wonderful for an outdoor brunch wedding and will help to dress up in a simpler sundress style. Stay away from any jewelery or attract with lots of beads or sparkles for a morning wedding.

If the brunch wedding falls in the winter months, plan to dress a little more. A beautiful jacquard dress would be ideal. Or go for the elegant combination of a skirt and jacket in an elegant fabric to pair with a silk or cashmere cape. Look for a skirt or dress that falls slightly below the knee, rather than reaching the floor. Another great option is a pair of tailored velvet pants paired with satin flats and a cashmere sweater. Black is pretty harsh for a morning wedding, so look for clothes in other colors. Deep winter hues like plum, chocolate, and forest are lovely, as are neutrals like pewter or champagne.

Fall weddings tend to be very difficult to dress up as you are caught between summer dresses and the rich fabrics of the holiday season. For a fall brunch wedding, think cozy. A flattering wrap dress with elegant high-heeled boots and a pretty pair of pearl earrings would be very appropriate. A wool skirt paired with a silk blouse or cashmere sweater would be another option, as long as the pieces are not too professional or too casual. In other words, a pink tweed skirt and a chocolate brown fitted sweater with a pretty bow would be lovely, however a gray suit skirt or heavy fisherman sweater would be too formal and too casual, respectively.

The trend towards brunch weddings is likely to become increasingly popular, so knowing what to wear for that type of celebration helps. As with any wedding, choose to dress a little too much rather than putting in too little effort. Steer clear of evening highlights like cocktail dresses, low-cut tops, and too much glitter, and you’ll look wonderful for the brunch reception.