Why are evening weddings traditionally more formal than afternoon or morning weddings?

Question

My brother asked, and I'm not sure how to explain it to him.

Answer 1

People don't care to get all Dolled up on the morning.........on the flip side have been to a few very casual evening weddings.

Answer 2

1= get enough time for preparation.

2= decorations looks good.

3= guests can join freely from their business.

Answer 3

All formal events have always been at night.  If you look back in history, when American had balls (1800s), they were always at night to allow the business men to conduct their business before pleasure.  During the London society hey-day (1700s), all balls took place late at night.  Supper would be served midnight-1 am.  Further back, medieval times, the men would spend the day working--training with their men, rebuilting structures or tenets roofs, hunting--and then in the evening they would come in to party.  They had a big dinner, drinking, live music, a traveling performer perhaps.

Prior to electricity, everything had to get done in the daylight.  At night, candles (for the wealthy) would light the hall.  It was a good way to show off your wealth (for candles and multiple fireplaces were very expensive--so is feeding 100 of your closest friends) and women look best in candlelight.

Only the poor got married in morning or afternoon because they couldn't afford the evening.  Kinda how it still is today.  And all formal events are held at night now mostly due to fashion.  You don't wear the full makeup and sequin glittery dresses in the day.

Answer 4

Yes - expectations for the dress code for evening weddings are always more formal, even if nothing is really specified by the bride or groom.  Afternoon and morning weddings, while not "casual" per se, aren't *as* formal.  I wear formal and/or cocktail dresses to evening weddings.  I feel I can wear a dressy sundress to a wedding in the afternoon.