[Ghoser777]

It seems like I've been to a lot of wake's in the past couple years, but every time I see a real mixed bag of clothing styles. Would the general consensus be a shirt and tie for men?

[ghporter]

That's what I'd say as a minimum, and a suit or at least sports coat for "more formal people's" wakes. Clothing says a lot about what we feel, and dressing more formally for such an occasion says that you take it seriously. And if this was a close friend, you help the family maintain the standard of decorum they want by wearing clothing of a similar "seriousness" to theirs.

I've been to too many wakes, and your question is one a lot of people should ask BEFORE they go.

[d4nth3m4n]

[el chupacabra]

whats a wake?

[Oisín]

Kind of like a funeral, but more happy, usually with drinking and eating involved.

[GSixZero]

Black suit, white shirt, modest tie.

[budster101]

Black Suit, White Shirt, Modest Tie, Nice Dress Shoes, and a Hankerchief in your pocket to offer to anyone that needs it.

I've been to too many funerals. Been a Pall Bearer once at age 12 for my brother. I still have the white gloves.

[demograph68]

Leather pants and a NASCAR tshirt should be appropriate.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by demograph68

Leather pants and a NASCAR tshirt should be appropriate.

Only if the deceased would wear leather pants and a NASCAR tshirt to someone else's funeral. It's all based on what the family wants...I've seen people with polo shirts and khakis at viewings and receptions.

Go with what the family thinks the deceased would want.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Go with what the family thinks the deceased would want.

Can't be emphasized enough.

But then, maybe demographic and his family are the NASCAR and leather pants at a funeral kind of crowd.

[Ghoser777]

I tend to always think its better to over dress than under dress, but I just went with a shirt and tie. Most of the close family was in suits, while friends of the family where in anything from shirt and ties to polos with baseball insignias and kakis (it was still a nice shirt - he had just gotten off work when he heard about the wake).

I'd never heard of a wake with food before, but this one had pizza of all things!

[GSixZero]

Originally Posted by Ghoser777

I'd never heard of a wake with food before, but this one had pizza of all things!

My wake is going to be fully catered with open bar!

[Warung]

Boots & braces, Doc Martins, Fred Perry...the usual stuff.

P.S.: Why not just call it a funeral?

[budster101]

A wake is held in a building prior to the funeral. Then you have a procession with the Hurst wit all the cars following behind with flags denoting a funeral procession to the Chapel / Moseleum / or Burial Area.

A wake /= funeral.

[Warung]

Originally Posted by budster101

A wake is held in a building prior to the funeral.

And you change clothes inbetween?

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Warung

And you change clothes inbetween?

Sometimes the wake and the funeral are held on different days, and the people who attend the two are not the same.

Also – though I might be wrong here – I believe that in the Ireland especially (but also certain other parts of Europe), a wake is something held after the funeral, not before it, often in a bar or similar place, to celebrate the life of the deceased after mourning his death. We have both, a wake (vågenat, usually during the night leading up to the funeral), and a funeral feast (gravøl, usually after the funeral, and often continuing into the wee hours of the morning).

[m a d r a]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra

whats a wake?

drunken punch-up after the funeral

[JoshuaZ]

I plan to write in my Will (when I make one) that everyone is required to ware hawaiian shirts to my funeral. I think it would help make my passing all the more amusing.

[m a d r a]

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

I plan to write in my Will (when I make one) that everyone is required to ware hawaiian shirts to my funeral. I think it would help make my passing all the more amusing.

it will be amusing anyway. i heard your family are planning to save money by burying you in a "dell" coffin.