A wedding hat has three jobs in one long day. It has to sit correctly in the ceremony, hold its shape in the group photographs and stay comfortable through a seated meal and speeches. Most pieces that fail a wedding fail at the table rather than in the church.
By convention the mother of the bride sets the standard and other women keep their hats on until she takes hers off. Colour is matched by hand to a swatch, a photograph or your own fabric, which is what makes the piece read as part of the outfit.
Choosing yours
Three things that decide a wedding hat
The mother of the bride goes first
Hats are daytime dress and usually stay on through the ceremony, the formal photographs and the wedding breakfast. Tradition gives the mother of the bride the decision on when they come off, and the other women guests follow her.
Mother of the brideThink about the receiving line and the table
A wide brim knocks in a receiving line and takes up a neighbour's room at a round table. A pillbox, an upturned brim or a headpiece lets you greet people and sit down to eat without holding it out of the way.
Colour is matched by hand
Send a swatch, a photograph or a piece of your own fabric and the shade is matched at the bench. Guests usually leave white, ivory and cream to the bride unless the couple has asked otherwise. A commission takes one to four weeks.
Begin a commissionMade for you
Monika will design a piece around your outfit, match the colour by hand to your fabric and block it to your measurement. One to four weeks from the first conversation.
Occasion hats and headpieces for weddings. For the mother of the bride, the guests and the wedding party, colour matched to your outfit.
Read the wedding guest hat guide
Questions
What hat should the mother of the bride wear?
Something that photographs well beside the bride without competing with her. A brim that turns up keeps your face open in the group shots, and a shape you can wear through a seated meal matters more than scale. White, ivory and cream are usually left to the bride. Colour is matched by hand here to your own fabric.
When do you take your hat off at a wedding?
Traditionally the mother of the bride decides, and other women guests keep theirs on until she removes hers. In practice that is after the formalities, often once the wedding breakfast and the speeches are over. Hats are daytime dress, so anything worn past early evening is a matter of comfort. Men remove theirs indoors.
Can I wear a hat to a church wedding?
Yes. A hat is welcome in church and women traditionally keep theirs on throughout the service, while men remove theirs on entering. Choose a shape you can hug someone in, since a wide downturned brim is difficult in a crowded aisle and in the receiving line afterwards.
How long before the wedding should I order a hat?
A commission takes one to four weeks from the first conversation, so order once you have your fabric rather than waiting for the outfit to be finished. Ready to wear pieces ship straight away. UK delivery is £20.00 and takes three to five business days.