Just wondered what everyone's thoughts are on optional fancy dress for evening do's? My fiancé and I are getting married on 22nd October 2016 (Weekend before Halloween - unfortunately someone already has that date boo!) and had discussed the option of making our evening gathering optional fancy dress.
We have a lot of family and friends who have children (children are included in our whole wedding) and thought this might be a cool way to make the evening more interesting for children and overgrown children alike! I also have though about hiring a face painter for the children too!
What's everyone opinion? Should we take the plunge with this one?
I for one will not be changing out of my wedding dress though :)
xx Coral xx
CommentAuthorFlossie
edited
It's not my cup of tea but there's no reason why you shouldn't or can't do that. It would certainly add a bit of fun :)
The doubt I would have is would your day guests have time and somewhere to get changed into their fancy dress outfits? I'm not sure as a guest I'd want to bring a change of clothes with me x
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorCoralLeigh2016
I think it will be a bit of fun but it was my fiancé's idea mainly (definitely a grown up child lol) but I'm starting to warm to the idea...I think! Maybe I'll have a nosey on Pinterest again and see if I do definitely like the idea....watch this space xx
CommentAuthorIrishbride2be
it would defo be different, i do agree with flossie with your day guests getting changed and how practical that is with them having to bring stuff with them xx
Met my dream man on Halloween 2012
Proposed to me in Spain 22nd July 2014
Getting married 12 september 2015
Marrying my forever best friend :-)
CommentAuthor*KelBel*
It would be different but wouldn't be for me as I'd probably wear something I already had for an evening reception rather than buying a whole new outfit and if I did fancy dress I'd most likely have to go hire something which in my area is around £40 for a costume without accessories shoes etc x
Velcro...my wedding day twinny! The Two Kel's!
Got engaged 14/10/12 in Central Park NYC!
Became Mrs Macdonald 13th September 2014
Mummy to 4 girlies and baby blue boy Due 10/05/2016
I wouldn't enjoy it as I personally hate Halloween but if it's what you both want and like then There's no reason not to. I think it would really excite people as its a bit different and there are loads of people that just simply love Halloween (ergh haha)
Flossie makes a good point though about changing/spare clothes. I don't think I would and I would possibly feel uncomfortable if loads of other people showed up in fancy dress later (kind of like feeling underdressed). There will however though be lots of evening guests likely to come in fancy dress even if day guest don't want to bring extra things with them to keep your theme.
Speak to people on your guest list before and get their opinions and see what the ratio is between those who would or wouldn't and decide if it's worth it from there x
Mr & Mrs Swan 04/04/15
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
Some people don't like fancy dress, but you could always do it as an optional thing. Friends of mine said they were having a fancy dress party, so everyone dressed up and in fact it was their wedding day, just had not told anyone. I got invited but couldn't make it and after I found out I was gutted.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorJennK
Personally I would hate this, I hate dressing up and if I have to I usually find a way round it. A friend had a super hero New Years eve last year so I dressed in office clothes and made a press pass badge that said Louis Lane on it. H2b wore a superman tshirt under a suit!
Our perfect day - 08.08.15 <3
CommentAuthorEmmaG
I think if that's your personality, then yes do it.. I would think if you fun people then all your friends who are coming are likely to then to be fun people too so will love it . Fancy dress doesn't mean loads of cash, a wig and pair of glasses will do for some, ebay sell loads of adult and kids fancy dress costumes from as little as £5 , I dressed up as superwoman and my 20month old was supergirl recently, and for 2 costumes was £25, lots of people have some FD lurking in there cupboard.. I only know a handful of people who don't like fancy dress, majority of people I know love it, we go loads of festivals where thousands of people are dressed up too, its great fun !! . Maybe have a wig party for the evening if don't want to go full FD , its cheap for them to buy and small to bring with them and they don't have to get changed out of outfit.. I love fancy dress, im having a fancy dress box next to a home made photo booth. so its up to them if they want to jump in and put something on ! Which im guaranteed pretty much everyone who comes will apart from my parents probably. But we mainly having friends at ours not loads of random family members we don't really know.. e.t.c good luck with it, enjoy !!
Soooooo excited to be marrying my Best Friend !!
Life is Wild, Love it Live it !
CommentAuthorNikkiE58
I LOVE dressing up, so if there's someone on your side, it's Me! Butttttt.. There are a few downsides of Halloween fancy dress! 1. Masks! What if, like all the lazy men I've met, most people turn up in masks? The evening photos won't even show you who was there, and when you look back in pictures years ahead, you might not even be able to tell who that person was that came as Wacko Jacko? 2. FAKE BLOOD! Every Halloween, I have to be very careful with what I wear, as if I wear white,the fake blood just gets everywhere! Even of I'm not wearing it at the beginning of the night, I'll be covered by the end, and the Zombie latex skin, it's Sooo sticky! Imagine that getting on your beautiful WHITE wedding dress!! Eeek! 3. What if you say it's optional, and then only a small group of people decide to dress up? It would be embarrassing for you, and very embarrassing for your guests, and that's not a predicament you should be putting your guests into. Honestly, I think you should test the waters with you friends and family before committing. Some may be more than happy to dress up, but others may tell you that they don't feel comfortable with going to a Wedding all Bloodied up, especially the older generation! But, as there are negatives, there are also positives! It will be a memorable reception to many people, the kids will have a ball, if you have a Photobooth it will be hilarious (if you can tell who is who), and some people might get really stuck into it! I've thrown 3 big Halloween parties over the years, and I can tell you now, a Prize for Best Dressed really does get people involved and brings out the competitive side! My advice is to do 4 gifts! (Best Dressed 1. Woman 2. Man 3. Child 4. Couple/Group) let us know what you decide! X
CommentAuthorCoralLeigh2016
Brilliant ladies thanks for all the fab reviews and ideas!
One thing I am definitely going to do is take all your advice of testing the waters with our guests, like you say I don't want only a handful of people dressing up and the others not! Maybe if not everyone can decide I'll allow fancy dress only for the children - my niece at the moment is currently living/breathing/sleeping Princess Elsa from Frozen.....thank god we're all going to Disneyland this Christmas!
Will definitely let you all know what we decide to go ahead with....thank you all again xxxxx Coral xxxxx
CommentAuthorAmyK
Are you having a photobooth or similar?
With ours, there was a props box where could people could 'dress up' for the photos, so perhaps you could do just that for them to dress up a bit for part of the evening if they want to? Party wigs and accessories can be bought from pound shops, supermarkets etc - especially now you'll get some bargains post-Halloween. Stick them in a box, maybe a large frame for people to hold to pose in and hey presto - photobooth fun and dressing up, without the hassle of people bringing their own/fake blood/people feeling obliged to take part if they don't want to
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CommentAuthorFlossie
^^^ Good post
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorCoralLeigh2016
Fab idea! Thanks Amy xxx
CommentAuthorCarrieD26
I went to a wedding on Halloween and we were all given a tub of sweets, the kids all got changed early eve and went trick or treating around the tables. They really enjoyed it, so did the adults and it's a wedding I will always remember fondly!
