To think it's rude to take little girls to a wedding in bridesmaids dresses...

[Dyeingforachange]

...when they aren't the actual bridesmaids? Does this rank alongside wearing women wearing white to weddings?

I would be delighted if lots of little children got dressed up in pretty bridesmaid type dresses and enhanced my wedding by doing so, why do people care about this stuff?

I understand not wearing white, as confusion with the bride (although who really could be confused?) But little girls, lots of them, don't see the issue.

A few of the little girls turned up in bridesmaid dresses at my wedding. My best mate turned up in a bridesmaid dress as well. She obviously fancied being a bridesmaid too. I didn't mind though.

When I got married my mental (and now ex) friend was annoyed she wasn't the bridesmaid so she got a bridesmaidy type dress specially made in nearly exactly the same material and colour as me so everyone assumed she was the bridesmaid and she didn't do anything to correct them- she was nearly 30. It didn't bother me so much at the time because everyone else was so shocked I sort of thought it was funny.
So IMO the cut off for bridesmaidy type dresses is about 10.

My dds (and ds) are going to 2 weddings in 2 days just after the jubilee - they are lucky that I have 4 dresses between the 2 of them that would do as suitable for weddings - they're not identical but 2 of the 4 could easily be worn as bridesmaid dresses....quite frankly - tough!!!

YABU- my DD is 4 and absolutely loves the 2 'bridesmaid' dresses she had from being bridesmaid at my sister and best friend's weddings. She often wears them to parties and wore one to a wedding when she wasn't a bridesmaid. Why would I waste money on another dress?!

LMFAO at "wedding etiquette" from earlier posts.

Nowadays people get married in all sorts of places in all sorts of manner of dress. Wedding etiquette from the 1950's probably doesn't account for step families or the unfortunate influence of my big fat gypsy wedding (yes, yes I know they have marvellous morals).

Last time I checked its 2012 and some "traditions" are safely past their sell by date now.

On Gypsy Wedding you had little girls dressed as that dreadful Rhianna and shaking their hips Shakira style. That kind of puts a different perspective on the term "appropriate dress".

Be grateful that the little girls are dressed like little girls and that the couple getting married are happy and well.

the little girls had their best frillies on at my wedding - was cute, I didn't care/notice/ask if any of the frilly dresses had been flower girl dresses previously

but isn't a young girl in a wedding party a flower girl NOT a bridesmaid?

Nope I wouldn't care one slightest bit

Yeah frilly/pretty/party/summer dresses- fine.Some flower girl and bridesmaid dresses are just that.But some dresses are very very obviously designed as bridesmaid dresses.We all know these when we see them.To wear one of these to a wedding when you are NOT a bridesmaid is wrong.

I do agree that men never worry about this stuff. On our wedding day DH had the same outfit on as his best man, our ushers and my dad and FIL. Had there been any little boys and then wanted to dress up in a smart suit or in matching black tie then it really wouldn't have bothered anyone in the slightest.
Same goes for little girls in party dresses for me. I can honestly say it wouldn;t have bothered me in the slightest!

YANBU

I think there is so much crossover between party and bridesmaids dresses it's a tricky one to call.

My daughter had an ivory dress with a mesh skirt that had scarlet petals in it when she was her aunties bridesmaid a couple of years ago. It was very obviously a bridesmaids dress and personally I wouldn't let her way that to another wedding, but tbh I find the trend for white/ivory bridesmaids dresses a bit odd anyway - I like a bit of colour.

Having said that DD is now 7.8 and has chosen a black dress (with a couple of wide coloured bands on it) for her uncles wedding in a couple of weeks. I think she looks great but I'm fully anticipating the odd look from other guests.

I think little girls can wear pretty dresses to weddings, even if they are frilly bridesmaids dresses.

However I was a bit 'surprised' when one of my husbands cousins turned up to our wedding in a strapless white dress. Thought it was a bit 'borderline'. It's well known (at least in the people I know) not to wear a white dress (I think it's OK to wear a white cardigan or top or as part of an outfit).