<p>You guys are so good with clothing suggestions here. I am completely lost on this one. My boss is getting married; it will be very traditional. I know I have to be pretty well covered, but I don’t know what colors are acceptable, and I don’t have a lot of money to spend. I am 5’3", size 8-10. Please help. I just don’t want to look like I don’t belong there!</p>
<p>The traditional aspects signifies the bride and groom’s commitment to the religion. You won’t have to do much except sit, stand, eat and celebrate. Yes, dancing will be encouraged and appreciated. Oh yeah, dark suit, white/light shirt, darkish tie, some color is okay, dark socks, dark dress shoes (polished). If money is a problem, try the second hand store. But the boss is the one guy/girl that you should want to impress. Mozels!</p>
<p>thanks, but I need a dress, not a suit</p>
<p>I would focus more on covering up than color, but if you have muted colors, wear those. </p>
<p>Skirt to ankles, sleeves to wrists, or failing that at least covering shoulders. Since you are a guest, don’t stress out too much about how you dress. Be conservative to be sure, but if you own a dress that isn’t bright red and isn’t super short and revealing, you will be fine.</p>
<p>Knee length dress, sleeves to at least elbows, no plunging necklines or bare back. Color is fine!</p>
<p>Depending on how orthodox the wedding is, men and women may be seated separately at the dinner as well as the service, and there may be no mixed gender dancing. (Don’t worry, it’ll still be fun!) </p>
<p>The meal will be kosher, of course, so either dairy (including fish) or meat (which for complicated reasons also can include fish!). If it’s meat, there may be things that look like dairy products (creamer for the coffee) which are actually nondairy.</p>
<p>Have a great time!</p>
<p>^^What they all said.</p>
<p>I would add that if you have a long sleeved dress that is not too revealing, that would work. Or a skirt & blouse. If you want to buy something new, what about a maxi dress with long sleeves or 3/4 sleeves? I would also stick with darker or muted colors…Charcoal Grey, Navy, Dark Purple, Dark Green maybe…
The Orthodox will prefer that your arms are covered during the ceremony…either with a jacket, sweater, shawl or similar…and skirt should be knee length or preferably longer…don’t stress too much, though. As long as you are dressed “modestly”, that’ll be fine.</p>
<p>If you go to youtube and look up orthodox Jewish weddings, you’ll find lots of examples. Modest if the key.</p>
<p>Modern Orthodox? Anything to the knees and covering elbows and not low cut will do. Most Orthodox weddings will have separated seating for the ceremony. Some will have separate seating for the meals, but some will not. Some will also have separate dancing.</p>
<p>My son’s wedding was (mostly) Modern Orthodox. Before the ceremony there was a “tisch” for the men (they sit around and talk about marriage, with way too many toasts), and a “bedeken” for the women, with way too much food. There were visits by the women to the men (to break a plate) and from the men to women ( for my son to veil his bride). Our children signed their beautiful Ketubah (marriage contract), painted by one of their artist friends.</p>
<p>Seating at the actual wedding was as people chose–there was a men’s section, a women’s section, and a “mixed” section. Kept all factions happy. Same with the meal. Dancing after the ceremony started out single sex. Later in the evening, it was mixed. It was a long day, it was fun, everyone was happy.</p>
<p>Don’t be scared off by seeing video of Chasidic weddings–they are a very small and extreme minority and generally a somewhat set off group.</p>
<p>Modesty, as noted, is key. But there’s no reason to mute the colors! Weddings are very happy occasions and should be celebrated. It’s not even a traditional requirement that colors be muted.</p>
<p>You may want a hat.</p>
<p>Check the invitation carefully. The one I was invited to (for a co-worker) I was only invited to the ceremony not the reception/meal (I did not know as the invite was primarily in hebrew and the only location was a restaurant so I assumed I was invited for a meal.)</p>
<p>Wow, kiddie, I have never heard of that. I would never do that to a guest.</p>
<p>I have NEVER heard of that either. The usual is far too much food and people. And to my friend who is guiding me through the Orthodox ceremony part. It is complicated only because there is tradition, laws, and those who say, this is how we have always done this…</p>
<p>I have heard of this, but not in the context of Jewish weddings, orthodox or not.</p>
<p>Many years ago my co-worker invited me to the ceremony and the dance after a meal for select few. It was not a Jewish wedding. Anyway, I thought it was extremely tacky and and did not go.</p>
<p>OP, you’ve got good advice here. Modesty is the key. Also, no pants.</p>
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<p>Do the non-dairy products ever include nuts (e.g. almond milk)? I took my D to a vegan restaurant and because I have a nut allergy, I had to be very careful.</p>
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<p>Yes, almond milk is non-dairy, so you have to be careful. Usually though it is just some variant of soy. I am not a fan of most non-dairy deserts. Non-dairy cheesecake in particular is abomination.</p>
<p>Almonds are also a particular favorite flavoring in Jewish cuisine, perhaps because almond flour is permissible for Passover, so the flavor has become popular. I’d be careful of any desserts. But the caterer will know.</p>
<p>As a guest you do not need to wear a hat. Traditional married Orthodox women will have their heads covered but many modern Orthodox women do not at least after the ceremony. I have been to many Orthodox weddings and I have never worn a hat or covered my head, although I do when I attend services. You need to have shoulders covered preferably to elbows, no cleavage showing and nothing super short.
I went to a very Orthodox wedding a few years ago at the Lubavitcher headquarters for a close friend’s son. At the catering hall reception, men and women had to walk down separate stairs. That was a new one for me. The ceremony was after the bedecken and we were all bussed to Eastern Parkway and back.</p>