Can you please tell at the wedding reception
when is the correct time for ladies should remove their hats.
Do they have to wait fot the Brides mother to remove hers.?
A1. Etiquette dictates that when the bride's
mother removes her hat, others can follow suit. The timing is
really down to the bride's mother but in most cases she would
remove her hat after the meal, when in most cases men remove their
jackets. This would be once coffee is served.
(Answered by Pippa Miln)
A2. Traditionally no-one should remove their hats until the brides
mother removes hers. If she wants to party the night away with
her hat on, that's
her perogative!.
(Answered by Sarah Tinsley)
A3. According to 'Debretts Wedding Guide - The planning and etiquette
of a modern wedding' women are "not in general supposed to
remove their hats during a seated meal at a formal event and wedding
guests will usually take their cue in this respect from the behaviour
of the mothers."
Obviously that is for very formal, traditional weddings.
If you are going to be a guest at a wedding and are unsure when
you can take your hat off, you might want to ask the couple or
mother in advance, to gauge how formal the wedding will be (depending
on how well you know them). This would also be a way to show respect
for their wishes prior to the day!
In my experience, especially at summer weddings,
most of the people wearing hats on remove them at the end of the
photos, prior to the reception. You will often find that the women
who have been wearing hats, retire to the 'ladies' to 're-touch'
their hair afterwards!
You really need to be guided by the style and formality
of the event, and most importantly, what the couple want!Good
luck. I hope you enjoy your day.
(Answered by Emma
Pirie)
A4. Etiquette says that you follow the lead
of the brides mum, but most people now remove their hat when they
sit down to eat. Tip, if you are going to do a lot of greeting
people but kissing them in your hat , it is easier if the trim
is a style that turns up and not down. That way way you don't
get the clash of hats.
(Answered by Helen Hitchcock)
