4 things not to wear as a wedding guest
There is something to be said about wedding etiquette – the do’s and dont’s are not always clear. And one of the most of the important topics? What to wear to the wedding or more importantly, what not to wear.
When you’re not a bridesmaid, figuring out what to wear to a wedding can be a struggle and a half: you don’t want to overdo it and outshine the bride, but you also don’t want to be too casual and show up in beat-up sandals.
A happy medium is ideal, but we know it’s easier said than done. If you’re looking for answers, you’re in the right place: here are the worst faux pas you want to avoid, and the best tips on how to avoid them.
White, cream, ivory, silver and any other kindred hues are reserved for the bride and the bride only. You might also want to consider staying away from very light yellow or purple as it can often photograph as white! It might not be a big deal to some unconventional brides, but wearing white as a wedding guest is still very much a big no-no.
But as a wedding guest, can you wear a dress that has white in it? If your dress has a pattern and has white in it – that’s totally fine! Just be cautious about the ratio of white to the other colors in the dress. Stay away from dresses that are primarily white, but have touches of color or white dresses that have light patterns or flowers.
Teri Jon
One-Shoulder Jacquard Side-Ruffle Gown Blue
$800.00
Bergdorf Goodman
Rixo
Jeannie floral silk maxi dress Red
$940.00
Mytheresa
Self Portrait
Belted lace and satin maxi dress Red
$950.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Asceno
Tallin linen midi dress Pink
$568.00
$710.00
Mytheresa
LEO LIN
Lilith bow-detail floral chiffon maxi dress Pink
$1,465.00
Mytheresa
-50%
Juliet Dunn
Printed cotton midi dress Pink
$196.00
$391.00
Mytheresa
Weddings are important events even to those participating as guests, so the temptation to show up and show out is strong.
To avoid red carpet syndrome, pay close attention to the theme of the wedding and the venue: that should give you an idea of the general vibe of the wedding, and how you can match it.
Avoid wearing a dress with lots of rhinestones, crystals, feathers, or anything that is over-the-top with glitter or shimmery fabric. A wedding is a great opportunity to be glamorous and get dressed up – but the last thing you want to do is outshine the bride.
-30%
Rixo
Opal silk halterneck midi dress Pink
$354.00
$505.00
Mytheresa
Samsøe & Samsøe
Rheo hammered satin halter dress Blue
$270.00
Simons
Actualee
Dresses Pink
$367.00
Baltini
Liu Jo
Dress LIU JO Woman color Violet Purple
$331.30
GIGLIO.COM
Monique Lhuillier
Pleated Chiffon Gown Green
$645.00
ShopSimon
3. Too short, too much cleavage, or too see-through
Getty Images
Is it okay to show cleavage at a wedding? And how much cleavage is too much? These are burning questions, especially for the big-chested girls out there, who are told to “cover up” no matter what.
As a general rule of thumb, a couple inches of “natural” cleavage or a little bit of push-up won’t hurt anyone.
As for length and sheerness, keep in mind that the ceremony might be held in a place of worship, where you might be asked to adhere to certain rules. So, bring a scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders if need be.
Can you wear a mini dress to a wedding? It depends on the requested dress code from the bridal pair. If it’s casual, yes, however if it’s cocktail, better play it safe and wear a midi or a knee-length dress.
-20%
7 For All Mankind
Drama high-rise cotton denim maxi skirt Blue
$280.00
$350.00
Mytheresa
Tory Burch
Mellow embellished velvet slides Red
$450.00
Mytheresa
Tom Ford
Caine square sunglasses Brown
$535.00
Mytheresa
7 For All Mankind
Stovepipe Straight mid-rise straight jeans Blue
$380.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Self Portrait
Ruched midi dress Green
$311.00
$518.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Bogner
Medita ski top Blue
$216.00
$270.00
Mytheresa
-50%
Y / Project
Classic Trumpet flared jeans Pink
$273.00
$546.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Goldbergh
Bird faux fur bucket hat Pink
$125.00
$179.00
Mytheresa
4. Oversized headgear
Getty Images
Unless you’re a guest at a royal wedding, there’s no need for you to be wearing an oversized hat or fascinator. If you’d like to still incorporate a headpiece into your wedding guest outfit, opt for something more understated. You’ll be super classy regardless!
-20%
Jennifer Behr
Bria embellished grosgrain headband White
$348.00
$435.00
Mytheresa
NamJosh
Womens Ocean treasure gingham headband Blue
$75.00
Simons
Self Portrait
Embellished satin and fishnet headband White
$335.00
Mytheresa
NamJosh
Womens Ornamental flower light-blue headband
$75.00
Simons
Jennifer Behr
Tori satin headband Black
$285.00
Mytheresa
NamJosh
Womens Ornamental flower ivory headband White
$75.00
Simons
Original text: Zeinab Saidoun
Updated text and content: Emma Trimboli
