If you have a wedding coming up, there’s a good chance you’re diving into the end of your closet for your fanciest dresses and suits. Dressing up ensures that you match the environment—and you’re not wearing jeans at a five-star restaurant. But it also shows solidarity with the happy couple. You’re celebrating by stepping outside your normal, all the way down to how you’re dressed. With all this emphasis on clothes, what do you even wear? We can’t help you sort through the dark corners of your closet, but we can certainly tell you what to never wear at a wedding.
Don’t worry, we’re not about to give you a fashion lesson—location and time of year will be your two biggest aids in choosing the right outfit. But we do want to caution you against wearing certain colors, because there are some colors that you should never wear to a wedding.
Bonus Tip: You can get away with these colors as part of a pattern (like a single stripe in a plaid design) but the vast majority of your clothing shouldn’t have these colors.
These aren’t our rules; they’re the laws of etiquette. Well, they’re the laws of United States etiquette. If you’re attending a wedding in another country, or with friends from a different culture, these rules may not apply. For example, in China, wearing red is saved solely for the bride and her qipao. So if you’re headed to Beijing, leave the red dress at home.
White or Off-White
This shouldn’t be a surprise. White, or anything close to white, is totally off limits. The bride might not wear a white wedding dress, but the color is still reserved for her, should she choose to. We’d also like to add a “mostly white” clause to this rule. If you’re looking at your all-white dress with some purple trim—put it down, that still counts as white. This white rule is actually observed in other cultures as well. In Britain, the entire bridal party traditionally wears white to match the bride. Just another reason to never wear it at a wedding!
Champagnes and Golds
Gold, champagne, and similar hues have been a wedding favorite for a while now, and they don’t show signs of letting up. It’s common to see bridesmaids in gold skirts, or even a bride in a champagne gown. Do your best to avoid this color family—just in case. Remember, this is about celebrating the happy couple. The last thing you want to do is compete with them on their special day.
We do, however, condone the use of gold accessories as aguest. Whether you’re wearing a soft pink for a spring wedding, or a richpurple for fall—gold accents perfectly complement! You don’t have to avoid thecolor completely; just never wear it as a dress.
Black
There are some strong opinions about wearing black to a wedding. After all, isn’t it a sad color that people wear at a funeral? But black is more commonly becoming acceptable as wedding guest attire. So why is it on the list? Because you should never wear black to a spring or summer wedding.
First of all, you’re going to get too warm. The black will attract the sun, and you’ll be sweating before the ceremony is over. And second, black is a heavier color that goes better with rich jewel tones of fall. Stick to the pastels and light colors for your spring wedding, and keep the black dress ready for the fall.
Glitters or Sparkles
Avoid anything sparkly, or with a lot of embellishment—no matterthe color. The number one rule of wedding attire is to never wear anything thatoutshines the couple. In this case, almost literally. Just keep your attire alittle less dramatic than you might typically wear. If you do typically wear expressive clothing, you don’t have to compromiseyourself, either. Consider something with pattern or texture. It’s a great wayto display your personality without detracting from the main event.
Wedding Colors
If you’re not in the wedding, the last thing you want to do is match the color scheme. Or worse, the bridal party. Admittedly, this one is a bit tricky if you don’t know what color the bridesmaids will be wearing. The invitations or the couple’s wedding website should give you a clue. Typically, the colors on those invites match the wedding palette—as does the wedding party attire. So if the invitations are all gold and navy blue, you should avoid wearing either of those colors.
Conclusion
It might seem like a lot of rules just to go to a friend’swedding. But it’s not about the wedding, or the rules; it’s about the coupleand making their day as special as possible. And all eyes should be on the newlyweds,not your dress or skirt or tux. For one night, it’s not too much to ask.
Have you been to a wedding where someone committed one ofthese social faux pas?
Leave all white, ivory, and champagne-hued shades alone, unless the invitation specifically designates an all-white dress code. "White and ivory are such a stark, prominent color that when you are the only one, as the bride, wearing it, all eyes are on you," says Avrumson.
If you want them to stay within a certain color palette, be sure to list out the acceptable colors and even provide a picture of them! If you want them to avoid certain colors, for example, the bridal colors, so guests don't end up looking like accidental bridesmaids, be clear about that as well.
Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you'll wish yourself dead.
Champagne-colored outfits, such as dresses, suits, or accessories, can be a stylish choice for wedding guests, bridesmaids, or even the bride. It exudes a sense of refinement and can be worn at both daytime and evening weddings.
Turns out, wearing red to a wedding means to some that “you've slept with the groom.” “Old Wives' Tale, but yeah,” Mitchell explained. However, both wedding planners agreed on a more modern reason for not wearing red: It could be seen as a way to grab the attention away from the bride.
The main being the bride explicitly asking guests not to wear white. And if they don't explicitly state that guests can't wear white, it's always best to err on the side of caution and choose another color. Lastly, you don't want to detract from the bride on their big day!
When it comes to early afternoon weddings, the best colors to wear are light and spring-like shades. Think soft pastels and airy tones such as blues, pinks and yellows. For a more refined look, try pairing classic navy or grey with a brighter accent color like white, peach or light purple.
However, in today's modern-day age, wearing black to a wedding is completely acceptable, and in many cases, it's even encouraged. “Black is often considered the most formal, polished, and flattering color,” explains wedding expert Ashley Smith.
In the wedding invitation, include a note suggesting that guests wear colors that would complement the overall theme or color scheme of the event. If you have a specific color in mind that you would like guests to wear, mention it in the wedding RSVP card or reply form.
For a regal wedding palette, consider an emerald green, white, and gold color combo. The emerald shade lends a royal feel that can be elevated with velvet tablecloths and gold metallic accents. This color palette also works great for rustic weddings. The hues will pop in wedding venues like barns and farmhouses.
The black gown symbolized ensured her loyalty to the bride's devotion to her husband until death. Nowadays, black wedding gowns are the first choice for women who want to wear an unusual yet intense look. They are seen as fashionable and symbolize elegance, power, sensuality, mysteriousness, and Intellect.
Gold and champagne tones are another colour that's smart to avoid as a guest, due to the risk of being also worn by the Bride. With many Brides going against the traditional white wedding gown, tones such as light golds and champagnes are becoming more and more popular.
If you're considering a blush or pale mint look for a wedding, try photographing the ensemble in sunlight. If it retains its pink or green hue, it's fine to wear. If it looks white, skip.
Unless it's a very glam evening wear wedding, I don't think that's appropriate. In fact I think it's dangerously close to something a winter bride might wear. Looks like you're competing for attention rather than wanting to be 'interesting'.
If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate. For a more glamorous look, pastels such as lavender, light pink, or pale blue will add a touch of elegance to your outfit.
We get it, no one wants to quit their coziest clothing like yoga pants, slippers, and jeans, but it's important to remember that these have no place at a wedding. Even if the celebration is casual and relaxed, guests should always err on the side of formal.
However, in today's modern-day age, wearing black to a wedding is completely acceptable, and in many cases, it's even encouraged. “Black is often considered the most formal, polished, and flattering color,” explains wedding expert Ashley Smith.
Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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