If you have ever been to or seen a video of a Royal Wedding, you know that wedding hats are the only piece of attire that is spoken almost as much as the bride’s dress. Hats are part of British wedding tradition for women. As with anything about women’s fashion, there has to be a lot of attention to detail when choosing the perfect hat for a wedding.

This article will try to guide you on how to choose the perfect hat for a wedding and how you can wear it best.

1. Bigger Is Not Always Better

If you are considering hiding your untamed hair under the wide brim of a hat, you may have to take a few things into consideration. Although big hats are considered very fashion-forward and exude an air of sophistication and mystery, the time of day dictates what size of hat you should wear. What many people forget that the practical purpose of a hat is to protect your face and neck from the blaring rays of the sun. With this in mind, it is considered vulgar and extravagant to wear a large-brimmed hat early in the morning or in the evening when the sun isn’t out. As a rule of thumb, the size of the hat should decrease as the day goes by.

2. Colour of the Hat

It’s rather obvious that it is considered rude to wear a white hat at a wedding. This should be left for the bride. Wedding Hats and Fascinators come in a variety of colours, prints and designs that you can choose from. Generally, you should also avoid wearing a black hat at weddings as it is a time for celebration not mourning. If you insist on wearing a dark shaded hat, go for navy hues and a brighter dress. You may fancy a hat at the store but always make sure it complements the outfit you are wearing on the wedding day.

3. Yes, Hat-wearing Has Its Etiquette Too

Again, it goes without saying that your headgear should never outshine the bride’s right? Well, did you know that when picking British Wedding Hats, the mother of the groom should always choose a smaller hat than the mother of the bride’s? This is in line with every social situation which dictates that you should never cast a shadow on the hosts. If the wedding is hosted by you and your groom, this does not apply and both mums can go for over-the-top creations if they’d like.

4. Respect Tradition

If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a Wedding Hat that you may not ever wear again, you can always practise your DIY skills. You can purchase a simple hat and accessorise it yourself with flowers, feathers, pearls or any other embellishment that suit you. It is the tradition that ladies decorate hats on the right-hand side, opposite to men, who always stick to the left. When you are picking decorations, make sure that it compliments the theme of your whole outfit. Flowers are considered fun and colourful while pearl embellishments are primmer. Personalise your hat to bring out your personality.

5. The Men Have Not Been Left Out

Weddings aren’t only a women’s affair right? Men can also adorn very tasteful hats and they have a wide variety to choose from. Make sure that your groom, groomsmen and male visitors know their etiquette too. They should always remove their hats when they are indoors, when speaking to a lady and when praying. This is a tradition that dates back generations. However, men have to be careful when tipping their hats. It is considered rude to show the inside lining of your hat. When you remove your hat, hold it with the lining facing towards your torso.

6. The Mother of the Bride Sets the Rules of the Game

It’s always a good idea to keep the mother of the bride happy on the wedding day. After the couple, she’s the most important person at the wedding. All the ladies at the wedding should follow her lead. She dictates when the other ladies may remove their Wedding Hats and Fascinators. If she decides not to remove her hat, I’m sorry but you will just have to keep yours on too. So keep this in mind when choosing a hat. You don’t want to be cooking under a warm hat all day. Unlike men, ladies are not required to remove their hats when they enter a room because hats are considered part of the outfit and not an addition.

7. Don’t Hide Your Beautiful Face

You want to appear in all the photos taken of you, don’t you? If you are the bride, remember to tell the photographers to asks the guests to adjust their hats for group photos so you can see and remember them whenever you look back at your wedding album. It’s also good to know exactly who graced your occasion instead of just seeing a bunch of floating hats.

8. It’s Not All About the Hat

Believe it or not, your hat isn’t the most important aspect of the day. You should make sure that you have a good time at the wedding and that you appreciate the union between the couple. When choosing a hat, get one that will not distract you or make you so stiff that you cannot enjoy the day. You are wearing the hat, the hat is not wearing you!

When picking a Wedding Hat, make sure the style matches the shape of your face, your complexion and the rest of your outfit. There are several styles available. From the elegant budes and cocktail hats, floral fascinators and headbands, hatinators (half hats) to exquisite wide brimmed hats. All these can be embellished with feathers, flowers, veils, bows, pearls or whatever else you can think of.