English weddings are rich in cultural traditions seen in nuptials far beyond the United Kingdom, and it’s these timeless wedding traditions that make London weddings extraordinary celebrations to attend as a wedding guest from abroad.
Of course, some English wedding traditions are common in the United States and Canada, but British wedding etiquette differs somewhat from that in North America. Therefore, guests attending a London wedding for the first time should know the basics to avoid awkward situations.
If you are traveling from the US to Europe for a wedding in London, this destination wedding guide is for you. You’ll learn all about British wedding traditions and customs and find tips for planning your trip!
Disclosure: This guide for attending an English wedding in London contains some affiliate links. I may earn a commission when you click on one of these links and make a purchase. Of course, this is at no extra cost to you.
How to Pick the Perfect Wedding Gift for a London Wedding
After receiving an invitation to a wedding in London, one important aspect to consider is the type of wedding gift to give the couple. Though wedding gift etiquette in the UK is quite similar to that in the US, there are some differences, too.
Giving Flowers to the Couple
If you would like to make a thoughtful gesture for the couple, you can send them beautiful flowers from a flower delivery in London.
Rather than bring the bouquet to the ceremony or reception as you would a wedding gift in the US, you should have it delivered to the couple’s hotel.
Alternatively, you could send the couple flowers after they share the news of their engagement to wish them congratulations.
Also, did you know there is a wedding tradition in England in which guests give the couple a rose bush to plant in their garden?
This traditional wedding gift symbolizes marriage. The rose bush’s blossoms represent marital bliss, and the thorns symbolize the trials and tribulations faced throughout wedded life.
Shopping From a Gift List
Wedding gift registries, called wedding lists in the UK, have become common. Usually, couples set up a wedding list at a specific department store, such as John Lewis.
However, other couples leave it open for you to decide what to give or request donations to their favorite charity instead of traditional wedding gifts.
For couples who prefer traditional gifts, you may consider giving them matching mugs, posh bedding, Champagne flutes, or crockery. Cocktail-making sets, unique platters, wall art, and picture frames for the couple’s home are also popular wedding gift items in the UK.
However, if you want to give the couple a unique gift they will treasure, consider personalized items like matching aprons or an engraved charcuterie board. Alternatively, you can give the couple a travel experience voucher to use on their honeymoon.
Counting the Gifting Pounds
When attending a wedding in London, most guests typically spend a minimum of £50 on gifts or £100 if attending as a couple. Immediate family and close friends will likely spend more, while colleagues and evening-only guests may spend £25 – 50 on wedding gifts.
Also, it is becoming increasingly common in the UK to give cash as a wedding gift. Close friends and immediate family typically give between £100 and £200. For evening guests, a gift of around £50 is more appropriate.
Also, if you are planning to give the couple cash, you should do so in the local currency. So, remember to exchange dollars for pounds sterling before the wedding!
Most importantly, keep in mind that the couple will be grateful for your presence regardless of the gift you choose to give.
What to Wear to a London Wedding
The dress code for a wedding in London could vary from smart casual to white tie, and what you are expected to wear may depend on the venue and time of the wedding.
If you have concerns about what you should wear, it may be best to ask the bride or groom. Otherwise, the following advice about London wedding attire should help you to decipher the wedding dress code.
Hats & Fascinators
One noticeable difference between US and UK weddings is the tradition of wedding guests wearing hats or fascinators.
In the UK, this fancy headwear is traditionally worn by women, especially among older generations, at high-society weddings. Certainly, you’ve seen wedding guests, including Victoria Beckham and Oprah, sport these fashionable accessories at the British royal family’s weddings.
However, many couples these days choose not to enforce this tradition, so fewer London wedding guests wear hats or fascinators these days than in the past.
Yet, we still think attending a wedding in London is a fun excuse to dress up your wedding outfit with a stylish fascinator or dramatic hat!
So, if you have time in London before the wedding, why not plan a shopping trip to a British milliner?
Morning Suit
Again, if you have watched a royal wedding broadcast, you have seen examples of the morning suit dress code. This formal dress code is for daytime weddings beginning before 4:30 p.m.
Men should wear a tailcoat, waistcoat, and striped trousers at these formal daytime weddings. Since wearing tails is uncommon in the US, Americans may want to shop for or rent a morning suit in London before the wedding.
Women should wear a formal daytime dress paired with a hat and heels.
Lounge Suit Dress Code
The term “lounge suit” may not be in the average American’s vocabulary, but it’s essentially what we would consider a business suit.
These matching two-piece or, more likely, three-piece suits should be in a dark color, such as navy or charcoal, but not in somber black. A dress shirt, tie, and leather shoes complete the look.
This dress code is considered less formal than the morning suit dress code for daytime weddings in the UK.
White Wedding Dress
Another wedding tradition related to the attire is the bride’s white wedding gown.
Since the mid-1800s, brides in England and throughout the West have traditionally worn a white dress to symbolize purity and innocence. However, this tradition didn’t exist until Queen Victoria set the trend.
For her 1840 wedding to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria wore an ivory-white gown — as did her bridesmaids and ladies-in-waiting. Before then, brides walked down the aisle in their best dress regardless of the color.
Today, the white wedding dress trend continues to be an elegant and timeless choice for brides in England and elsewhere around the world.
UK Wedding Traditions That Sound Awfully Familiar
From the attire to rituals during and after the ceremony, the following are some English wedding traditions that you may observe in an authentic London wedding and recognize from attending weddings in the US.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
In addition to the bride’s white wedding dress, other aspects of her attire are tied to wedding day traditions in England.
In particular, the “something old, something new” wedding tradition symbolizes luck for the bride on her wedding day and dates back to the 1800s.
It stems from the old English rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.”
“Something old”, such as a piece of heirloom jewelry handed down from her mother on her wedding day, represents the bride’s connection to her past and her family.
The bride’s dress or the couple’s wedding rings may be the “something new“ that signifies the bride’s future with her husband-to-be.
A friend or relative who is happily married provides “something borrowed.” The idea is that happiness will transfer to the bride, bringing her and her spouse many years of wedded bliss to come. The borrowed item could be her veil, jewelry, garter, or even the wedding dress.
“Something blue” has been said to ward off evil or to represent the promise of children. It’s also a color of purity, faithfulness, and modesty. Standard blue tokens worn or carried by English brides are jewelry, garters, shoes, and hankies.
Lastly, the father of the bride traditionally places a sixpence in the bride’s shoe to wish her luck and prosperity in her marriage.
The last part of the rhyme is heard less often in the US — perhaps because we don’t have a sixpence in US currency. As of 1980, the sixpence was taken out of circulation in the UK, too, but some wedding shops sell sixpence coins for this long-standing English wedding tradition.
Giving Away the Bride
Speaking of the father of the bride, he has an important role at English weddings. In the UK, it is customary for the bride’s father to give her away to the groom.
Though it’s now a beautiful moment cherished between a bride and her father, this tradition dates back to the Middle Ages when a daughter was considered her father’s property and marriages were arranged like business deals.
Throwing Confetti at the Newlyweds
The tradition of showering newlyweds after their wedding ceremony with rice, seeds, or grains actually predates Christianity and has been present in weddings around the world.
Following a wedding ceremony in the UK, it was customary to shower the couple with rice as a symbol of prosperity, good health, and hope for many children, but confetti or flowers are more commonly tossed at weddings in London today.
Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold
After a London wedding, the groom may carry his bride over the threshold, symbolizing the start of a new life together, but this tradition has some dark origins.
One belief is that it began to protect the bride from evil spirits. Another origin story is that the groom carried the bride to protect her ladylike reputation, keeping up appearances regarding her chastity.
In all practicality, couples today may just continue this tradition to avoid stumbling over the bride’s gown!
Differences Between UK and US Weddings
Though many wedding traditions have crossed the pond, there are some fundamental differences between American and British weddings that you must know when you get invited to a London wedding.
Stag and Hen Parties, but no Showers
Even if you are a close friend or relative of the bride or groom, don’t be surprised if you aren’t invited to a bridal shower or rehearsal dinner. These events are traditionally part of the pre-wedding festivities in the US, but not in the UK.
However, if you are a close pal of the groom or bride, you may be invited to a stag or hen do!
Like bachelor and bachelorette parties in the US, these are separate weekend getaways or outings for the bride and groom with their friends. Often, they include games, fancy dress, drinking, and wild behavior, with separate activities for the women and men.
Two Types of Wedding Invitations
Typically, all guests invited to a wedding in the US receive the same invitation for the day’s events. This often includes the ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception with a sit-down meal, cake cutting, toasts, and dancing.
In the UK, there are two wedding invitations: one for the whole day and one just for the evening.
Essentially, those closest to the couple will receive a day invite. This includes the entire day’s festivities, including the ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast, and evening reception.
Wedding guests outside of the couple’s close friends and family may receive an evening-only invitation. This invitation is for the evening reception after the sit-down meal, usually for cutting the cake, the couple’s first dance, and the party.
Chief Bridesmaid & Bridal Party
It’s also interesting to note some differences in bridal party traditions between the US and the UK.
One similarity is that an English bride traditionally appoints a chief bridesmaid whom she relies upon throughout the engagement and wedding. This role resembles the maid or matron of honor in American weddings.
One of the key differences between British and American bridal parties is that bridesmaids are expected to pay for their own dresses in the US, but the bride typically pays for the bridesmaid dresses in the UK.
Also, during the ceremony, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle before the bride does in the US, but the bride walks first in the UK.
Finally, the wedding party in the UK typically sits with the guests after walking down the aisle. In the US, the attendants usually stand alongside the couple.
Wedding Speeches Vs. Short Toasts
At weddings in both the US and the UK, it is customary to raise your glass and toast to the newlyweds, congratulating them on their happiness together.
However, these wedding toasts tend to be brief in the US, while wedding speeches are longer, sometimes lasting 10-15 minutes, in the UK.
Another main difference in wedding speeches is who gives the toast or speech. In the US, the maid or matron of honor will likely lead one of the toasts, but traditionally, only men make speeches at UK weddings.
Therefore, at a wedding in London, you are likely to hear from the bride’s father, the groom, the best man, and possibly the groom’s father. This general rule of thumb differs slightly at weddings of same-sex couples, where one or both partners may speak.
Also, though grooms in the US traditionally give a short toast to thank the guests, a British groom is likely to give an entire speech that he has prepared well in advance.
Finally, the UK wedding speeches end with the best man’s toast, which can turn into a bit of a roast of the groom!
Tips for Attending a Wedding in London
Here are some quick tips to help you travel to London for a wedding.
Get to London Early
Plan to arrive at least a day early, regardless of the location of the wedding. This can alleviate pre-wedding stress and allow you to explore London a bit before the wedding festivities get underway.
Book Accommodations Near the Wedding Venue
London is easily accessible via public transport and taxis, but staying near your destination is more convenient.
If you have friends attending the wedding, staying at the same place can be fun and allow you to enjoy the day together.
Explore Your Surroundings
During the drinks reception, explore the wedding venue, especially if it’s unique. Take advantage of rare views and private spaces, which may be open to the public or private with other guests.
Before or after the wedding day, visit the Tower of London, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and other must-see London sights. If you are a Harry Potter fan, don’t miss the Warner Bros. Studio Tour!
Budget Extra Days in Your Trip Itinerary
When planning your trip to London for a destination wedding, consider budgeting extra days in your itinerary.
After the wedding, you could take day trips from London or visit other UK destinations. You could visit historic castles, scenic seaside towns, or the charming Cotswolds.
For example, you’ll find unique and fun things to do in Blackpool, a resort town along northwestern England’s Irish Sea coast.
Interact with the Newlyweds
You did travel all the way to London for their wedding after all! Find a special moment to share your congratulations with them on their wedding day.
Also, planning a wedding day involves careful consideration of details big and small. As a guest, appreciate all the entertainment the couple has arranged, whether that means waltzing around the dance floor or posing with silly faces in a photo booth.
Conclusion
If you visit London as a wedding guest, you will likely notice similarities in customs and etiquette between the US and the UK.
However, there are some interesting differences between these two countries’ wedding traditions. For example, you may only be invited to an evening reception, or you may need to purchase a hat or fascinator to complete your stylish London wedding outfit.
With this handy guide to attending an English wedding in London, we hope you’ll confidently navigate British wedding etiquette whilst sporting a fascinator.
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