Respectful wedding guests are expected to observe the formality of never attending a wedding in black or white attire. This is so that they don’t compete with the bride, as is customary with black, which seems overly sombre. Despite the tradition, it is currently highly typical to see wedding guests attending ceremonies wearing a little black dress.
This raises the question of whether guests can now dress in white for a wedding… Or are those wearing black disrespectful?
Wearing White to a Wedding
Even today, it is improper to show up to a wedding wearing white if you are not the bride. This is so that, on her wedding day, the bride is the centre of attention. Of course, being the only person in the room wearing white is one of the ways she accomplishes this.
You may have white designs on top of a base colour, a white panel on a garment with colour blocking, or flowers on a white backdrop. It’s still risky.
An exception to wearing white really is if the newlyweds-to-be have asked guests to as part of their wedding theme. In this case… Go for it! An all-white wedding sounds quiet nice…
Can you attend a wedding wearing a white dress? Simply said, yes. But is it appropriate to wear a white, bridal dress at a wedding? Never! A white dress is okay, especially with the way fashion is prorgessing and the broken barriers around self-expression, but a bridal gown or anything that may be mistaken for one is not.
If you do choose to wear white to a wedding, make sure it isn’t floor-length and has a distinctive shape (nothing bridal-looking) and has another colour other than white on it (perhaps monochrome if you’re not into bold colours). You may even choose to wear trousers in which case, you’re steering far away from bridal. Don’t forget to accessories!
Wearing Black to a Wedding
It might be difficult to choose the proper wedding dress; you could, for instance, worry if black is acceptable. The quick response? The rules regulating black have unquestionably loosened in recent years.
Although we are seeing more black in weddings whether it be bridal parties or guests, there are some key considerations when opting to wear black to a wedding.
It is acceptable for a guest to wear black if the couple is throwing a black-tie wedding at a formal location, such as a beautiful ballroom or huge museum. Black would appear far too sombre and out of place in a laid-back rural or beach atmosphere; a bright pastel or bold design is far more acceptable. Also, consider the time of the wedding. Black is generally more acceptable for an evening wedding, whereas a daytime wedding would call for less formal attire.
Overall, wearing black or white to a wedding is completely your choice unless the couple states otherwise in the invitation. Just remain mindful of the occasion and keep the bride in mind when making these choices. After all it is her day!
Related articles: Black Is The New Bridesmaid, What To Wear To A Garden Wedding
