Mum thinks this dress isn't right for wedding

[confusedmummy123]

Going to a wedding in a couple weeks. Saw a gorgeous bardot dress, loved it, fiance loved it so ordered it and I love it in real life too. However I sent a pic to my mum who just texted back "I don't like it for a wedding" then didn't say why or anymore? Am I breaking some kind of etiquette? Clueless about these things. Most weddings I've been too I've been the bridesmaid or the bride and don't have a clue how guests dressed. I do remember a wedding a few years back where I wore a red polka dot dress. Don't know if that was breaking any etiquette rules. I do believe that mother likes that dress though! I will attach a pic of the dress!

It's much too short, shoulders need to be covered, and it's too informal.

That is much too short and revealing for any church let alone a wedding in a church. It's also quite eye catching which is always a no-no at a wedding when it is the bride who should shine.

it's a lovely dress, it would be great at a beach wedding or an outdoorsy hay bale/barn style do but absolutely not for a church wedding.

You must be able to find something that you will wear again but also is appropriate guest wear for a church.

Surely it’s a beach dress not a formal dress? Unless the wedding is super super relaxed it’s really not appropriate

I’m with your mum, it’s not a wedding guest dress. It’s a lovely dress, but would stand out as ‘wrong’ at any wedding I’ve ever been to.

I tend to follow the rule that you can have your legs or shoulders/bust on show for focus for formal but not both. It works pretty well as a guide for picking an outfit.

I'm with the majority, definitely not a wedding guest dress, it looks like a towelling beach dress and just needs a straw bag and flip flops

It's a nice dress. Not wedding suitable though.

It isn't right for a wedding IMO. It would be fine for the beach or going to the park, but not a wedding.

Love your dress, very ethereal

If it was plain and you could cover the bare shoulders up with a jacket or pashmina for the formal parts of the wedding, it might just work (though it's still a bit short in my opinion). But the embroidery makes it look too folksy for that option. I agree with others; it's a summer holiday dress, not right for a wedding. I think you would get noticed for the wrong reasons.

That’s a beach or a pub garden dress, not a wedding guest dress.

Never looked at boohoo before, but they have a whole section of occasion wear! Even a specific wedding guest section! There are loads of lovely dresses, some shorter which would still be more suitable for a wedding than the one you've picked.
Agree with the others, it looks too casual and everyday. A different fabric would make it look more formal and appropriate.

Its too informal, a longer more formal style is suitable

That aside if it’s breezy outside you are going to have real problems staying modest.

I wouldn’t wear it.

Anywhere.

If you're looking for something a bit more 'wedding' appropriate that will not wear again, how about hiring. My DD is at an age where she's going to weddings every month. She hires her dresses from By Rotation or Hurr and always looks absolutely fabulous.

That's a beach dress...

If you've been to a wedding before, you should know how to dress for a wedding. Plus the millions of pictures people post of weddings on Facebook would give you a clue as well.

I’m with your mum, it’s not a dress for a wedding. But you sound like you’re set on wearing it.

MN skews formal on wedding attire, always has. Every wedding I've ever been to has had a handful of guests wearing dresses which would have the MN consensus in , and no one ever batted an eye. Mind you many of the posters on this thread are probably your mum's age.

But you did ask, and you did say that you had no idea what women wore to weddings. I can guarantee that when your DM said "not for a wedding" she meant exactly what 90% of the poster on this thread have said.

BooHoo has 1,716 dresses tagged as "wedding guest" and a quick browse through them will give you an idea of what women normally mean.

Too informal
Doesn't look like you have made much effort if I am honest

The cost of the dress is totally irrelevant.

comptonhouseoffashion.co.uk/weddings/a-guide-to-wedding-guest-dress-etiquette/

👆This. This is probably why your mum said that she doesn't like it for a wedding.

You don't have a clue about how guests have dressed at any weddings you've been to?
If you genuinely lack social awareness (no judgement btw) go on to S&B, ask for help with a bit more details about yourself and the wedding.

It's pretty but more suited to the beach. It could also be a bit short/revealing depending on your proportions. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing that to a wedding but it is lovely.

It is very casual for a wedding.

If you don't want to buy a dress you won't wear again, why not hire one? There's a few good places that do it now:

www.hirestreetuk.com
www.hurrcollective.com