AIBU to wear dark glasses to a funeral in the UK?

[noctu]

Do people generally wear dark glasses/sunglasses to funerals in the UK? In what context? e.g. - is it not OK in the church but OK at the burial itself?
Or a no-no completely?
Customs seem to differ between the USA and the UK and I would appreciate any guidance.
Many thanks.

@noctu

Do people generally wear dark glasses/sunglasses to funerals in the UK? In what context? e.g. - is it not OK in the church but OK at the burial itself? Or a no-no completely? Customs seem to differ between the USA and the UK and I would appreciate any guidance. Many thanks.

Why would you be wearing them? If the reason is to look cool then that's not really appropriate at funeral. Too much cocaine the night before: stay at home. Glaucoma: fair enough.

@Dita73

No. It’s wanky

No it’s not.

People can be distressed and need the ‘sheiks’ sunglasses can offer.

People can be light sensitive and need them to be able to see.

*sheild

Shield ffs.

Not "normal" no. You run the risk of people thinking you're looking for dramatic effect (my grandma would definitely be judgy! I can hear her now) but I don't suppose it really matters if they make you feel better. Funerals are hard. If sunnies make it easier, do it.

I did at parts of my dads funeral. When I didn't want to make eye contact or when I was tearing up and didn't want attention. I didn't during the service, but in the car during the procession past where he worked etc, and outside the crem both before and after the service I did. I know my dad would have understood me wearing them.

My Grandma wore dark glasses to my Grandad's funeral. A bit of self preservation for her I think, like a PP mentioned-minimal eye contact. Grandad died very suddenly and unexpectedly, she was a complete wreck TBH.

I never thought of my Grandma as 'wanky' though.

I wouldn't wear them in church, but would at the graveside if necessary. If it was a close family member i wouldn't give a stuff what anyone thought of it. And I would understand if someone else felt they needed that barrier too.

I've seen someone wear sunglasses at the funeral of one of his parents. He'd been awake all the previous night, crying, and wanted to cover them up as they were red, swollen and sore. No one commented that he was being rude or wierd.

I would not expect to see them anyway, unless it was the middle of the summer and you were outside. But on the whole, no.

I wear sunglasses all year round, my eyes are very light sensitive. This time of year can be worse than summer, a bright cloudy day is very difficult. No doubt I've worn sunglasses at funerals, it wouldn't have occurred to me not to. I can't recall what anyone wore at any funeral I've been to, to be honest. I think people have other things on their mind and I wouldn't think twice about it.

Wear what you want. It isn’t unusual to see someone in sunglasses at a burial outdoors. I personally wouldn’t wear one inside but if you have medical or comfort reasons then do it.

@havfruedenizkisi (As an aside I also completely disagree with not wearing sunglasses because it's November as said upthread: you wear them when it's sunny or even cloudy but bright. I wear them all year round).

I agree. I wear mine just as much in the winter months because the low winter sun and bright days really bothers me. I was wearing my sunglasses today in fact.

Unless they had obvious white rims that were very showy

Is this for protection or fashion? It would make me think of a Sopranos-type funeral, not particularly common in the UK.

(I wouldn't wear this inside the churches - they tend to be very dark)

If it’s sunny outside then go ahead. If it’s overcast or your inside then why do you need sunglasses? Very odd.

Never seen this

Thanks everyone. It's a church service then burial. I will be very upset and would like to disguise it but it looks like it will be disrespectful.

Are you the glamorous young widow in a skintight black Dolce and Gabanna dress? Then yes, by all means. Otherwise probably not.

Of course it’s fine. If you would feel more comfortable wearing them then go for it.

I wear sunglasses a lot anyway (it doesn’t have to be hot to be sunny, and winter sun can even more glaring than summer!) and I always have them in my bag.

I probably wouldn’t wear them indoors but at my grandad’s funeral I popped them on as soon as I stepped outside because I felt so overwhelmed, I couldn’t stop crying, and having the glasses between me and all these strangers at the funeral made me feel more comfortable and less exposed.

Someone probably thought I was being a trendy wanker, at least if any of these comments are anything to go by, but at that moment I couldn’t have cared less what anyone thought.

@Helloise

Are you the glamorous young widow in a skintight black Dolce and Gabanna dress? Then yes, by all means. Otherwise probably not.

if you were very close to the deceased then it's a different matter. do what works for you.

sorry for your loss.

I have worn sunglasses to funerals.
it doesn't have to be sunny for it to be bright enough that it could bring on a migraine.
I have even worn sunglasses in church many times, to regular services and even to weddings & baptisms. If the light bothers me they are on.
We go to a Royal Chapel and nobody has ever said anything.
And I truly don't care if anyone thought it was rude or whatever.
So what if they did? Nothing will actually happen.🤷‍♀️

OP if you want to wear it, wear it.

There are certainly no rules against it and you don't owe anyone an explanation.

sorry for your loss

sorry, that was meant to quote the OP!

Thanks everyone. It's a church service then burial. I will be very upset and would like to disguise it but it looks like it will be disrespectful.

I’m so sorry you’ve got such a difficult occasion coming up. Please ignore these comments, there are some very mean responses here and they really don’t reflect what people will think in real life. Please wear the glasses if they will make you feel more comfortable. People will understand - it doesn’t take a genius to work out why someone might want to hide their eyes at a funeral.