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Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic Engagement Date: November 17, 2006 Wedding Date: August 23, 2008 Blogging Since: June 10, 2008 Venue: Vineyard on the Delta About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
About Mrs. Green Tea

Previously: 1. Prelude , 2. Tea Ceremony , 3. Getting Ready, 4. The Kids

Did everyone but me know that there are so many rules regarding wedding guest attire before planning their own wedding? Different resources yield varying info, but I guess black can be too somber and red can be too distracting… and holy crap, people get all kinds of worked up about wearing white!

I honestly didn’t think I would remotely care if anyone showed up to the wedding wearing white. In fact, there were quite a few guests who wore white dresses with brightly colored accessories and they were all gorgeous! But when I first saw the hubs’ grandma for the first time that day dressed entirely in white, my first thought was… ‘Oh no!’

(his g-ma, my g-ma,
my mom, his mom)


Now that’s not the ‘Oh no, everyone will mistake her for the bride!’ or, ‘Oh no, now she’ll take all the attention away from me!’ Rather, considering that Mr. GT’s grandmother is pretty traditional, it honestly crossed my mind that this was her way of showing her disapproval for our marriage. I had only met her less than half a dozen times and don’t know her well enough to tell you much besides the fact that she’s a very nice lady. I searched for an answer in my mind but then realized it was pointless, and so I moved on. The busy day kept my mind off the matter, except for the moment when she came to speak to me (with hugs and nothing but kind words) at the reception.

My FIL called one day inquiring about what he was supposed to wear to the wedding. Mr. GT asked him what nice clothes he had, and if he had a tie. His honest response was, “Oh man, I have to wear a tie?”

Needless to say I was ready for his nice outfit (the ’80s suit with cowboy boots), though my MIL made him get a new suit and a matching red tie instead. Thanks to her, I got a chance to fully see where some of Mr. GT’s good looks came from.

I didn’t care so much to put anyone in tuxes, but Mr. GT put his traditional foot down on this one. Since they were his boys, I didn’t bother to protest.

The groomsmaids (left pics) were hard at work helping to set up prior to the ceremony and we did not all get ready together. It was hot early in the evening and both of them had the buttons of their mandarin collars undone. I think it is as reasonable for me to assume they would have it buttoned, as it is as reasonable for them to assume that it need not be. No matter though, they were all beautiful regardless! But the lesson was learned: if you’re asking people to don unfamiliar cultural wardrobe, provide instructions because self-explanatory to you isn’t necessarily self-explanatory to everyone else!

Here is a close-up of the ’fits modeled by MOH & Best Man. The girls appreciated my choice of fans over flowers in the heat, while the groomsmen complained about the hot tux Mr. GT put them in.

Mom: share da shade!
G-ma: No!

And the perfect cuties:

As you can see, there were red, black, and even white, everywhere. Some was planned, others not, but it all turned out great. As for my suspicion for disapproval, I will just have to take Mr. GT’s word that it is not the case.

Anyone else caught off guard by wedding guest attire?

Images by Travis Hoehne

Tags: , , |   Link for this post | Share this post: The Tea Party: The Fashion (Faux Pas) Show      
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7 Responses to “The Tea Party: The Fashion (Faux Pas) Show”

1.
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Bee
Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  1,685 posts, Bumble bee

I doubt it was disapproval; just lack of awareness? I’m guessing my traditional Chinese family would be pretty upset if anyone showed up in white (the color of mourning). I think they’re able to make an exception for the wedding dress, but if Bubbe Hot Cocoa showed up in a white dress, my family would be sort of peeved. I, however, would just be pleased that at 80-something, she was healthy, happy, and able to show up to our wedding.

As for the mandarin collars, I always feel strangled by those things. I probably would have buttoned them for the ceremony and unbuttoned them right after! ;-)

 
2.
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Bee
Mrs. Espresso (message)  1,057 posts, Bumble bee

I love that your bridesmaids had fans instead of flowers! Very creative! And functional! :)

 
3.
MelissaB
Member
MelissaB (message)  414 posts, Helper bee

Miss GT, that link to the Martha Stewart blog was hilarious! People sure do get worked up about the “white at weddings” thing (although IMHO it probably *would* have been wiser, and more considerate, for the blogger to wear a different dress). But I’m sure in Mr. GT’s grandmother’s case, it didn’t mean anything.

Your bridal party looks great!

 
4.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  5,956 posts, Bee Keeper

@Mrs. Espresso: I LOVE that too! :)

 
5.
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Guest
adias.angel

I love the idea of guests wearing white. We are actually having a Mayan ceremony where all the guests will be asked to wear white/neutral colors. Then the only color accents will orange; on my dress, in my flowers, FI tie and monogram on my parasol. I have seen pictures of all the guests wearing white and against the ocean it was just beautiful.

 
6.
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Bee
Mrs. Avocado (message)  1,400 posts, Bumble bee

Hahha love that caption of your mom asking to share the shade. You crack me up.
I still kind of wish I would have dressed all of my bridesmaids in white just to show what a silly tradition it is. Besides, it would have spiced up the wedding with a little bit of “Where’s the bride?” Waldo style action.

 
7.
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Guest
The Tea Party: Walk the Walk » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] Previously: 1. Prelude, 2. Tea Ceremony, 3. Getting Ready, 4. The Kids, 5. Wedding Party [...]

 


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Mrs. Green Tea Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic Engagement Date: November 17, 2006 Wedding Date: August 23, 2008 Blogging Since: June 10, 2008 Venue: Vineyard on the Delta About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
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