i have a wedding to attend in mid-june. i don't know the bride or groom--the groom is my boyfriend's cousin, and they don't talk a lot, but he's expected to attend with date (that's me) in tow--and i feel awkward asking my boyfriend's family about what to wear, since i don't really know any of them yet...
yes. this is also the weekend i am meeting his family. (or the paternal half of them, anyway.)
so, i come to the fatshionista hive mind. you want statistics? i've got statistics for you!
1. it's a 5PM wedding in a big old house in south georgia (read: extremely south georgia) in june. (ALSO: not exactly a house: www.pebblehill.com
2. it's an indoor wedding, but it will likely still be hot as fire.
3. i wear anything from a 14 to a 20 in dresses, as i am littler on top than on the bottom. i wear a 38C, if that helps? and i'm lately a pretty solid 20 on the bottom. my biggest problem with dresses is this: if they fit in the hips, they're too loose on top. if they fit on top, they're too tight on the hips. so. that.
4. i am extremely fair, with freckles, and there's no possibility of a tan. none. at all. whatsoever. so, i look fairly terrible in oranges, corals, reds (and i cannot wear red to a wedding in the south anyway, nuh uh).
5. i'm about 5'9", 248 pounds.
there's a black calvin klein knee-length somewhat-strappy dress at the tjmaxx around me, and i was thinking of trying that. but i am not sure about wearing black? i LOVE black. and i know that people say wearing black is okay. but i am not sure how conservative his family is on the issue. and yes, i KNOW, i ought to just ask. i ought to ask! i also have a chocolate brown tea-length satiny skirt and strapless top that were from a bridesmaid performance. i'd rather not do strapless, but i guess i could find something to go with the skirt? maybe? possibly? anyway, i am thinking some dark jewel tone or a chocolate brown, maybe. maybe? not too bare? i'd like it to be knee-length, at least.
as far as budget goes, i do not want to spend an unholy amount of money. but i do want to look nice. and it would be nice if this were a dress i could wear again.
here are a few pictures of me, so that you are not flying all blind and stuff. of course, none of them is a straight-on shot, but i tried for fullish-body rather than myspacey-face, anyways.
thanks for your help, o hive mind.
edited to say that yes, okay, i will ask. also, to stick this other picture behind the elljay cut. ::shakes fist at elljay cut::
thanks for everyone's help so far. i still would like ideas about where to shop, etc. i'm in central alabama, near birmingham, but might possibly be making a trip to atlanta, and i'll definitely be down on the coast before this...but that's just one week before the wedding, so, cutting it close.
Your body shape would probably do great in an empire waist dress, with a fitted top, and a swingy bottom. I love that style.
Like this one:
http://www.kiyonna.com/plus-size-clothing/Little_Black_Dresses/14080901
I'm not sure that black will work, though. It's nice in a black tie setting, but doesn't work well if it's a Southern Formal with everyone else in something like this:
http://www.perfectweddingguide.com/wedding-blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/small-rainbow-bridesmaid.jpg
also, i love that dress, but alas, the black. meh.
Also, I like that polka dot dress in your picture ... You could wear that!
I wore a black dress to the last summer wedding I went to, but I was a bridesmaid and that's what she picked for us. We were supposed to be able to wear them again, since black is so sensible. Of course I never have.
You *might* be able to get away with navy, but that's iffy. And *definitely* nothing bare!!
Seriously, your best bet is to check with his parents, if not the bride herself.
G.R.I.T.S. are notoriously picky, and you can multiply that by a million when it comes to something like their wedding.
i am right this minute, in another window, composing an email to my boyfriend's sister. maybe she will know, or she can more properly ask, etc.
That said, checking with the family is definitely the way to go. Not all of us southerners are complete tight-asses, but when you factor in the previous generations, it's always better safe than sorry. For a summer wedding, it's probably best to avoid black and red. Whatever you choose style-wise, go for natural fibers, especially cotton. It goes a long way to keeping you cool and making the most of the few breezes we have around here.
Do not wear black to a Southern Formal wedding.
Do not wear black shoes.
I'm feeling really great earrings.
The blue one and a similar purple one. Looks like there's free shipping if you spend 50 dollars.