To think its a bit control freakery to dictate guests wear a certain colour to a wedding?

[sheeplikessleep]

SIL recently announced her engagement, fantastic news.

Recently found out there is a 'black and white' theme.

Now I know it's her day, blah blah, but seriously, we get told what colours to wear? Agh, means 4 new outfits for us all to buy.

AIBU to think its a bit diva-ish?

Dictates such as the one give by OP's SIL always make me laugh. What is she going to do, have a bouncer at the door & turn away non-B&W guests? Will she decline gifts from those who don't conform?
A wedding is supposed to be a celebration of two people coming together - it shouldn't be a themed ball! Just IM(not humble)O. You invite guests to celebrate with you, not for a fashion parade. You hope that your guests will have the courtesy to recognise your celebration & get their glad rags on - but I don't think you should dictate what they wear.

I think it's a nice idea It's not as if she's asking for period costume or everybody in sequins, is it? Dress codes appeal to me - as long as they're easy - because I think they pull people together. I wanted one for my wedding, but was shouted down. Then the groom announced that all the men in his party were to wear colour-coded morning dress. I mean, that is fancy dress, and not something most chaps have in their wardrobe these days! So how come nobody called him a groomzilla??!

Go in white! All white.

with black lipstick.

Garlic, but there's a huge difference between what the bridal party wear (paid for and organised by the bride/groom) and what guests wear, isn't there?

I recently went to a black and white themed wedding.

I ordered a dress from here (really nice and very reasonably priced). I also ordered a petticoat that made the dress stick out and be swingy - it was dressy for the wedding, but without the petticoat it is the sort of dress I could wear to a party, dinner, etc.

I love my dress (bought a shrug for the church).

Why not wear grey - that is black and white

...or wear underwear.

My only black or white clothes are bra and knickers

YY, Sheep, but the 'bridal' men are the best man, 4-6 ushers and both fathers. Possibly all the bride's and groom's brothers as well. Your bride doesn't tell that many guests what to wear! Am a bit fed up with brides getting all the "zilla"

I stand by my theory that dress codes promote bonding, as long as they're easy. Saw some great pictures of a black'n'white wedding where lots of the men wore white suits with black hats, 30s gangster stylee Mind you, it was in the US where I think men are more likely to own a white suit.

Just because I've recently seen this - body sculpting dress in very smart black & white. You could wear it for practically anything :)

Ooh, Turnips, I love your dress too!

Some ideas here?

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=newspaper+print+dress&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1221&bih=683&tbm=isch&tbnid=wu6EOEJifZZ4IM:&imgrefurl=www.flickr.com/photos/trevira/4580430887/&docid=SoTLNAF-11dWmM&imgurl=farm5.staticflickr.com/4059/4580430887_2927f7b78b_z.jpg&w=480&h=640&ei=UxWdUKGLLufP0QX_2YHADA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=238&dur=1232&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=60&ty=132&sig=106979087277183087172&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=116&start=0&ndsp=37&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:20,i:162" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This one good for a bump :o

This is weird. I thought it was in poor taste to wear either black (because you are ill wishing the bride) or white (because you are upstaging the bride).

Traditionally, CruCru it was considered very bad form to dress in either black or white for precisely those reasons you have just outlined. I'm always reminded of the raised eyebrows at Andy McDowell's black & white outfit in Four Weddings & A Funeral, which was overlooked because she was American!!!
I think those were probably the dying days of most people taking notice of that though (although I think most people think a big white dress is probably out!!!!).

I've seen this before. You can guarantee someone will turn up in something vibrant, claiming they "forgot" but knowing full well they'll stand out in the photos. Do you have a publicity seeking aunt or something ?

I think the OP should turn up in bright red, driving a 4x4, park in a P&T space and let her kids slurp on fruit shoots throughout the ceremony.

There should be something there for everyone to give out about.