It looks as though I'll be attending my first Catholic wedding in October. What should I expect? How long will the service be? Is there a dress code for a Catholic wedding? Those who know me know I'm not really a suit and tie guy. Is a nice pair of pants and dress shirt acceptable?

Most guys wear shirt and tie, but a nice dress shirt sans tie would suffice.

 

Ceremony length depends. Will they be holding a full Mass? If so, an hour give or take depending on the number of people in attendance. If not a Mass, could be as short as 20-30 minutes.

It will take at most an hour to an hour and a quarter , and yes business casual is ok , although I think that depends on what your wife wants you to wear ,if you are married that is .

Most guys wear shirt and tie, but a nice dress shirt sans tie would suffice.

 

Ceremony length depends. Will they be holding a full Mass? If so, an hour give or take depending on the number of people in attendance. If not a Mass, could be as short as 20-30 minutes.

 

 

Thanks. Not really sure on Mass.

I've been to a few that were well over an hour. I personally would go with shirt and tie, but see nothing wrong with a nice pair of pants and dress shirt.

It will take at most an hour to an hour and a quarter , and yes business casual is ok , although I think that depends on what your wife wants you to wear ,if you are married that is .

 

Yes I'm married, and as long as I'm not wearing Crocs she'll be ok with what I wear. :lol2:

Thanks. Not really sure on Mass.

If both parties are Catholic then a Mass there will be . If not then the Mass is optional .

It looks as though I'll be attending my first Catholic wedding in October. What should I expect? How long will the service be? Is there a dress code for a Catholic wedding? Those who know me know I'm not really a suit and tie guy. Is a nice pair of pants and dress shirt acceptable?

Expect a wedding service that also includes a Mass celebration. I have been to non-Catholic weddings that were shorter because the service was just for the nuptials. Dress code depends on the couple and the reception genre. I have been to Catholic weddings that were very formal and I have been to some that pants and dress shirt were acceptable.

 

My 87 year old dad wears the dress pants/dress shirt to his grandchildren's weddings, but my boys like to wear suits to their cousin's weddings.

Really, it won't be much different than any other church based wedding you've been to. You may not be familiar with what's going on, but that will happen in any wedding performed in a denomination you are not familiar with. Every religion has their own customs, but the wedding ceremony, at least in my experience, is pretty similar, especially in terms of length. I'm a Methodist that married into a VERY Catholic family, and I've never felt uncomfortable. Just stand when every else stands, and don't get in the Communion line. If you're feeling a little self conscious, just sit towards the back. I've never been to a Catholic wedding (and I've been to a bunch) where Mass wasn't celebrated. I've heard they happen, but I would pretty much expect Mass, and as the others have mentioned, you're looking at about an hour on the short end, and a max of about an hour and a half. Dress shirt and nice pants are ok. I often just wear a nice dress shirt with a sport coat and no tie.

I've been to probably 2 dozen Catholic weddings over the years and recall only a couple times Mass wasn't part of it.

As was stated, many men wear dress shirts and ties, but also a large number just wear nice pants and a nice dress shirt.

Nice pants and shirt should be fine. If a more formal attire is desired, the bride and groom would indicate that within their invitation. I would take my cue from what I know of the family (ies). If they are the suit wearing type(s), I'd err on the side of caution and wear a suit and tie. Or at least a sport coat and tie. You can always remove a tie and sport coat. But you can't miracle one up if you get there and everyone is all gussied up. But, in the overall scheme of things, you were invited because they want the "you" you are, and they likely won't expect you to try to be anything other than that.

 

The ceremony itself doesn't dictate the dress.

 

I would be prepared for an hour to an hour and a half of ceremony, as described above. It's beautiful, filled with thousands of years of rituals and prayers. In my own opinion, there is no more beautiful wedding ceremony than a full Catholic mass. I love that no matter where in the world it takes place, the basic elements are the same, and have been for centuries.

To echo the above, if both sides are Catholic, prepare for an hour minimum. If only one side is Catholic, possibility they will drop it down to just a nuptials service and not distribute Communion. Also depends on the church they are using - you're not going to go to a cathedral for just a nuptial service in my opinion. The best way to know without asking is grab the program and see if they have an entry for presentation of the gifts. If there is one, buckle in for the long haul.

 

Also slacks and long sleeve dress shirt or anything more formal than that will suffice in my book. I usually rock the tie and jacket but there will be many who won't.

One man's humble opinion:

 

Never go to a wedding without a sports coat or a suit jacket unless it's a beach wedding.

 

From a GQ standpoint choose a sports coat and tie vs a business suit.

 

Wear dress shoes.

As one who mainly goes to Catholic weddings (easy to do in NKY/Cincinnati) I am starting to see less and less full Mass weddings - even if both are Catholic. Odd.