Wearing White To A Wedding, When You Aren't The Bride

[Miranda]

I have a few weddings coming up and I was wondering what was the consensus of the people here in regard to wearing white to a wedding are? I've read that it is acceptable to wear white to a wedding these days. Though, you can't always believe what you read. It seems to be the popular notion that if you do wear white, you are somehow trying to upstage the bride. Personally, I never have and never would wear white just in case I would offend the bride, it is her day. Opinions?

[Destroit]

I wouldn't, especially all white. That's just me, I guess I'm old fashioned. Unless you were coming to my wedding 'cause my wedding dress will be a whole lot of anti-white. If that were the case, knock yourself the hell out.

[hunhee]

I didn't wear white when I got married.. didn't matter what people wore to mine. I wouldn't get offended, but as a general rule, I wouldn't wear white either to anyone else's wedding. You never know if the bride may get offended. You just want her day to be hers..there's SO many other colours to wear out there, you can hold off on the white for one day.

I am not sure wearing black to the wedding is a good idea either, and in thinking this, I've realized that I've worn black to a lot of weddings.. Hmm.. did I do a bad?

I just wear black all the time that I just don't even think that black would be inappropriate.. hmm..

[Stymie]

Long as it doesn't look like the Bride or Groom has on

Who cares?

I seen some smoking black dresses at weddings.

Dress to impress!?

[Msterbeau]

Um.. who cares?

[Miranda]

Not worth it.....

[Rev.Reverence]

The rules of 'proper society' dictate that we should not upstage the Bride and Bride-groom...

...in this MODERN world... that means something differant...

..like white... if the weding is OLD BLOOD/ OLD MONEY... I wouldn't wear white...

...a Santarian Wedding I think you HAVE to...

.....

..as long as the outfit you've selected isn't 'fancyer' than the brides, you will be fine...(or too gaudy...like 'Hawian' shirt)

[wingdazrael]

I think it really depends on what kind of wedding it is. If it's a real traditional Christian/mainstream wedding I'd say no to the white, but alot of people could care less. You could aways wear a white dress then have a different colored wrap/shrug/shawl over top with jewelry, shoes, and purse to match, people probably wouldn't even notice then.

[GOREgeouslyDecorated]

I think u'll be ok with off white, but white, white is generally for the bride...

[sass_in_the_pants]

Traditionally, the bride did not wear white. She simply wore her best clothes, which she of course continued to wear socially in her married life. The white wedding dress began with Queen Victoria.

But we're not talking about what the bride is wearing, we are talking about the guests. Wedding guests should not wear black or white to a wedding - white because the bride will likely be wearing it, and because when you get sloppy drunk you will be quite disappointed when you spill red wine all over it and black because even though it may not be the color of mourning for you, it still certainly is for a great many people.

Finally, a DGN question I can answer!

Edited to add: If your dress is not actually white, but is an off-white, you can get away with it as you long as you promise to pretend that it is in fact a very, very light brown.

[TygerLili]

As long as you're not wearing a "wedding" dress, I don't see how that's upstaging the bride. I really don't see how it matters as long as you are neat, clean and season and location appropriate. I've been to weddings where the bridesmaids wore black or white dresses. If the bride looks hideously ugly, and I have yet to go to a wedding where that has happened, then most of the female guests are going to upstage her no matter what they are wearing. If she doesn't, then she is going to be lovely and the center of attention regardless of what anyone else wears.

I'm betting that the bride and groom would be a lot happier to see you in a nice white or black dress or pants suit than in jeans or sweat pants or any of that nonsense. And yes, I have sat at a table at a wedding reception with a couple in jeans and red Nascar T-shirts. Yuck!

[bean]

White= no.

But even worse than wearing white to someone's wedding is dressing like a tramp at someone's wedding. The first time I got married, one of my friend's wore this teeny skirt and a tight shirt - an outfit only appropriate for the bar or a club. It was trashy and I was pissed.

[Rev.Reverence]

Traditionally, the bride did not wear white. She simply wore her best clothes, which she of course continued to wear socially in her married life. The white wedding dress began with Queen Victoria.

But we're not talking about what the bride is wearing, we are talking about the guests. Wedding guests should not wear black or white to a wedding - white because the bride will likely be wearing it, and because when you get sloppy drunk you will be quite disappointed when you spill red wine all over it and black because even though it may not be the color of mourning for you, it still certainly is for a great many people.

Finally, a DGN question I can answer!

Edited to add: If your dress is not actually white, but is an off-white, you can get away with it as you long as you promise to pretend that it is in fact a very, very light brown.

Victorian Society... that's what I was trying to say earlier...

[Destroit]

Traditionally, the bride did not wear white. She simply wore her best clothes, which she of course continued to wear socially in her married life. The white wedding dress began with Queen Victoria.

But we're not talking about what the bride is wearing, we are talking about the guests. Wedding guests should not wear black or white to a wedding - white because the bride will likely be wearing it, and because when you get sloppy drunk you will be quite disappointed when you spill red wine all over it and black because even though it may not be the color of mourning for you, it still certainly is for a great many people.

Finally, a DGN question I can answer!

Edited to add: If your dress is not actually white, but is an off-white, you can get away with it as you long as you promise to pretend that it is in fact a very, very light brown.

Ha...that's funny. I've worn black to every wedding I've ever gone to.

[Miranda]

Personally, I never have and never would wear white just in case I would offend the bride, it is her day. Opinions?

I wouldn't wear white to a wedding.