What to wear - working at a wedding?

October 4, 2007 1:03 PM

I'm videoing a wedding tomorrow - what should I wear?

I'm filming a wedding! But I haven't been to one in many years so I don't remember what the people who record these things wear. I'm not playing any sort or guest role - strictly business. It's (apparently) going to be casual but being held at a very luxurious house. I'm a young female and the season is spring. Any suggestions?

posted by teststrip to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (14 answers total)

Dress smart. Got a suit?
posted by popcassady at 1:06 PM on October 4, 2007

...or a dress even.
posted by popcassady at 1:06 PM on October 4, 2007

...on second thoughts, blouse and trousers.
posted by popcassady at 1:08 PM on October 4, 2007

Dress like you're a wedding guest.
posted by special-k at 1:13 PM on October 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

I would go with a suit, or a plain blouse and trousers- something that looks nice, but allows for adequate movement for picture-taking. Because you are working the wedding, to wear something you might wear to a wedding as an attendee would be inappropriate.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:14 PM on October 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

Something neutral yet appropriate for the occasion. You want to disappear into the background. No bright color.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:16 PM on October 4, 2007

dress like you're a guest, only an understated one. that way people aren't distracted by your presence. dressing in anything too business-like or even too plain makes you stick out.
when i photograph weddings, i usually wear a modest dress. solid color. got anything in navy?
also, minimal accessories. nothing flashy.
posted by buka at 1:26 PM on October 4, 2007 [2 favorites]

def pants. you don't want to flash someone while trying to execute a tricky shot.
posted by kidsleepy at 1:51 PM on October 4, 2007

pants neutral colors something comfortable. i videotape weddings almost every weekend.
posted by DJWeezy at 1:55 PM on October 4, 2007

Dress nicely but comfortably. I would definitely wear pants so you can move around freely without worrying. But you don't have to dress to match the guests--you are there to work. The catering staff dresses up but not so they can blend in with the guests!
posted by wallaby at 2:12 PM on October 4, 2007

The person coming to photograph my wedding said he's going to wear a black shirt and black pants--a sort of business casual camouflage. This is for a more casual wedding. At super-duper fancy affairs where everyone is in tuxedos, they may expect more formal attire from you.
posted by divka at 3:32 PM on October 4, 2007

Dress professionally, as if you had a very serious business appointment. I went to a photographer's wedding, and the (female) wedding photographer wore nice black pants, a nice white tshirt, and a really stylish black jacket. Wear shoes that are nice but comfortable, which is why you probably want to wear pants.
posted by theora55 at 3:50 PM on October 4, 2007

Dress as the guests will be dressed. ask the host what to wear.
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:35 PM on October 4, 2007

Definitely err in the favor of comfort and mobility. Ask your host what the guests will be wearing, but don't use their answer as a shopping list for you attire.

In the early days of my video career, I shot dozens of weddings, and if there's one piece of advice to impart, it's to wear comfortable shoes. If you can believe it, I wore black skate sneakers (no crazy stripes, visible logos or designs on them..just a single flat color) to almost all the weddings I shot, and it's never been an issue, and it really makes a difference in terms of agility (you'll find yourself constantly fast-walking, and even running, on a wedding shoot) and saving your feet from being numb, bloody stumps at the end of the night.
posted by melorama at 6:49 PM on October 4, 2007