Last summer the Peppermint Family went to my (second) cousin’s wedding in the UK (just outside of Ipswich, where the bride’s family is from). Prior to going on the trip, Mama Peppermint did some online research to make sure we dressed appropriately and didn’t stick out like the Americans we are. Among the many interesting tid bits she picked up, she learned that it is proper to wear a hat to an English wedding. When my mom told me this, I mostly dismissed it. Perhaps the older women wear hats, but young twenty-somethings definitely do not…
Well, upon attending I learned that not only was I mistaken, but perhaps more twenty-somethings wore hats than the older women! I was one of the only people who didn’t have a hat or hair piece of some sort. Many of them were elaborate and had feathers of all colors. Very festive! I don’t think I’ve seen any hats at American weddings other than those worn by the bride (and that’s rare). After all this hat talk, I stumbled upon this article on Martha Stewart Wedding about bridal hats.
I think I’ll be sticking to a veil, but I have to say, some of them are pretty cute…
Here is my Grandma Peppermint adjusting Mama Peppermint’s bridal hat (in the 70’s):
What are your views on hats at weddings? Have you considered wearing one (in lieu of or in combination with a veil) on your wedding day? Have you worn a hat as a guest to a wedding?
I live in the UK and hats are completely THE accessory for a wedding. I actually prefer the headpieces that are not actual hats, but rather little “doo dahs” that you attach. I think it’s fantastic, and it makes you feel SO festive.
I don’t usually wear hats, but my mom always does. We’re in Bermuda, so the Brits think we’re Americanised and the Yanks think we’re so British!
I not only considered it, I bought a cocktail hat…and returned it, and later a vintage hat from eBay…which I didn’t wear either.
I’m really a hat-wearing girl, but I couldn’t find a shape I liked that suited the dress but didn’t cost more than the dress. I feel like those are decent criteria.
I’m an Anglophile, so I’ve worn hats to three weddings. My favorite is a big-brimmed black one with white and black feathers that I wore with a blank blank tank dress, but for a small registry wedding, I wore a vintage fur “chapeau” that just perched on my head.
Would love it if people wear hats to my wedding!
I am *so* not a hat person. I grew up in Canada where it’s pretty easy to avoid hats, but I actually have dual citizenship in Canada and England and have attended a wedding in England. I knew the hat scenario over there, so I got a hat that I didn’t consider overly extravagant and wore it for the ceremony. But I took it off for the reception; I just feel weird wearing one! It is quite cool to see the hats some ladies wear though - they are quite the fashion statement over the other side of the pond.
wow, i’m so not a hat person, but that link that BaghdadBride provided looks so glamorous! i wish i could pull it off, but i hate the “hat-hair” syndrome too.
I’m wearing a veil, but my mom is very much a hat person, so she definitely had to have a had coordinated with her outfit for my wedding. She couldn’t possibly not wear a hat! my mom started wearing them to keep the sun off her face and out of her eyes, and now she’s virtually never out of the house without an inexpensive but well coordinated hat. one of my friends said she always looks like she’s on her way to a garden party. The one she got for my wedding is just as inexpensive as her regular hate but it’s a little more format and matches her outfit very well.
My cousin has been living in the UK for the last several years, and married someone from her adopted city. My aunt wore a hat at her wedding as did my cousin’s godmother, and the groom’s mother wore a feathered fascinator. I think that sort of thing must be in fashion over there (cf the hats and headgear worn at the Charles-Camilla wedding.)
I went to a wedding in England last summer and noticed the same thing - it was so festive and lovely to see everyone wearing beautiful hats! Lots of the younger women wore feathered and bejeweled fascinators that coordinated with their outfit, which I think is a nice alternative if you feel uncomfortable in a regular hat. I loved the look so much that I purchased my own fascinator (albeit a pretty conservative one in comparison) and plan on wearing it to the next wedding I go to in the US!
Hats are lovely (and useful!) at outdoor weddings & receptions on a warm sunny day. Definte plus.
I’m planning to wear a hat for the ceremony, very similar to the hat shown by Baghdad Bride. My hair dresser will be doing my hair afterwards, so I can take off the hat and still have pretty hair!
did you take pics so we can see all these fun hats?
marvil - sadly i don’t have many pictures! and, for privacy reasons, i didn’t want to post them without getting permission (but most of the fun hats were from strangers!)…
ooh! i went to a bridal shower once wear we were all required to wear a hat of some sort - that was really fun!
Hello - I just wanted to share our Breeziway venture with you. . . All inspired by my wedding in England at the end of summer, 2007! It is our goal to help each one of you design a headpiece for your wedding or other special occasion that matches your personal style and dress. Please, drop by our new website to browse more than 50 designs in our catalogue. Choose one of these or let them guide you in helping us design your unique piece. We have a range of Swarovski crystal brooch options, veils (at bargain prices), and unique feathers not yet seen in the European designer pieces. Most of our pieces are mounted on combs, which seem to provide the widest range of placements. We can, however, mount your piece to clamps or clips of your choice. If you are concerned about a hair comb staying in place, not to worry, I have a simple solution that will allow you to dance the night away without concern. If you would like your wedding attendants to wear flower headpieces while you wear the tiara of your dreams, we can complement your tiara with a small feather flourish. The options are endless. . .
I am planning on having my lady guests (and men if they wish!) to wear hats to my weding next year. Already some of the guests are expressing trepidation at the idea so I’d like to give them so sites to check out and chill them out a bit… one of the major concerns is the ‘hat head’ issue. Is it appropriate to take them off for the reception or is it alright for them to leave their hats on all evening?
@Ceilidh: Hello Ceilidh. . . Please, forgive what may appear to be shameless ’self-promotion’. I am actually excited about sharing the options recently discovered when preparing for my own wedding. Feather-based headpieces are an alternative to hats, which are so lightweight they eliminate the ‘hat head’ concerns. http://www.breeziway.com
Miss Peppermint, LA/Palm Springs
Age and Occupation: 23, Actress
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Web Producer
Engagement Date: October 21, 2006
Wedding Date: December 2007
Blogging Since: July 2, 2007
Venue: historic estate overlooking the heart of Palm Springs
About Me: I am a Southern California native who enjoys cooking, writing, travel and all things in the arts. Mr. Peppermint and I met in college and he proposed on our four year anniversary in one of our most special places, Joshua Tree National Park. We're having a destination wedding in Palms Springs that will incorporate tradition as well as reflect our personalities!
I love brides who have the style to pull it off. Here is one http://www.robgarland.com/blog/?p=265 Makes for great pics.
I’d totally wear a hat to a wedding if I knew I wouldn’t draw attention away from the bride.