Wedding season is upon us. The invitations are piling up on the fridge, the RSVPs are sent, and the panic about what to wear has officially set in.
For those of us who require prescription lenses to see, there is an added layer of stress that people with 20/20 vision never have to deal with: The Optical Dilemma.
Do you struggle through the day wearing contact lenses that dry out your eyes and make you miserable? Or do you wear your glasses and risk ruining the aesthetic of your formalwear? For years, the convention was to ditch the frames. Brides were told that glasses “hide the face,” and grooms were told they looked too casual for a tuxedo.
Fortunately, those rules have been thrown out the window. Eyewear is a celebrated accessory. If you look at high-end bridal editorials, you will see models rocking chic frames with their veils. The key is to stop treating your glasses as a medical device and start treating them like jewelry.
Whether you are walking down the aisle or sipping champagne in the crowd, here is how to navigate wedding season without sacrificing your sight.
(Image Source: Vooglam)
For the Bride: Romantic and Radiant
The biggest fear for brides is that glasses will obscure their professional makeup or clash with the delicate lace of their gown. This is a valid concern if you are wearing heavy, black rectangular frames. But you wouldn’t wear heavy combat boots with your dress, so why wear heavy glasses?
For the bride, the goal is luminosity.
You want frames that catch the light rather than block it. This is the perfect occasion for clear crystal or champagne-colored acetate frames. These materials are translucent, meaning they define your eyes without creating a harsh dark line across your face. They feel ethereal and modern, matching perfectly with white or ivory fabric.
Alternatively, look to your jewelry. If you are wearing vintage gold earrings, coordinate with thin, wireframe women’s eyeglasses in a matching gold or rose-gold finish. A delicate metal frame acts just like a piece of fine jewelry. It adds sparkle and elegance.
Pro-Tip: If you are doing a trial run with your makeup artist, bring your glasses! They need to know how the frame sits on your cheeks so they can apply highlighter and blush in a way that compliments the lenses rather than getting smudged by them.
For the Groom: Black Tie Precision
For men, formalwear is all about sharp lines and contrast. A tuxedo is a high-contrast outfit (black suit, white shirt), and your eyewear needs to respect that formality.
The “Sporty” sunglasses or the colorful blue frames you wear on the weekend are strictly forbidden here. They will make you look like you didn’t take the event seriously.
If you are the groom, you have two strong paths. The first is the “Classic Hollywood” look. A polished black acetate frame is universally acceptable with a tux. It channels a Clark Kent or Cary Grant vibe—masculine, assertive, and timeless.
The second path is the “invisible” look. If you want your suit to do the talking, opt for a rimless or semi-rimless pair of men’s glasses. These disappear into the face, ensuring that when you look back at the photos in twenty years, you aren’t distracted by a trendy frame shape that went out of style.
For the Guests: respectful Flair
As a guest, you have more freedom, but the rule of “respect” still applies. You never want to be the person whose accessories are louder than the bride’s dress.
However, a wedding is a celebration, so you can step away from the boring office frames.
- Garden Weddings: If the vibe is floral and outdoor, try tortoise shell or soft pastel frames. They feel organic and relaxed.
- Evening/Ballroom Weddings: Lean into glamour. A cat-eye shape for women or a browline frame for men fits the sophisticated atmosphere of a cocktail hour.
The Photography Factor: Beware the Flash and the Sun
There is one technical detail that can ruin wedding photos faster than a bad DJ: Glare.
Weddings involve a lot of flash photography. If your lenses don’t have a high-quality Anti-Reflective (AR) coating, your eyes will be hidden behind a giant white flare in every picture. Before the big day, check your lenses. If the coating is scratching off, buy a new pair. It is worth the investment to save the photos.
Secondly, be very careful with “Transition” (photochromic) lenses. If the ceremony is outdoors, your glasses will turn into dark sunglasses the moment you step into the sunlight. Unless you want to look like you are wearing shades while saying your vows (which creates a barrier between you and your partner), buy a dedicated pair of clear lenses for the ceremony.
Conclusion
Your wedding day is about being the most authentic version of yourself. If you have worn glasses every day for the last ten years, walking down the aisle without them might make you feel like a stranger in your own skin (and you might not be able to see your partner at the altar!).
Embrace the frames. Choose a pair that elevates your style, complements your formalwear, and allows you to witness every beautiful moment with crystal-clear vision.
