Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

Hi Ladies - I am going to a friends wedding tomorrow - church is at 3 and then reception at 6 which is black tie (not optional - full on black tie)

I've been trying to figure this out all day and I figure you ladies are the best resource (reception at Garden City Hotel - if that ups the classiness factor of this whole wedding)

2 questions -

should me and FH wear tux/evening dress to church and then chill for 2 hours and then go to reception, or can we go to church in nice clothes and then change during the break at home? I feel silly walking around in taffeta and tuxes at 3 on a saturday. Or are people going to look at me like I am the crazy one for being in a regular dress with FH in business casual at the ceremony? Let me know what you all think.

Also - with a full on black tie, should I be wearing a full length gown, or is a tea length dress okay (both are formal).

Thanks for your input

Re: Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

hmmmmm. tuff situation~
I wonder what others will say but if the invite says FORMAL BLACK TIE I'd wear the formal getup to the church as well.
DId you call someone else who is going and ask what they're wearing? I believe if it were my wedding and I went to the extent of specifically stating BLACK TIE i'd want my guests to be in their best from start to finish.Am I right ladies?
oh and I'm sure you'll look great in your formal tea length dress or the full gown whichever you like.

Have fun!
and let us know what everyone else wound up doing.

Re: Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

Thanks - I spoke with a girlfriend of mine (but she's a bridesmaid) and she thought that everyone would be dolled up the whole time. And that between the church and reception folks would go have a drink at the bar of the GCHotel while waiting for the cocktail hour to start. I guess we can suck it up and be fancy for the whole time. Gotta practice for the wedding day anyway :)

The BM also thought that with a receiving line, you want the bride and her family to see you in all your finery... I guess that makes sense too.

Any one else out there have input? I think I'm waiting for someone to tell me it's okay not to wear formal to the church, but I don't think I'm going to hear it

Re: Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

I think you could probably go less formal for the church, but I would speak to others that will be there to find out what they are doing.
Also, I feel like the full length gown would be better for black tie.

Re: Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

I would go less formal to church thats what we do. I have been to weddings that people have jeans un for the church. Hope this helps.

Re: Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

I've gone to a few black tie weddings and we've always worn the full outfit the entire time.
Three weddings were at church, with the reception to follow, two were ceremony at the RH.

I never went home to change in between, always went somewhere to wait until the reception began.

If you plan on going home in between the ceremony and reception, then it is fine to wear nice clothes to the ceremony and then to change into your evening wear for the reception. I've done that for a few weddings too.
A tea length dress is perfectly acceptable for black tie optional, as well as a dark suit for your FH. He does not have to wear a tux because it is optional. But if you FH wears a tux, then you should wear a long dress.

Re: Wedding Guest - Black tie to church in afternoon?

Hi everyone - just an update - we went to the church in our full formal attire and were in the way minority with only about 5% of the church in their tuxes and formal wear, outside of the bridal party.

At the reception, everyone was in tuxes and long dresses - so we fit in then.

Oh well - I'd rather be over dressed then under dressed! And the wedding was fabulous!

Thanks for all your advice!