4 things not to wear to as a wedding guest (2024)

FAQs

What is not appropriate to wear as a wedding guest? ›

It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally. Sabatino suggests that men show up in a jacket and tie, even when the invitation says casual.

Steer clear of off-white, eggshell, beige, champagne, cream, or any other super light color that could be mistaken for white. There are so many dress options available in a variety of hues, so steering clear of these shades should not be a major issue.

Simply put, women should wear a formal, floor-length evening gown—no exceptions—with jewelry, heels, and an elegant clutch. Men are required to wear a tuxedo with tails, a formal white shirt, a vest, a bow tie, white or gray gloves, and formal footwear, such as derby shoes or oxfords.

“Tradition dictates guests avoid wearing red out of fear that it could take attention away from the happy couple,” explains Hurwitz. “Visually, it's quite bold. In a photo, your eye is immediately drawn to the color, especially if it's next to neutrals like white, black, gray, or beige.”

"Guests can absolutely wear black to a wedding," says Shawne Jacobs, President and Creative Director of Anne Barge. "In the past, black was a color typically worn for mourning. However, over the years couples have been more open to breaking the rules and opting for non-traditional, modern wedding dress codes.

These days, if the wedding invitation doesn't specify the dress code, you should assume “semi-formal.” This is a great mix of comfort and style, which is probably why it's gotten so popular over the years! Men can ditch the suit jacket and instead wear some nice pants with a button-down shirt.

What's the dress code for the wedding? The most common dress codes are casual, semi-formal, co*cktail or formal attire. If you'd like to be more specific, you can add examples to your webpage. If you've got a theme, like garden party or elegant co*cktail, this is a great place to mention it.

Ladies should wear co*cktail dresses, and the gentlemen should wear a suit and tie or a sports coat.” Tip: Wedding attire can be tricky, to avoid confusion in addition to the dress code, let the guests know specifically what they should wear, for example, a suit and tie, tux, formal gown, or floor-length dress.

Yes, it can absolutely be appropriate to wear black to a wedding, and it isn't typically considered disrespectful (although there are exceptions). While black attire was traditionally associated with mourning and funerals, times are changing — and so are fashion rules!

Can I wear pink to a wedding? ›

Neutral shades are timeless options that won't detract from the wedding's formal atmosphere. For a more colorful look, consider wearing shades of blue, lavender, or pink to show that you're in the celebratory spirit. If the wedding is in a tropical destination, opt for colors like yellow, orange, and green.

You should avoid white because that color is typically reserved for the bride.

You may choose to wear any color except black or white. The guest's goal should be to blend in with the surroundings and let the bride shine. As her guest, you should avoid attire that could be considered informal or in bad taste. Pastels, jewel tones and earth tones are excellent choices, as are most primary colors.

Traditionally, no matter who's paying for your event, you should split your wedding guest list into three parts: one-third are guests of the bride's parents, one-third are guests of the groom's, and the rest are guests of the couple.

While some people enjoy putting on makeup, especially for special events like a wedding, it isn't a requirement to look and feel your best. If you feel happy and confident in a touch of concealer and a tinted lip balm, go for it! Let your natural beauty shine through.

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.

White colour will serve as the ideal base for any floral or bright prints you may be too afraid to wear as a whole. It will provide a pleasant break amidst a sea of pattern and print and will be discreet enough not to have red flashing in any bride's eyes.

If you are uncertain about whether to wear a stark red, consider going with darker shades like wine, berry, or burgundy instead. Choosing a shade of red that is slightly muted with undertones like magenta, rust, or maroon is nearly always safe, and more wedding-appropriate to some than vibrant scarlet.

Is it inappropriate to wear a mini dress to a wedding? Definitely not! Mini dresses are appropriate for casual, co*cktail, and semi-formal weddings.

A co*cktail dress for women is typically a semi-formal dress that is worn for evening events like co*cktail parties, weddings, or other special occasions. Party dresses in fabrics like silk, lace, or chiffon are classic choices for co*cktail events as it is knee-length or shorter.

Can you wear beige to a wedding? ›

Technically, according to the etiquette of the day, it is acceptable to wear beige to a wedding, even a beige dress or all-beige ensemble. But that doesn't mean it will go over well. Some brides or older members of brides' families still frown upon wearing anything even close to white to someone else's wedding.

"When it says casual, men could show up in pants and a blazer with no tie—or maybe not a jacket at all—but just a nice shirt and a pair of slacks. Women can wear a nice sundress or dress, a jumpsuit or a two-piece outfit," says Julie Sabatino, a bridal stylist and founder of The Stylish Bride.

Add a section saying “We have reserved __ seat(s) in your honour”, and fill in this gap with the number of people you're inviting. For example, if you're inviting your cousin Mary and she's not allowed to bring a guest, you should write “1 seat”.

Yes, you can try on wedding dresses without committing to a purchase, but we don't recommend going into a bridal salon unless you're seriously looking for a gown. No one expects you to find your dream dress on the first try (but if you do, congrats!), which is why you may need to schedule more than one appointment.

Leave the Bra at Home, Especially if You're Small-Chested. You might think you need to bring a strapless bra wedding dress shopping, but this is a misconception. Bridal gowns aren't constructed like off the rack dresses you might find at your local department store. "Bras do not work with most gowns.

Modesty matters

Dressing modestly essentially means to wear clothing that is not too revealing, and this concept applies to weddings that have formal, black tie, and white tie dress codes. However, if a wedding is held at the beach and the dress code is casual, then this rule doesn't necessarily apply.

"This is where you're thinking more light colors and casual materials," she says, versus fancier fare like satin and sparkles. You can wear things that are a little more flowy, and even bold prints are acceptable. "That really cute sundress or maxi dress is a great example of dressy casual,” Swann says.

They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family, or if you are in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.

As long as the event calls for a particular level of formality and you won't upstage the couple or the wedding party, it's safe to wear black to the wedding.

Can you wear cream to a wedding? ›

"When you're a guest at a wedding, the most important thing to keep in mind is not to upstage or upset the bride," says wedding dress designer Madeline Gardner. "It's safe to stay away from any outfits that are predominantly white, cream or ivory."

Can I wear a floral pattern to a wedding? “Absolutely! Floral dresses are an excellent choice for a wedding no matter the season or formality,” says Varney. “There are plenty of different styles that can make the perfect fit.”

You might even wonder if wearing blush to a wedding is acceptable and the answer to that question is, yes.

Navy is a classic neutral that you can rely on for all dress codes and types of wedding attire. This shade pairs particularly well with evening celebrations as well as black tie, formal and semi-formal nuptials.

Light blue is a fantastic color to wear to a wedding. We love a fresh light blue dress for a wedding guest outfit. It also works well for members of the wedding party. We'll show you where to find the season's best light blue dresses for weddings in this post.

To recap: as long as it's not considered culturally inappropriate or against the dress code, you can wear black to a wedding. Depending on where the couple is exchanging vows, which season their special day is taking place in, and what time of day everything begins, black may or may not be your best color option.

To stay on the safe side, we recommend avoiding ensembles that are predominantly gold or champagne-colored. Even pale silver can feel bridal, so avoid this hue as well, if possible.

Personally, if you're happy with people wearing whatever they want to your wedding, and there isn't a strict dress code, then by all means, wear a "naked" dress. But in my experience, it's all about knowing the context of the situation beforehand.

A good option here would be to ask your family to dress in neutral colors. Tans, whites, blacks, greys. There are so many awesome options in this neutral colors! And they will all look nice and coordinated!

Clearly the rule of not wearing white to a wedding doesn't apply to smaller details like white stripes or polka dots, but my rule of thumb is this: If you're picking an outfit and the question pops into your mind of whether or not this is too much white to wear to a wedding, then don't wear it."

What are the rules for guests? ›

Choosing not to invite any long-term partners can be seen as an etiquette faux pas, so keep this in mind as you begin creating your wedding guest list. It's also considered common courtesy to extend a plus-one to any members of your wedding party.

Answer: It's customary to attend the ceremony if you are planning to be at the reception. Typically, it's OK to skip the reception in favor of going only to the ceremony and not vice versa. However, as long as you have a good reason for missing the ceremony and share that with the couple, it's permissible.

Typically, we suggest having hair done first followed by makeup, but I wouldn't let this stress you out too much! Truthfully, it really doesn't matter which order you go in. 7. We always suggest having your bridesmaids or other family and friends arrive 5-10 minutes prior to their assigned time slot.

– If you want to play it safe, you can't go wrong with rich cocoa brown or black eyeliner. But both Geller and Anhert agree that deep purple, navy and green are great wedding day options so long as they're not too intense.

Your relationship to makeup should benefit and boost your life, not harm it—so if it's not your thing, that's totally fine. It's all about what makes you feel most beautiful and the most comfortable. Ahead, check out the benefits of not wearing makeup and the reasons why real women say they opt to go bare-faced.

Yes, it can absolutely be appropriate to wear black to a wedding, and it isn't typically considered disrespectful (although there are exceptions). While black attire was traditionally associated with mourning and funerals, times are changing — and so are fashion rules!

What is the average cash gift for a wedding? ›

While the amount you should gift a couple depends on a number of factors, data from The Knot reveals that U.S. wedding guests spend an average of $160 on cash gifts. "It's common to give anywhere from $100 to $1,000.

You may choose to wear any color except black or white. The guest's goal should be to blend in with the surroundings and let the bride shine. As her guest, you should avoid attire that could be considered informal or in bad taste. Pastels, jewel tones and earth tones are excellent choices, as are most primary colors.

"It is perfectly acceptable and chic to wear black to evening, black tie, and winter weddings." Ryncarz agrees that it's wise to gauge the attire of the wedding attendants. "When wearing black to a wedding, keep the outfit in line with the dressiness of the bridal party and wedding as a whole," she suggests.

So what is the 30/5 rule? It's the rule that accounts for things that typically take 5 minutes in real life that will take 30 minutes on a wedding day. It also means that 30 minutes on a wedding day will feel like 5 minutes. You may have heard people say over and over that your wedding day will fly by.

Whether it's a 30th birthday or a wedding, if you're invited to a celebratory party, it's customary for a guest to bring a gift. But if you don't bring one, you aren't breaking any laws. More than likely, you won't be called out for your social faux pas, but it will probably be noticed.

"While you should never feel obligated to attend a wedding you don't want to be a part of, think carefully if the reason you are using will hold up years later when you look back on it," Gottsman says. Once you decide to decline, you should ideally share the news in person, not through the mail.

A plain white dress or white top and skirt are not generally acceptable, particularly in any formal style. Avoid ivory, off-white and light beige, too. However, it is okay to wear a patterned outfit that includes other colors along with white. Wedding colors are not necessarily off-limits, either.

Lizzie Post, host of the podcast Awesome Etiquette from the Emily Post Institute, says that no guest should ever feel embarrassed if they happen to wear the same color as the bridesmaids, but they can ask in advance what the colors will be if they're concerned about it.