Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Would you say this dress is acceptable for a wedding evening reception?

80 replies

Acx2728 · 12/02/2019 18:25

I've just purchased this dress for an upcoming charity event I have to attend but I am hoping it will be double up for an upcoming wedding due to the cost and I am having to have the dress altered and taken in slightly so would be nice to get more than one wear out of it. It will only be the evening reception I am attending. It will be paired with black shoes and a black bag and the bottom of the dress is like a taupe colour.

OP posts:
Original poster
Acx2728 · 13/02/2019 08:14

@CadburysTastesVileNow. Yes just the evening do for a couple of hours, wont be staying long as Ill have my 3yr old with me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Acx2728 · 13/02/2019 08:18

@gettingtherequickly hmm interesting this is exactly identical apart from the top half looks darker, I can't imagine the same style dress was made twice with slightly different colour top halves. Maybe it was the lighting in the shop making it appear lighter. I actually really like the one you posted, I will have to have another look when I go back and pick it up.

OP posts:
unexpectediteminbaggagearea · 13/02/2019 10:22

It's for an evening do, looks fine. I went to a wedding wearing a lovely mauve maxi dress and the bride turned up wearing the same colour (first wedding, youngish couple, conventional outlook so totally unexpected for her not to wear white/ivory) I was mortified. It's a minefield!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General style & beauty
Tookal · 13/02/2019 10:32

Too white for me. Even for a reception

Its also about how it photographs. At a wedding i went to there was someone in a light mint dress there very much photographed white (as does yours) and it attracted lots of side eyes

Whereareyouspot · 13/02/2019 10:34

The bride will mind
If you ask her and she says she won’t she will just be being nice

The other guests will judge you

Why do it? The world contains a million dresses- why insist on this one just because you think you look good.

It’s not your day.

Original poster
Acx2728 · 13/02/2019 11:11

@whereareyouspot. I really think you should read my post because nowhere did I say it was my day. Or that it looks good. I said id brought it for a charity event in a few weeks time, the wedding isnt till June and obviously it would have saved me money if I could have wore it for both events as I will only be attending the reception for about 2hrs.
I'd seen a mint dress originally that I liked but someone has mentioned no mint either, so the world maybe full of a million dresses but all light colours, pastels and red and black are all deemed inappropriate.

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 13/02/2019 11:25

As this thread shows - everybody is different.
I personally wouldn't be bothered by what guests wore unless somebody turned up in an actual wedding dress (as that would be weird)
I have very little recollection of who wore what to my wedding except for my two friends who wore absolutely stunning saris as they stuck for their unusualness.
However clearly some people have strong opinions on the subject. Only you know the bride and the only way to know is to ask - agree explaining would help if she is likely to be uncomfortable about saying no.

Lauren83 · 13/02/2019 11:28

I also think the colour is too bridal/mother of the bride so I would say no too

AuntieOxident · 13/02/2019 11:40

It seems the dress photographs somewhat lighter than it actually is, as you say it is actually two-tone and it doesn’t look like that in the photo you posted.
If it’s darker than it looks in the photo above and also clearly not monochrome I think it will be fine, especially a/for an evening reception, b/with strong accessories and c/you’re unlikely to be in many (any?) official photos.
Ultimately although it’s a lovely dress and you look great in it, if you’re going to feel uncomfortable would you be happier in something else? Only you can decide!

Drogosnextwife · 13/02/2019 12:11

What do people think about wearing the same colour as the "theme" of the wedding. I have a wedding to go to and I have found a beautiful dress but I know this is close to the colour theme of the wedding. It's probably not exactly the same shade but I'm not sure if that would be ok or not?

Chewbecca · 13/02/2019 15:17

Why no mint? That's going too far IMO.

I would only say avoid all black and all white dresses.

Many guests wouldn't know the colour theme of a wedding so personally I would find it weird to have to avoid that colour too.

Tookal · 13/02/2019 15:29

Sorry i feel the mint comment was confusing and is really irrelevant for opBlush

Basically attended wedding where someone wore a very light mint dress (i cant seem to find a similar colour on ggogle so maybe mint isnt the right word? But pale green), in person you would see that it had a mint tinge to it but in the daylight and all the photos it shows up as a white lacy dress. People definately comment on it when shown wedding photos

Ive been told before that a squint test should apply, if you squint and it doesnt look white then its fine. Ive used that rule when looking at dresses that had white as a base colour but a pattern etc.

CatToddlerUprising · 15/02/2019 12:41

OP- your thread and photos have been used on the Metro website. I know it can happen as they’re public posts but just wanted to give you a heads up

Bluntness100 · 15/02/2019 12:48

Possibly it's the picture, it looks off white or cream. And I am always surprised at the amount of women on here who think wedding and immediately want to dress in bridal colours, it's very miss Haversham.

There is a whole rainbow of beautiful colours out there, unless the dress really is a lot darker than the photo, I would pick something else. I'm sure the bride won't care, but plenty of others might think you're a bit odd.

NWQM · 15/02/2019 12:55

I think it’s lovely & would for a full day so definitely yes for the evening. As it bothers you though then maybe check out colour of bridesmaid dresses and accessories yours with a different but bold colour. I think you can get away with cheap new accessories.... they can look just as good but just don’t age as well.

hannonle · 15/02/2019 14:14

I'd say it would be OK if you added a dark coloured belt and maybe a statement feathery brooch type thing. Or wear it with a coloured shrug/wrap. It definitely needs accessories.

EstrellaDamn · 15/02/2019 14:20

It's lovely!

As you're only going in the evening it's unlikely anyone will mistake you for the bride Confused

Go for it!

WanderingTrolley1 · 15/02/2019 14:22

I would say no.

Original poster
Acx2728 · 15/02/2019 17:17

@CatToddlerUprising thank you, ive just recieved an email about it asking for permission to use my photo too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Acx2728 · 15/02/2019 17:21

@CatToddlerUprising, ah just realised you said the metro, I am going to check it out now. The email I got was from a yahoo news article asking me for permission.

OP posts:
WildFlower2019 · 15/02/2019 17:44

I'd wear it with a cardi or little jacket in a colour other than cream.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 04/03/2019 19:11

According to ettiquette I also have to worry about choosing the same colour as the bridesmaids

You really don't OP - this is utter bollocks. I have never known what colour bridesmaids are going to wear at any of the many weddings I've been to and I don't imagine many other guests do either.

SusieQ5604 · 01/04/2019 03:32

Beautiful but I wouldn't wear white/off white to a wedding/reception.

3luckystars · 01/04/2019 03:40

No way.

You don't need to dress up that much for the afters anyway, especially if you are only going for an hour. You could wear something as if you have been to something else before it, like a nice barbeque.

No way can you turn up to the afters wearing a whitey dress like that. Get something else! Good luck.

amykristina · 19/07/2019 11:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.