Wedding Dress Code - Only Black Allowed

[YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan]

I'm going to a wedding but the bride has specified that all guests must wear black only and no colours. Not even coloured shoes or accessories. Herself and the groom will both be wearing white.

She's seen a video online which I've looked at with a black dress code. However that wedding is outdoors in sunny weather. The women are all wearing clothes that show plenty of skin - bare arms, bare legs, low necklines in lightweight fabrics. The various shades of skin breaks the black clothing up and it looks ok.

This wedding is in the winter in a very cold location, so I'll need to be wearing heavier fabric with long sleeves, high neckline and thick tights on. I would imagine the other women will be covering up to keep warm. I don't think it'll work as there will be no skin to break the black colour up. I think we'll all just look like one big black lump with several heads on the group photos!

I also don't suit black at all. I'm very pale skinned and it makes me look washed out and unwell. My mother has pale skin and is also concerned about this.

Just wondering if anyone has been to a wedding with such a strict dress code and how did it turn out?

I can’t imagine how bad a £20 kilt would look. They may be expensive to hire, but Lordy when you pick them up you know why, there’s an awful lot of good quality fabric in a decent kilt outfit.

Are the men allowed to wear white shirts? And if they are allowed white and black, why aren't the women?

Black and white (mostly black) would open more options and stop it feeling funeral.

On those American bridal shows, black tie seems quite common (even for day time or church ceremonies). I really would check that she hasn't been watching these and is thinking all her guests are going to turn up in pretty, sparkly party dresses, rather than black winter wear.

I've seen quite a few American brides have their bridesmaids in black dresses. I really like that idea, especially as bridesmaids often pay for their own outfits. It looks very elegant and the dresses can be used again.