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To expect everyone at my wedding to stick to the colour scheme?

577 replies

Autumnalbride · 15/08/2026 21:39

I'm having an autumn themed wedding. I've asked everyone, all the wedding party, family and all the guests to wear autumn colours - brown, orange, yellow, red etc.
Some of the men want to wear grey suits but I am upset by this because I don't see grey as an autumn colour. They say they will wear autumn coloured ties and accessories but I said I want the suits to be in Autumn colours
Is this unreasonable?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
SanctusInDistress · 16/08/2026 08:23

is your sister 5 years old? I’d ignore her and her bonkers requests. Just say ‘yes yes’ to everything but wear whatever clothes you choose to wear.?

Missingmymeds · 16/08/2026 08:25

But ...you are costing people money they don't have ..when are they ever going to wear those clothes again
No one chooses to buy posh tricks and suits in autumn colours
I doubt they even exist in a suit
You are being absolutely rediculous,the photos will look a laughing stock
Seriously, rethink this before everyone pulls out

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 16/08/2026 08:25

Venusunbroken · 15/08/2026 21:40

You aren’t seriously asking people to do this and go and buy a red suit or an orange one, not really?

The one thing I’ll give her: She‘s apparently including the male guests. The last few times I’ve seen this kind of dresscode request it was primarily aimed at the female guests with male guests being giving vague guide lines (such as: no black suit or light suit preferred…)

ifonly4 · 16/08/2026 08:25

I don't think the bride is going to get exactly what she wants. Some people will hate those colours, others may feel they don't suit them, and there'll be a few who really like something they've already got and want to wear again.

I think what would be reasonable is to ask for a splash of one of those colours, ie red/orange/yellow/brown/green tie for men and say coloured shoes/handbag for women if they don't want to be totally in autumn colours. If he's expected to wear a butthole flower, what colour will it be? A tie of the same colour would be great.

Rebeldiamond1 · 16/08/2026 08:26

Autumnalbride · 15/08/2026 21:39

I'm having an autumn themed wedding. I've asked everyone, all the wedding party, family and all the guests to wear autumn colours - brown, orange, yellow, red etc.
Some of the men want to wear grey suits but I am upset by this because I don't see grey as an autumn colour. They say they will wear autumn coloured ties and accessories but I said I want the suits to be in Autumn colours
Is this unreasonable?

Bridezilla
Suits typically come in black grey and blue so youre basically expecting all new suits in some weird colour theyll never wear again unless the 70s make a comeback (my dad had a mossy green one for his wedding in 1971)
I know women usually get a new dress but suits are a bit different.
Very ott expectations and quite controlling. As a guest Id ignore you too.

Atleastitsnotsunstroke · 16/08/2026 08:26

Autumn colours are muted versions - they do have blue in teal and pink in pink-purple and deep navy. Grey is mushroom grey. Coffee brown. Rust red.

Btc76 · 16/08/2026 08:28

The OP sums up millennial self-absorption and low intelligence in one marvellously satirical enquiry!

just read the replies!

luckylavender · 16/08/2026 08:28

Autumnalbride · 15/08/2026 21:39

I'm having an autumn themed wedding. I've asked everyone, all the wedding party, family and all the guests to wear autumn colours - brown, orange, yellow, red etc.
Some of the men want to wear grey suits but I am upset by this because I don't see grey as an autumn colour. They say they will wear autumn coloured ties and accessories but I said I want the suits to be in Autumn colours
Is this unreasonable?

Honestly I wouldn't attend you wedding however close we were. I think it’s ridiculous being told what to wear & I would vote with my feet. I don’t like those colours so I wouldn’t want to fork out on them.

WonderingWanda · 16/08/2026 08:28

Mushrooms are grey and they grow everywhere in autumn. Also squirrels hide their nuts in autumn and they are grey. Often the sky is grey.

Saintsgirl7 · 16/08/2026 08:29

The only way I would allow someone to dictate to be what to wear to something (funerals aside) would be if they were paying for the outfit, otherwise they can stick their colour scheme where the sun doesn't shine!

Autumnalbride · 16/08/2026 08:29

Just to answer a question a few people have asked; there are no parents around

OP posts:
hahabahbag · 16/08/2026 08:30

Ridiculous, put your wedding party in whatever but let your guests where whatever they want, suits especially are reworn for occasions, them wearing a themed tie is enough plus your colours don’t suit many people

Isthereanotherplanettoinhabit · 16/08/2026 08:31

I really hate this colour theme wedding thing, why does everything have to match? It looks ridiculous and is massively controlling . Let people wear what they like for pity’s sake

F63C · 16/08/2026 08:31

Autumnalbride · 16/08/2026 00:16

Yeah and half the stuff she said in the post on reddit was made up. It was bizarre and really hurtful.

She said stuff about my relationship that wasn't true too.

And I'd literally just put her up in my house while she found somewhere to live after moving here.

I haven't spoken to my sister since 2006. She is every bit as bad as yours and far worse. She has always been vile to me since I was a baby. I could list the top ten shitty tricks she has pulled but no-one would believe me. I got to a point I couldn't take any more and just dropped the rope.

We see each other at funerals and she always tries to talk to me but I manage the situation. Eventually we will run out of dead people and never see each other again.

I have never regretted going NC with her. Others were upset at first and it was awkward at Christmas but as the years have gone on, she has done more and more bad stuff and people have seen what I saw and they get it now.

The relief I felt when I made that decision was immense.

Katkins17 · 16/08/2026 08:32

If at the end of the day you’re married…job done…the reason for you spending thousands of pounds has been achieved.

everything else is just window dressing, and the only person that cares about colour coordination, centre pieces, nail varnish colours etc etc…is you.

all people who are at your wedding want to see is you get married and to have a good day, why make it more difficult for yourself then you have to???

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 16/08/2026 08:33

You’ve got too much time on your hands.

I know your wedding is obviously very important to you, but it isn’t something any of your guests are going to live and die by.

You have to be alright with it. The photos will look great, and you’ll look beautiful.
Trust me.

Rebeldiamond1 · 16/08/2026 08:34

Autumnalbride · 15/08/2026 23:59

Well I've just given the facts, very comprehensively, so people are still free to answer honestly

For what its worth Insee no issue in reversing it. I think the answers are mainly what any "normal" person would give in the described circumstance. I was just baffled that someone who was so batshit would expect affirmation on here, but now Insee why and it made me laugh tbh

FunnyGreyFox · 16/08/2026 08:34

I’d be RSVPing no

Aiming4Optimistic · 16/08/2026 08:34

The trouble with this (apart from the obvious expense to guests) is that outfits will end up looking like costumes. Most men won't own a brown/green suit, so will try to buy trousers and a shirt that matches your theme - the overall effect will be more fancy dress than wedding.
Few people look good in yellow or orange, so you'll get a lot of red/green. It's one of those ideas that seem okay in the moment, but is hard to execute well. Themes in general, rely on the guests and how much effort they are willing to make - personally I wouldn't want to leave the 'look' of my wedding in the hands of people whose choices I can't control. Therefore I'd steer clear of themes that rely on guest participation and focus on what I could do, to make my wedding beautiful.

Also, you don't want to irritate your guests. I think it's totally reasonable for a bride to specify no white or dresses which could be seen as 'bridal', but beyond that, it's unreasonable to impose colour themes.

ShetlandishMum · 16/08/2026 08:34

Autumnalbride · 15/08/2026 23:39

Ok ladies, thank you for all replies, genuinely appreciated.
Here's the truth, it's a reverse. Sorry. But is is absolutely 100% true.
I am a sister of the bride and until very recently, was a bridesmaid. The wedding is at the end of October.
There has been massive drama for the last two days.

My DS (who is 13) was apparently supposed to be a ring bearer. I don't know how, but this information slipped past me. He was horrified when I told him because TBF, why the fuck would a 13 year old be a ring bearer?
But I politely told her (and I promise I was genuinely polite about it, everyone else in the chat agreed I was) that I was very sorry to have forgotten he was supposed to be a ring bearer, but he doesn't want to be and that's totally on me, I am sorry I forgot, I hope it doesn't cause too much trouble for her, then said I totally get how hard it is when people fuck about because I have planned a wedding myself so again very sorry.
She accepted this and said in future can people just let her know sooner if they don't want to do roles. Fair enough.
Then yesterday I decided I needed to get DS a suit to wear to the wedding as a guest. DH thankfully already owns 3 in black and two shades of grey. DS said he hates blue and I think black is a bit funerally so I thought grey would be nice and is generally a normal colour for a bloke's suit as a wedding guest - right?!
Anyway, I was trying to get one secondhand so I went on Facebook to ask if anyone had a grey boys suit for sale. Not hiding it from her or anything, right there on Facebook for all to see. Then I found a lovely one on vinted which I ordered. Job done.
Sister saw Facebook post and was angry about it. Says she doesn't understand why I am trying to find a grey suit for DS, as she explicitly states the wedding theme is autumn, always has been and it's clear on her wedding website.
I said yes, I know it's an autumn themed wedding, of course I do, but I never knew that applied to guests too, and suits?! And she said yes, suits need to be autumn colours for everyone, and she doesn't understand why I am trying to buy a grey suit when grey is not an Autumn colour, like what am I doing, have I not been listening?
She was very snappy, very rude, and very condescending and unfortunately that is her general manner. She is usually not very nice to me and snaps at me all the time. I'd be here all day if I gave you examples. It's a whole other story.
I was just a bit taken back and was like "oh...right...ok" and then she sent a message to the family WhatsApp chat just to clarify with everyone that (to paraphrase) "the theme is Autumn, can everyone make sure they stick to this theme" and she actually listed the colours allowed and not allowed, and said NO pink NO blue NO white, nothing that isn't autumnal.
So my other sister says that sent going to be doable for her, she can't afford to buy new suits for her man that he isn't going to wear again. She starts saying if was on her wedding website all along so why are we all acting surprised now, all her friends are on board with it.
But actually on her website it just says "formal wear with autumnal colours" and then further down just "formal wear" I would have easily interpreted that to mean autumn coloured ties and those pocket handkerchief things, not full suits in autumn colours - but apparently her mates have burgundy suits?!
I said all this to her, calmly, but she kept saying that yes, she's really serious, suits need to be in Autumn colours. It would look stupid if everyone is in Autumn colours and someone turns up in pink or something. She was saying she'd have to edit their clothes in the pictures???
She points out that it's normal for wedding to have themes and colours and that my wedding had a colour scheme.
I said yes - for the flowers and the bridal party and the decor etc - I definitely did not tell my guests what to wear!! She made up some shit saying I complained about what my brother was wearing (he was a guest) so then my brother gets involved and says he's hurt I thought this. I had to prove to him by showing him pictures of my wedding invites specifically saying guests can wear whatever they are comfortable in, and pictures of my wedding with then men wearing all different suits and ties that I had no issue whatsoever with this (actually I didn't even remember the colours of the guests ties, I was only reminded when I digged out photos to show him) my brother understood after I showed this but I was really upset she said this and upset my bother (who is autistic and quite sensitive and worried about it)
So it started getting heated but I promise I was calm but I did say that I thought she should apologise for saying that and dragging DB into this.
So then she launches into this horrible tirade where she says I have been trying to sabotage her wedding from the start. Which is insane and completely untrue!! She said I purposefully ruined a moment between future BIL and his daughter (I kind of did, completely unintentionally and apologised - twice) and that I have been bullying her MOH ( her best friend) because I clearly think I should be MOH!! absolutely insane, she had four sisters and I have no reason to think I would have been chosen, I didn't have her as mine, our other sister has her own best friend, it never once occured to me that I should be MOH!! And I have been nothing but nice to her MOH, I've known her since they were in school and I've sent her nice supportive messages throughout, was kind to her when she lost her mum, held her baby for her for ages at a family event so she could relax, I don't know where she gets this from?! I did complain MOH turned up late once but TBF she was 2.5hrs late to a BBQ and bringing the food and me and the kids were starving - apparently his means I was trying to point out MOH is disorganised and I should have the job instead??!!? She said all this in a horrible, snarly voicenote, ending with "and thank god you're not MOH because you can't even follow simple instructions and remember anything"

So anyway, by this point if had enough. I was crying, shaking, she'd been so nasty and said so many crazy things that were just untrue. I sent a voicemail back explaining why everything she said was nonsense and then told her I no longer want to come to her wedding and she can fuck off.
I saw her voice noting back but I was so upset I couldn't take another message so I kicked her from the family chat and blocked her on everything, asked the MOH for the £300 I'd sent for the hen do, which was sent back and with all this, on top of everything horrible she's done in the past, including making up crap about my own wedding, slagging it off, and posting it on Reddit where I could see it, I am done with her.

So there's the full story. Well actually it's not, there's loads I missed but you get the jist. Thank you for confirming this is indeed nutty and if she finds it, now you know. Like everyone has been telling you, you are the problem.

Xx

I wouldn't join. A no thank you is enough.
Book a nice weekend away and have fun.

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/08/2026 08:35

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 16/08/2026 08:33

You’ve got too much time on your hands.

I know your wedding is obviously very important to you, but it isn’t something any of your guests are going to live and die by.

You have to be alright with it. The photos will look great, and you’ll look beautiful.
Trust me.

You can't be trusted to read a thread, so I'm not sure you can be trusted to predict the outcome of a stranger's wedding photos.

allthingsinmoderation · 16/08/2026 08:36

Your sister does sound a bit bridezilla ,its not uncommon .Although your sister sounds demanding generally.
I can understand the gist (its fashionable amongst some )of an autumnal dress code for everyone. But,Brown,yellow burgundy suits are niche and i understand why most wouldnt want to waste money on something they dont like, feel comfortable in and may not wear again.Guests have different skin tones and colouring and many wont feel comfortable in such a prescribed dress code.i would look like ive been exhumed in warm autumnal colours!
It seems your relationship with your sister has background baggage which has fuelled and inflamed this issue.
The only sympathy i have with your sister is the issue of your son declining to be her ring bearer. It must sting a bit when you have asked someone to be part of your wedding party with a role that is meaningful to you and they say no. (its can feel like a rejection)
As for what you do now ,it depends on wether you want to salvage your relationship with your sister. If you do,let the dust settle and suggest you sit down and talk about it calmly. If not, this is just the straw the broke the camels back and thats that.

knitnerd90 · 16/08/2026 08:37

have I wandered onto Reddit? This is a thing at some American weddings and even there guests think it's unreasonable!

BEAchDays2 · 16/08/2026 08:37

I knew this would be a reverse, what is the point of a reverse thread, why not just post from your point of view in the first place?

ThreadGuardDog · 16/08/2026 08:40

ifonly4 · 16/08/2026 08:25

I don't think the bride is going to get exactly what she wants. Some people will hate those colours, others may feel they don't suit them, and there'll be a few who really like something they've already got and want to wear again.

I think what would be reasonable is to ask for a splash of one of those colours, ie red/orange/yellow/brown/green tie for men and say coloured shoes/handbag for women if they don't want to be totally in autumn colours. If he's expected to wear a butthole flower, what colour will it be? A tie of the same colour would be great.

If he's expected to wear a butthole flower, what colour will it be? A tie of the same colour would be great.

If the men are wearing butthole flowers I don’t think anyone will notice whether the tie matches !!