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Original poster

Can't Believe What I've Just Seen at a Wedding

216 replies

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 06/09/2025 18:15

Afternoon wedding, on a beach. Bride in traditional wedding dress, guests mostly in smart normal wedding attire.

One guest was in a wedding dress. A proper, full on wedding dress. Strapless, corset back, full length, big full skirt with a TRAIN.

The bride had asked guests not to wear white and it wasn't white but bloody hell, who would do that? She looked amazing in it but I simply can't understand the thought process. I've no idea who she was other than a friend of the bride, close enough to go to the hen night, but I'm pretty sure the bride wouldn't have said this dress was OK if she'd been asked. She wasn't a bridesmaid, literally just a guest with no other role to play at the wedding( unless she's going to step up and sing Don't Cry For Me Argentina at the reception later which is possible I suppose!)

I'm just gobsmacked that someone would do this.

OP posts:
FailingtoJuggle · 06/09/2025 20:35

Brunettesmorefun · 06/09/2025 20:27

I once went to a wedding and a guest was wearing the same dress as the bride. The bride was not wearing a traditional wedding dress though. I felt for both of them. Luckily the guest was able to scoot back to her hotel and change before the reception.

Ah that’s nice of the guest to do that. Out of interest, what type of dress was it?

Lulubo1 · 06/09/2025 20:35

FailingtoJuggle · 06/09/2025 20:26

Please tell us more! What did you say?? Did the other guests comment?? What was your DHs view??

Show quote history

I do not have a good relationship with my MIL, so I decided to say nothing, but inside I was seething. If I said anything, she would have been the victim. She had already said "Is this it?!" when we showed her our reception venue the night before. We couldn't afford a lavish wedding, it was a new built village hall overlooking the sea. Other guests did notice her dress and all commented (not to me though, they mentioned it to my parents). My SIL wore an off-white glittery strapless floor length gown as well!! My guests wondered if it was a Canadian thing and wondered if all Canadians wore outrageous gowns to weddings 🤣 I'm British, my DH is Canadian. My DH was shocked, but as we only see his family once a year or two, he let it go. He mentioned it a few years later and SIL apologised. MIL will never acknowledge she did something questionable

Cathandkin · 06/09/2025 20:33

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 06/09/2025 20:32

In the forthcoming one she's played by Margot Robbie. So could probably wear a hessian sack and still look better than the bride.

Show quote history

Not if they're telling her story from Great Expectations. Whoever plays her, the character doesn't look good.

amusedbush · 06/09/2025 20:32

FailingtoJuggle · 06/09/2025 20:26

What kind of question is that?

Show quote history

I'm guessing that poster is asking if there could be a cultural element. For example, a colleague told me that everyone goes all-out at Nigerian weddings and there is basically no such thing as being overdressed.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 06/09/2025 20:32

Cathandkin · 06/09/2025 20:28

It was dirty, torn and covered in cobwebs?

Show quote history

In the forthcoming one she's played by Margot Robbie. So could probably wear a hessian sack and still look better than the bride.

SpidersAreShitheads · 06/09/2025 20:30

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 06/09/2025 19:29

Why Is Your Subject Line Capitalized Like AI Wrote It?

In fairness, it’s a title of a post and elsewhere, that would normally be in capitals. I always feel like it should be capitalised tbh 🤷‍♀️🫣

Cathandkin · 06/09/2025 20:28

Phatgurslyms · 06/09/2025 20:26

Sounds like Miss Havisham.

It was dirty, torn and covered in cobwebs?

amusedbush · 06/09/2025 20:28

My mother is founder and president of the LOOK AT ME club, and I had stern words with her when she tried to buy a very, very pale yellow lace dress as her MOTG outfit a few years ago.

She relented, but it reaffirmed that DH and I were right to elope 😂

Cathandkin · 06/09/2025 20:28

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 06/09/2025 19:25

Actually I came home in the 'down time' photos etc. I posted because I was just so surprised by it.

And of course I can't take a photo of a stranger and post it on the internet!!! Christ. But she looks a bit like this, without the straps and with a train.
share.google/T8zR5bPLk7WHlVaWi

Edited

Of course you can, you cover the face.
You've seen that done many times!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/09/2025 20:27

Fair enough everyone wants to be the Belle of the ball. However at some ones Wedding have some etiquette

Brunettesmorefun · 06/09/2025 20:27

I once went to a wedding and a guest was wearing the same dress as the bride. The bride was not wearing a traditional wedding dress though. I felt for both of them. Luckily the guest was able to scoot back to her hotel and change before the reception.

FailingtoJuggle · 06/09/2025 20:26

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 06/09/2025 20:23

Is this a white people wedding and is the guest also white?

What kind of question is that?

Phatgurslyms · 06/09/2025 20:26

Sounds like Miss Havisham.

FailingtoJuggle · 06/09/2025 20:26

Lulubo1 · 06/09/2025 20:15

My MIL wore a strapless gown with a train to my wedding. I didn't even have a train on my wedding dress. Honestly, what goes through people's heads is baffling. Why anyone would wear a dress with a train to a wedding is insane!

Please tell us more! What did you say?? Did the other guests comment?? What was your DHs view??

Gymnopediegivesmethewillies · 06/09/2025 20:24

She must have had a hefty luggage allowance to ferry a full length corseted dress with a train if it’s abroad!

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 06/09/2025 20:23

Is this a white people wedding and is the guest also white?

Brunettesmorefun · 06/09/2025 20:23

Laiste · 06/09/2025 19:23

pic pic pic pic pic pic

😂😂

Misshollys · 06/09/2025 20:21

Someone needs to have an unfortunate accident with a glass of red wine 😁

Lulubo1 · 06/09/2025 20:15

My MIL wore a strapless gown with a train to my wedding. I didn't even have a train on my wedding dress. Honestly, what goes through people's heads is baffling. Why anyone would wear a dress with a train to a wedding is insane!

Lulubo1 · 06/09/2025 20:15

My MIL wore a strapless gown with a train to my wedding. I didn't even have a train on my wedding dress. Honestly, what goes through people's heads is baffling. Why anyone would wear a dress with a train to a wedding is insane!

SatsumaDog · 06/09/2025 20:15

Seems like she misjudged the situation. I can’t imagine turning up wearing something like that. I reckon she probably feels quite out of place seeing how other guests aren’t dressed the same way. Either that or she’s making a point for some reason.

SparklyGlitterballs · 06/09/2025 20:12

At 6:50pm you said the reception was due to start at 7pm, so should be underway now. Was there no wedding breakfast before the reception when the dress would have been seen?

Are you returning to the reception OP?

arcticpandas · 06/09/2025 20:11

I wouldn't have noticed that something was off tbh. Just not that interested in what people are wearing. Barely interested in what I'm wearing myself nowadays😅

NorthenAdventure · 06/09/2025 20:06

RichardMarxisinnocent · 06/09/2025 19:46

Are you outside the UK OP? There are as far as I know hardly any places in the UK where you can actually get married on the beach itself (Lusty Glaze in Cornwall is one I know of) so if it's in the UK you might have given away what wedding you're at and roughly where you live. If you're outside the UK obviously there are no such worries.

There's quite a few in the UK. My husband and I looked when we got married and whittled it down to our favourite 5 beach wedding locations. We did end up having a UK beach wedding. Some of them require you to get 'officially married in a registry office in advance but still do a wedding ceremony on the beach.

Spookyspaghetti · 06/09/2025 20:00

I am on tenterhooks, and need a full update on what happens when bride spots Gwyneth!