Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter
A wedding guest has drawn a furious response after revealing she is planning to attend a friend's upcoming nuptials wearing a white dress.
It's been the cardinal rule of weddings for centuries: only the bride can wear white.
However, previous research had suggested change has been in the air. In a 2016 survey reported by Brides Magazine, 7 out of 10 women said they would happily go against convention by wearing white to a friend's wedding.
And 40 percent of the 1,000 U.K. and U.S. women polled as part of the research said they would be happy for guests to white to their own wedding.
For wedding planner Gloria Darko, the answer is still a firm no.
Darko told Newsweek: "It is generally not acceptable for anyone to wear white to a loved one's wedding as it is an unspoken rule entwined in tradition. Therefore, there is an expectation that the colors white, ivory or cream are reserved for the Bride."
She added: "It is generally deemed inappropriate for guests to wear white to a wedding so [as] not to upstage the Bride and draw attention to yourself and away from the couple."
The reaction to a recent Mumsnet post shared by a user writing as Belladonnamama suggests most echo Darko's concerns.
In the post, the woman revealed she was planning to wear a white dress to an upcoming wedding as she felt it was something of a casual affair. "Couple are in their 40s, getting married in a hotel, together years with two children," she wrote.
But while the imminent nuptials may have had a more laid-back tone given the circ*mstances surrounding the couple involved, for those following along on social media that didn't necessarily translate to a relaxation of wedding etiquette.
Livinginanotherworld said she should "definitely not" wear the dress with BeetFeet commenting: "I know traditions move on but wearing white as a guest at any wedding is always no."
"That's the kind of dress I'm looking at as the bride," Fizzorigin wrote while eurochick added: "I'm pretty relaxed about white to weddings but yikes."
Nunayabizniz felt it was "totally inappropriate" with Gazelda explaining: "It wouldn't be worth the worry that someone might (irrationally) take offense or make a drama of it."
But while Darko agrees that wearing white as a wedding guest is probably best avoided, there are circ*mstances where it is allowed.
"More recent fashion and celebrity trends see bridesmaids dressed in white or off-white dresses which has made it more acceptable as the Bride's choice," she said.
"We all remember the moment Pippa Middleton walked out behind her sister Kate Middleton also dressed in a chic ivory gown as her Maid of Honor which received resounding approval."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
");jQuery(this).remove()})jQuery('.start-slider').owlCarousel({loop:!1,margin:10,nav:!0,items:1}).on('changed.owl.carousel',function(event){var currentItem=event.item.index;var totalItems=event.item.count;if(currentItem===0){jQuery('.owl-prev').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-prev').removeClass('disabled')}if(currentItem===totalItems-1){jQuery('.owl-next').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-next').removeClass('disabled')}})}})})
As an avid enthusiast in wedding traditions and etiquette, I find the recent revelation of a wedding guest planning to attend a friend's nuptials wearing a white dress quite intriguing. This incident has sparked a furious response, and it aligns with the cardinal rule of weddings that has been upheld for centuries: only the bride should wear white.
Drawing upon my extensive knowledge of wedding customs and previous research in the field, I recall a 2016 survey reported by Brides Magazine. In that survey, 7 out of 10 women expressed their willingness to go against convention by wearing white to a friend's wedding. Moreover, 40 percent of the 1,000 U.K. and U.S. women polled indicated that they would be open to guests wearing white at their own weddings.
However, the sentiments expressed by wedding planner Gloria Darko, as quoted in the article, resonate with traditional wedding etiquette. Darko emphasizes that it is generally unacceptable for anyone other than the bride to wear white, ivory, or cream, as these colors are traditionally reserved for the bride. The rationale behind this unspoken rule is to avoid upstaging the bride and diverting attention away from the couple.
The Mumsnet post shared by a user, Belladonnamama, further underscores the divide in opinions regarding wearing white to a wedding. While the woman planned to wear a white dress, reactions from other users on social media echoed concerns similar to those expressed by Darko. Many users argued that even in more casual wedding settings, wearing white as a guest is a breach of etiquette and may be perceived as inappropriate.
The social media responses highlight the persistence of the traditional viewpoint that guests should refrain from wearing white to weddings. Users expressed concerns about overshadowing the bride and emphasized the importance of respecting established wedding norms.
It's worth noting that Darko acknowledges certain exceptions to the rule. She mentions that recent fashion and celebrity trends have made it more acceptable for bridesmaids to wear white or off-white dresses, following the lead of high-profile weddings such as Pippa Middleton's appearance as Maid of Honor in a chic ivory gown behind her sister Kate Middleton.
In conclusion, my in-depth knowledge of wedding customs, traditions, and evolving trends allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing debate surrounding the appropriateness of guests wearing white to weddings. While there may be shifts in societal attitudes, the prevailing sentiment, as articulated by experts like Gloria Darko, emphasizes the importance of adhering to established wedding etiquette to avoid potential social faux pas.
