Dressing right: Four style tips for attending a wedding in Guatemala

With conservative, traditional clothing that speaks volumes about Guatemalans’ sense of decency and the importance of their heritage, getting dressed for a wedding in the country can be one of your life’s most memorable experiences. First-time travelers to Guatemala who lack minimum knowledge about the country’s wedding dress codes or overall dressing norms may tend to wrongfully assume that absurd strictness is what their outfits will be subjected to. In fact, Guatemalans couldn’t be more tolerant and supportive of variety and individuality as long as your apparel exudes consideration and respect. You probably don’t want to leave little to the attendees' imagination, use overly flashy accessories or clothes, or go there in jeans and flip-flops. 

With these no-goes in mind, you’ll be all set if you follow some simple, friendly rules that lean more on common sense than effort to fit in. Let’s discover how you can make a memorable impression while allowing your individuality to shine through in modern-day Guatemala, or for weddings outside the rural areas that can differ highly. To highlight the contrast, many brides in traditional settings opt for colors in their gowns, whereas those preferring to look modern tend to go for the timeless, staple all-white dress. To help you get started, here are four styling tips to help you get ready to attend a wedding in Guatemala.

Understand the dress code

When it comes to wedding dress codes, the language is relatively difficult to puzzle out, so it makes sense if you find deciphering the ones in Central America confusing. Regardless of that, always remember that these norms were created to establish a certain degree of formality for all guests to respect, which, as you may have already guessed, is higher compared to the United States. Nevertheless, this level of conventionalism varies across regions. In the capital and bigger cities, where brides no longer wear colorful apparel, while stiffness is a thing of the past. 

Generally, modern-day Guatemalan weddings in less rural areas follow the black-tie dress code but with a few minor tweaks compared to what you may know. For instance, instead of a full-length formal gown, your dress can be more relaxed, such as choosing a shorter dress, like a midi or tea-length. However, a floor-length dress is still possible if you prefer this style. Apart from these styles, you need to keep in mind a few rules like skipping whites, covering key areas, looking all dressed up and you are safe.

Get graceful quality 

Depending on your role in the wedding, you may feel more or less pressure. If you’re the lucky mother whose daughter is getting married soon, you certainly have many things in mind and the dress shouldn’t be one of them, as utopian as it may sound. 

You can opt for a refined, floor-length chiffon dress with a lovely slit if you want to match your daughter’s level of class. Contrarily, you can get a satin dress in darker hues if you want to be low-key ravishing. Thanks to the wide selection of mother or the bride dresses at your disposal, you can nail it with a dress that fits your body type, skin tone, back silhouette, and so on, coming in any fabric you want in order to feel comfy and stunning. Generally, you should look at criteria like fabric, where a chiffon, lace, or satin piece would hit the spot. 

Go with a few sequins here and there if you want to be a head-turner. From black-tie to two-piece to elegant and beautiful black, you have many choices for your Guatemalan wedding, no matter if you’re the bride's mother or attending the event as a happy guest. A general rule is to invest in quality when getting attire for such a big event is the best you can do, for you’ll dance relaxed and move stress-free at a wedding where the atmosphere and audience are expectedly lively. Moreover, you’ll have a neat dress to rely on whenever you want to look polished at upscale events. 

Have a pashmina or shawl within reach

As with most weddings in Guatemala, going to church is one of the steps with the most weight. The weather is fairly lovely during winter months, being comparable to some northern hemisphere nations where summers are dauntingly warm. This means that you can wear pretty much any material as long as it's comfortable. If the wedding is held during next year's dog days, you're advised to wear something flowy, such as chiffon, so as not to roast in your fit. To look a bit more conservative and less revealing, a shawl, scarf, or pashmina to cover your cleavage at the ceremony held in the church could be the ace up your sleeve. Even if you leave home without your wrap, you can seek help from the many models around, for these pieces are prevalent within Guatemala. 

Take notice, though, that you don’t necessarily need something extra-large that reminds of a sari or lehenga, to give you an idea of a no-go. Something refined and classy that covers parts that you prefer to be concealed will be fine. You can take your shawl off at the reception and party, where you will most likely hit the dance floor. 

Dress up instead of down 

As expected, you’re encouraged to aim high and try to look your best. Weddings in Guatemala represent unmatched milestones that every guest rejoices over wholeheartedly, reasons for which they may spend hours or days figuring out their attire. You want to go with the crowd this time and ensure your dress complements your body and skin tone, is the right length to match your weight and your type of shapewear, and makes your strong suits stand out. Pay attention that it doesn’t mean stealing the show from the bride. This level-headedness is precisely why you won’t wear white or put on excessive make-up.

Last words

Weddings in Guatemala are generally occasions to dress up, so dare to put on your best garments. Be vocal and ask what the exact dress code is if you have trouble figuring it out. The specific dress code generally depends on the location and region where the wedding is organized. For example, in modern parts, invitees commit to looking flattering while appropriate, often wearing elegant, well-designed dresses. 

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