Formal Dress, Please

Formal Dress is requested. We'd like to see everyone turn out in the most elegant evening clothes you have, in the century of your choice - from the 13th through the 21st centuries. This is your chance to wear tiaras, diamonds, elbow-length gloves, white ties and tailcoats! 21st-century tuxedos and gowns are just as appreciated as 18th-century sacque gowns or 15th-century doublets.

PLEASE -- THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A COSTUME BALL.

The bride has long dreamed of having a Formal Grand Ball in celebration of her marriage. If you regularly wear 18th-century or 15th-century clothing,
and have appropriate formal wear, please wear that. If you do not, do not feel you must wear "a costume" -- please just wear modern formal attire.

For reenactors or SCAdians, if you do not have appropriate formal evening attire in a period century (and don't have the time or wherewithal to make it),
please wear modern evening attire rather than a less-formal period outfit. (In other words, that ratty blue-turned-brown Regimental coat is not acceptable!)

Men: Please Bring Your Swords!
If it is part of your formal outfit, please wear your sword. We would like to have a sword arch during the ceremony. Claymores to katanas -- as long as it's clean and well-kept, and in an appropriate scabbard, we would love to have you bring it.

We have received some specific questions on appropriate attire:

Can men wear a kilt?
Yes, as part of appropriate formal attire (evening coat with shiny buttons, ruffled shirt, etc.). Several men have already decided to wear kilts,
so you would not be the only one.

Is my 18th-century regimental coat appropriate evening wear?
This is a tricky question. For men with well-kept officers' coats, those would absolutely be appropriate evening wear.
(This is what the groom will be wearing.) For the privates, it depends upon the condition of your coat - and the rest of the attire.
If your coat is new and in excellent repair, it would be fine for the Ball. If it is 20 years old, stained, and ripped, it is not.
Likewise, if your overalls or breeches went through Boone Homestead and are still stained red, they would not be correct evening wear.

My spouse/partner/date is going to wear an 18th-century outfit, but I would rather wear modern evening dress. Do we have to match?
No. As a matter of fact, it looks like both sets of Susan and Mark's parents will wearing clothes from different centuries. As long as you are both in elegant evening clothes, you don't have to come in outfits from the same century.

Have a question? Email Susan or Mark!

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