We've been invited to a Russian Jewish wedding in a couple of weeks. I've never been to a Jewish wedding. Or a Russian wedding. Or a catered wedding. (Every single wedding I have ever attended has had a simple desert reception.)
The wedding is on a Saturday evening in an upscale hotel. We've already made reservations to spend the night, just in case we try to keep up with the Russians during the reception. Apparently the thing about Russians and vodka isn't just a stereotype.
So I've ordered this dress. Is this appropriate for this type of wedding? Am I committing any major faux pas? I know that at a Catholic church wedding, for instance, this dress would not be appropriate because of the bare shoulders--but that would only apply in a church, I think.
Anything else we need to know so that we don't embarrass ourselves? We do not have a large Jewish community here, and we just aren't familiar with Jewish customs.
I'm so excited about the event. I don't know the couple well--the groom is one of DH's work buddies--but it will be a fun date night and a new cultural experience. And I do like vodka.
6 comments:
LOVE the dress. Totally appropriate in my opinion- to sound like Heidi Klum on Project Runway, "I'd wear it." I haven't been to a Russian-Jewish wedding precisely, but I've been to lots of super fancy weddings and they're lots of fun. I love getting dressed up- and looking at everyone else dressed up. Fancy weddings can sometimes be dull because they're too staid, but Jewish weddings are so fun and I have a feeling the addition of the vodka drinking Russians will assure you a great time.
Oh and you can usually bare your shoulders in a Catholic wedding now too, at least in practice, if not by the actual rules. The four full Mass Catholic weddings I've been too had most women, including the bride, in strapless and spaghetti straps. I think Greek Orthodox may be the only one left where you can't bare shoulders nowadays.
(And I seriously love your dress- great color, what shoes are you wearing?)
Cute dress. But what is it with all of the Ann Taylor models posing hunched over this season?
You can always get a cute shawl to bring with you in case you feel a little too naked.
I was going to second the shawl recommendation. Love the dress, totally appropriate! I find Jewish weddings (and bat/bar mitzvahs) to be dressier than other weddings, but not necessarily conservative.
I agree with all of the above - love it! A shrug or a nice shawl should cover you if the wedding turns out to be chillier or more conservative. Target has some great wraps for cheap, that's where I got my wedding standby.
Thanks Ladies--y'all rock! I love the dress. I rarely branch out from basic black, but this color is beautiful
You're right, LL, about bare shoulders and Catholic weddings. Now that I think about it, I am certain that both of my sisters-in-law wore strapless wedding gowns at their Catholic weddings, and I know that the bridesmaid's dress that I wore in one of them had spaghetti straps.
And I took all of your advice on the wrap, and thanks to Dinei's tip, found a simple black wrap on clearance at Target for $7.00. Score!
Haven't decided on shoes--I have some strappy black heels that would be fine, but silver or bronze might really set off the dress. Hmmm, may have to go shoe shopping.
Oh, and Juliet, I totally agree about the model. And what is with the crazy hair that looks like she just work up from a nap?
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