What to wear as a wedding guest.

A small style guide for the diaspora wedding circuit — what travels well, what photographs well, and what you'll still want to wear three years from now.

A wedding in Lagos. A reception in Accra. A traditional ceremony in London — at the parents' house — and then a white wedding the following day.

The diaspora wedding circuit asks more of a wardrobe than almost any other event in the calendar. Heat. Air-conditioning. Long flights. Photographers. The thirty hours between the bride's introduction and the bride's send-off.

A few notes from the designers on our floor:

Choose drape over structure. Anything close-fitting will get warm; anything heavily seamed will wrinkle on the plane. A well-cut wrap dress, a generous kaftan, a loose two-piece — these handle the day.

Choose colour bravely. Wedding photography is unforgiving to anyone who tries to disappear. The aunties will remember what you wore in twenty years; choose accordingly.

And choose for after. A piece worn once is a regret. A piece worn for fifteen weddings is a friend.