4:30 wedding with reception to follow - dress?

[rlu]

Most of the weddings I've been to have been during the day. I had a just-above-the-knee lbd I wore to the few evening weddings in the past but it no longer fits. I need help in figuring out length of dress I should be looking for. Mid-thigh ok? Knee? I don't need to do floor length, right? This is not black-tie.

Also, sparkly cocktail dress or more sedate or does that depend on the character of the couple?

DH and DS (he was on the invite and meals included a kid option:jammin:) are wearing suits.

Brides's colors are purple and orange. DS is wearing a dark purple shirt and he and DH will be wearing matching purple with orange graphic ties. I just need to not clash with the purple for the pics.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I'm between a L and XL depending on room in the chest area.

[westwoodmom04]

What is the setting for the reception?

[SnuggleBuggles]

I would go mid thigh or knee length. It wouldn't dawn on me to do a ball gown or floor length unless it said black tie. You can wear sparkly or sedate. Either is fine, imo.

Now, I do have a question about the color scheme. I am not nor have ever been super in the wedding loop but I have always avoided wearing the color of the wedding party. I have never heard of bride's colors. Do you mean the colors of the bridal party or is this some term I just don't know? I want there to be no confusion about who is in the wedding party.

Do you have a budget?

[rlu]

What is the setting for the reception?

Indoor. It's either a hotel or restaurant reception room. The invite's at home. Nice (ritzy) area.

[rlu]

I would go mid thigh or knee length. It wouldn't dawn on me to do a ball gown or floor length unless it said black tie. You can wear sparkly or sedate. Either is fine, imo.

Now, I do have a question about the color scheme. I am not nor have ever been super in the wedding loop but I have always avoided wearing the color of the wedding party. I have never heard of bride's colors. Do you mean the colors of the bridal party or is this some term I just don't know? I want there to be no confusion about who is in the wedding party.

Do you have a budget?

I asked her for her colors and she said purple and orange, so I am assuming the bridemaids and decor will be purple and orange. I agree, I won't be wearing those colors, but would like to not clash with DS's purple shirt in the pics. I probably should have just left that part out (the matching tie thing is way too cute though).

I normally shop at Goodwill so my budget is very little, but anything people suggest would help me when looking.

[echoesofspring]

I might use this as an opportunity to get a new LBD. I picked one up at TJ Maxx yesterday that I'm planning on wearing to a wedding in October. Our store had them in almost every size, so it must have been a new arrival. It was $50, Ralph Lauren.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Do you want to try Rent the Runway? Or do you want to be able to add to your closet?

[Indianamom2]

Here are a couple of suggestions:

I love this one. I would think it would be very appropriate for the setting you describe:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/sl-fashions-dress-sleeveless-ruched-lace-a-line?ID=741034&CategoryID=5449&LinkType=#fn=SPECIAL_OCCASIONS%3DGuest of Wedding%26PAGEINDEX%3D5%26sp%3D5%26spc%3D407%26rul eId%3D%26slotId%3D188

This is very classic and wearable in a lot of other settings:
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1711288/chaps-shirred-sheath-dress-womens.jsp

This is a good price for a nice classic dress:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/adrianna-papell-cap-sleeve-lace-sheath-dress-regular-petite/3794199?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1146&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-2_5_C

Maybe? Might be a little too casual, but I think it would be ok:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ivy-blu-ruched-jersey-dress/2931159?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=FIESTA&resultback=2364&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-2_8_D

This is a pretty (subtle) print:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/gabby-skye-burnout-organza-fit-flare-dress/3740481?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=3654&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-8_12_B

[rlu]

Here are a couple of suggestions:

I love this one. I would think it would be very appropriate for the setting you describe:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/sl-fashions-dress-sleeveless-ruched-lace-a-line?ID=741034&CategoryID=5449&LinkType=#fn=SPECIAL_OCCASIONS%3DGuest of Wedding%26PAGEINDEX%3D5%26sp%3D5%26spc%3D407%26rul eId%3D%26slotId%3D188

This is very classic and wearable in a lot of other settings:
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1711288/chaps-shirred-sheath-dress-womens.jsp

This is a good price for a nice classic dress:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/adrianna-papell-cap-sleeve-lace-sheath-dress-regular-petite/3794199?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1146&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-2_5_C

Maybe? Might be a little too casual, but I think it would be ok:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ivy-blu-ruched-jersey-dress/2931159?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=FIESTA&resultback=2364&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-2_8_D

This is a pretty (subtle) print:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/gabby-skye-burnout-organza-fit-flare-dress/3740481?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=3654&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-8_12_B

all of these are really pretty. I'm self-conscious about wearing a v though, they almost always reveal more than I'm comfortable with. I have a nordy's and kohl's nearby, I should see if DH and I could take a shopping trip soon and see if they have any of these instore.

eta: we have a ross and marshalls nearby, plus a dress barn. I just really need to get out and look. Thanks for all suggestions so far!

[rlu]

Do you want to try Rent the Runway? Or do you want to be able to add to your closet?

I don't know. I guess it would depend how much renting cost. If it's over like $50, I rather have something in my closet that I could wear again. Our company is making noises about having a real Winter holiday party again so there might be a second upcoming occassion for the dress.

[echoesofspring]

I got a Chaps dress at Kohls for a wedding last year that I get compliments on whenever I wear it, so definitely check them out. I wish I could find a link to dress I bought at TJ Maxx b/c it had an interesting, but modest neckline, one of the reasons I got it. I like v-necks but I do have trouble with them being too revealing right now as well.

Here's some other ideas:
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1646389/chaps-solid-knot-front-empire-dress-womens.jsp (there are a bunch of similar dresses with different sleeve lengths, it's similar to a vneck but not as revealing)

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1709245/chaya-lace-a-line-dress.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1577708/studio-tahari-levine-co-cutout-sheath-dress-womens.jsp

You might also try a consignment shop if there's one near you. They can be great places to find dresses since people buy them for one occasion and then don't wear them again...

[westwoodmom04]

If you don't already have one, I second the recommendation for a little black dress, I would go with knee length to get the most use out of it. You can find them pretty much anywhere. Avoid jersey material or cotton, that will make it less dressy.

There are a few dresses less than fifty dollars on rent the runway, but not after delivery/insurance costs are added in. This seems like a good opportunity to add a versatile dress to your wardrobe.

[mom2binsd]

I guess I'm still confused, I would think unless you are part of the wedding party I wouldn't have DH and DS wearing coordinating colors, that seems like they are trying to be in the wedding party. I've never heard of specifically wearing colors (and purple and orange are very specific) to match the wedding party, but that's just me.

[rlu]

Thanks all for the suggestions and comments. I went to Ross and found several to pick from, including a black lace one similar to PP suggestion. All our outfits go well together and it cost less than I feared. Thanks!

eta: I'm coveting the blue cutout dress PP linked http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/gabby-skye-burnout-organza-fit-flare-dress/3740481?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=3654&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-8_12_B&siteId=je6NUbpObpQ-ARRGZk5STH8r6OvTUM_.8Q and consoling myself that the v would make me too uncomfortable anyway.

[AnnieW625]

I have a few great cocktail dresses I paid less than $30 for, both Calvin Klein and I bought one at Nordstrom Rack, and the other at Loehmann's (sadly went out of business) so you just need to start pulling dresses and seeing what works. Glad you were able to find something!

[Green_Tea]

I guess I'm still confused, I would think unless you are part of the wedding party I wouldn't have DH and DS wearing coordinating colors, that seems like they are trying to be in the wedding party. I've never heard of specifically wearing colors (and purple and orange are very specific) to match the wedding party, but that's just me.

Yes to this. I would avoid wearing the same colors as the wedding party.

Is it a Halloween wedding? Try to imagine how orange and purple will look in pictures!