I am not American, and have no idea what to expect! What are the traditional elements of an American wedding?

There is a ceremony that lasts around half an hour, followed by a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. During the ceremony, several people will stand at the front of the space with the bride and groom: the officiant, who performs the ceremony, and several of the bride’s and groom’s close friends and family members. These people will process down the aisle at the start of the ceremony.

Unlike a French wedding, which typically just has one or two “witnesses” for the bride and groom, in an American wedding, the bride and groom each choose one special person to be their “maid/matron of honor” and “best man.” They have additional special people in their lives serve as “bridesmaids” and “groomsmen”. Sometimes weddings only have one or two bridesmaids and groomsmen in the “bridal party”; sometimes you’ll see groups as large as 20 or so!

During or after dinner, the maid/matron of honor and best man typically give short speeches. Speeches may also be given by the parents of the bride and groom, or other folks who have arranged it beforehand. There are a few additional traditions typically seen during the reception including: cake-cutting, first dance between the bride and groom, father/daughter and mother/son dances for the bride and groom, a bouquet toss, and some type of grand exit for the married couple at the end of the night.

What will the weather be like?

Of course, you can’t predict the weather a year in advance, but summers are hot in Virginia. At the end of August, on average, the temperature rises to 30°C and drops a little below 20°C in the middle of the night. So plan to be warm anyway, and keep your fingers crossed that it doesn’t rain!

What type of food should I expect?

For the meal, our caterer specializes in American barbecue and will serve everyone a plate of meats and side dishes. A vegetarian option is available upon request.

What should I wear?

The dress code for the ceremony and reception is “semi-formal to cocktail.” Bear in mind that it is going to be late August in Virginia, and largely outdoors, so dress for the weather (aka it will probably be very hot). Short cocktail dresses, long flowy dresses, whatever’s comfortable–not something you’d wear to the Oscars, but a step up from what you’d wear to a summer barbecue. Snazzy jumpsuits, or a skirt and shirt combo also work. White should be reserved for the bride. You can never go wrong with a full suit, but dress pants and a dress shirt, with or without tie, are all good. You will probably be walking across grass at some point or another, so you may want to avoid stilettos–nice flat or wedge sandals or dress shoes will probably be more comfy.