Can DD wear this to a Holy Communion?

[Crunchymum]

MIL said "she can't wear white" but I assume that rule was just for weddings

Dress is white tea dress and will be with a multicolour cardi and white sandals

Those aren't the types of dresses worn at communions, she be grand.

And also, news flash, she can wear pants!

This is coming from an Irish Catholic in ireland, who's own daughter her holy communion on Saturday.

Your MIl might be nice but she is misinformed. And also doesn't attend a holy communion once a month (though not sure of that was for effect!)

This is what basic dresses look like these days

Yeah, @SnipSnipMrBurgess , I was making the same point upthread, dresses aren't mandatory or even particularly desirable. My own DD doesn't like wearing dresses so she's going to wear trousers. There's no need to worry overmuch about dressing as a guest to a communion party.

The cardigan is the perfect offset for the dress - makes it clear she's not the first communicant. If she has coloured shoes/sandals, I'd also use those.

You sound like such a thoughtful guest and I hope you have a lovely time.

No it's not suitable.

Yes, it's fine. Speaking as someone from an Irish catholic community who has attended and held communions. Especailly with the cardigan. It's a communion ff - MIL is being super precious

Of course she can wear that, my dd made her communion last week and there were little girls in white dresses. No one is going to confuse her with the communion children. When my oldest made hers my other 2 DDs both worse white.

The dress is fine - I think anyone that gets offended by a little girl wearing a white dress to a First Communion needs to take a look at themselves. It’s nothing like a communion dress.

To add I am Catholic and my daughter made her First Communion a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been to many Communion parties and I’d be shocked if anybody had a problem with this.

Honestly OP I would say no to white dress at HC as a rule. With the cardigan on its fine though. Also I don't think there's need to wear a dress at all as long as she is in something smart. We go to them fairly regularly these days, 2 or 3 a year.
No one wears veils anymore either, think that was said upthread- but I'm in Rep of Irl and it may be different where you are.

veils are definitely worn, one of my DDs had her communion in ROI last year, wore a veil, so did many other girls. Other DD made her communion last week in the UK, only one didn’t have a veil.

I'm a practicing Catholic and I think it's fine, especially with coloured cardi (gavel).

id be a bit 🙄to someone dressed in full on mini wedding dress as the first communicants will be. Someone on here once thought it would be an idea to dress up her dd so she didn't miss out but didn't understand its exactly like wearing a wedding dress to a wedding when you aren't the bride!

She does not have to wear a dress but if it's not her first HC she should not wear white. If she gets hot and takes her cardigan off it would look bad. Easier to wear shorts and a T shirt.

Because not everyone knows the out and out madness of the catholic church where little girls are made to dress like they are brides. I was made to wear a long dress for mine, only one in a long dress . Mortifying!

The dress is perfectly fine.

There is no rule whatsoever that white dresses must be worn for FHC services by those maling their FHC. Therefore no rule is being broken.

Plenty of the boys making their FHC will be wearing little suits - will that stop the men in the congregation wearing suits?

I'm an Irish Catholic, and your MIL might well be around my age ( late 50s).

She's pulling her rule straight out of her arse.

Also, HCs are normally held in spring/ early summer, so she's not really going to them that often.

Does she HAVE to wear a dress OP? A top and skirt/trousers would look just as nice and she might be more comfortable.

They're not 'made' to do anything, least of all by the RC church.

I live in a multicultural area. Children wear all sorts of outfits to FHC.

The big white dress thing is a purely cultural phenomenon, in some cases taken so seriously that it's a problem. There are many parish priests who request that all children, boys and girls alike, wear a simple altar server cassock because parents were going into debt buying outfits, turning FHC into a fashion show, and in many other ways failing to acknowledge the religious nature of the event.

There are many parish priests who request that all children, boys and girls alike, wear a simple altar server cassock because parents were going into debt buying outfits,

That's for Confirmation (and a great idea). I've never, ever seen that done in Ireland for a First Holy Communion. There would be war 😀

If she doesn't wear dresses why bother putting her in one. I was at a FHC last month and sister of the child getting FHC wore a jumpsuit. As you are guest it won't really matter if you are casual (within reason).

As an Irish Catholic who's children have made their first holy communions, been to many many communions and go to mass weekly it is fine. It's a pretty dress with a lovely cardigan. There's no rules around holy communions. It's just a lovely day of celebration.

Must vary very locally so. Just asked my daughter there to be sure, she made her HC last year and she said only 1 girl had the veil. I remember I had one as did my sisters.

It’s absolutely fine, I’ve been to several holy communions including Saturday just gone. She could wear anything smartish (or even not) one of my DD’s never wore dresses. She wore a playsuit (trouser one not shorts) to her sisters.

Can't believe people are saying no

It is a religious ceremony not a fashion show. Of course she can wear it. My Irish Catholic granny was very religious, Mass every morning, and she'd have wiped the floor with your MIL.

Fine for the church with cardi, but is there any chance the other little girl whose FHC it is will be a little put out to have someone else in a white dress at her party? Probably not, but they do like styling about in the white dresses ime, well, for a short while at least. I know it's not the point of the day and the dresses are usually discarded in favour of tshirt and leggings (which are more suitable for bouncy castles etc) fairly quickly. I think I'd maybe err on the side of caution though, especially as you don't know them well.

If you go with a dress I would also bring leggings or other casual clothes for your dd to change into later on, in case there's a bouncy castle or similar activity at the party.