A Guide to Funeral Attire

When attending funerals at Bristol, FL funeral homes, it’s important to know what is appropriate to wear and what is not appropriate to wear. Funerals are more somber and follow funeral traditions and customs than celebrations of life or, sometimes, memorial services. There are certain guidelines for dressing for a funeral service that should be adhered to, unless otherwise specified.

In the last couple of decades, as many churches and workplaces have gradually relaxed their standards of dress from “all dressed up” to “come as you are,” that way of dressing has spilled over into funeral homes where mourners gather to honor and remember their dead. However, for many people, casual dressing for funerals can be seen as offensive and disrespectful to both the deceased and their family.

The first rule of dressing for a funeral is to dress in a neat, clean, and low-key manner. Flashing a lot of bling or wearing a dress that is form-fitting with a plunging neckline and very short hemline will draw the attention away from the deceased and their family to someone else, and that’s very bad form.

Black is traditionally the color worn to funerals. Loud, brightly-colored clothes can not only seem flippant toward the somberness of the occasion, but it also draws attention to someone other than the deceased and their family. Navy and dark gray are also appropriate colors to wear to a funeral service.

For woman, a tailored pantsuit or plain dress (with sleeves or with a sweater, jacket, or shawl covering exposed arms) is an excellent choice of funeral attire. A wedding ring and a small watch are okay as far as jewelry goes, but avoid wearing any other jewelry that would draw attention to you. High heels are not appropriate nor are sandals or flip-flops, so pick simple dress flat shoes. Choose a small clutch if you decide to bring a purse, and leave the big “I’ve got everything but the kitchen sink in here” purse and/or bag at home.

For men, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps, and tennis shoes are not appropriate funeral attire (unless specified by the deceased or the deceased’s family). Instead, choose a black, gray, or navy suit, a white dress shirt, and a simple tie (this is not the time to wear the Mickey Mouse or the wildly-colorful paisley ties), with matching dress shoes. Hats of any kind should not be worn inside the funeral home or during the service, so if you wear a hat or cap, remove it before walking inside the funeral home.

Appropriate funeral attire for men can also include a sports coat, an open-collared white dress shirt, and dress slacks with dress shoes.

For children old enough to attend a funeral, attire should be dress clothes. Avoid frilly or tight-fitting dresses for girls, as well as high-heeled or open-toed shoes. Boys should wear at least an open-collared dress shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. Children need to learn and practice the traditions of respect and honor that are embedded in funeral rituals, and it’s never too early to begin that process.

Although perfumes and colognes are not technically attire, people often add them when they dress more formally. Many people now have chemical sensitivities – which can trigger coughing, sneezing, and very bad headaches – to the ingredients that go into these scents, so it’s best to avoid wearing them at all.

For additional guidance on what to wear to funerals at Bristol, FL funeral homes, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations can help. You can come by our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can contact us today at (850) 627-1111.