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Original poster

Is it ever ok to wear black to a wedding?

28 replies

livingstonbach · 05/03/2011 18:14

That's it really - would love your thoughts!

Is black and white (spots, stripes, floral) ok or is even that a bit dodgy?

OP posts:
MrsLevinson · 05/03/2011 18:21

I think it's fine! At my sister's wedding last summer there were 2 guests wearing black. But they had coloured accessories or patterns like you describe and still looked very weddingy.

meditrina · 05/03/2011 18:23

Only if you absolutely, definitely know for 100% sure that the bride doesn't mind.

emsyj · 05/03/2011 18:23

I had bridesmaids in black and my mother wore black. It's fine. Possibly choose some coloured accessories tho.

verytellytubby · 05/03/2011 18:44

I wore a black dress (when pregnant) with bright pink accessories.

AnnoyingOrange · 05/03/2011 18:46

in answer ot the op
YES

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 05/03/2011 18:47

I wore black, with a black hat and black bag to my brother's wedding. I did wear red shoes though so that my mother wouldn't accuse me of going to a funeral.

But I was only there under duress so perhaps I'm not the person to ask!

suwoo · 05/03/2011 18:56

I don't think in recent years that I have worn anything other than black to weddings. Or christenings for that matter.

vanillamum · 05/03/2011 19:10

My cousin wore all black with a black hat trimmed with a bright cerise feather to my wedding and she looked stunning.

odoeoiosoa · 05/03/2011 19:13

Thats fine

Meggles76 · 05/03/2011 19:14

I am wearing a black dress to a civil ceremony in May. I checked with my friend (the groom) and he said it was fine.

piratecat · 05/03/2011 19:16

My mum did, to mine!

looked really sophisticated, with an accessorizing colour or whatever they call it.

MrsKwazii · 05/03/2011 19:20

Absolutely, it's wearing white that gets you into big trouble Wink

auntpetunia · 05/03/2011 19:43

My mum wore a suit with black jacket and patterned skirt, she picked out a colour from the skirt for the top and accessories, but she did wear a big black hat. I had no problems with it. Being a ginger she couldnt wear any of the usual mother of the bride colours.

MrsMc82 · 05/03/2011 20:05

Yes def think black at a wedding is fine these days, I wore black to my friends wedding when was pg last a couple of years ago with turquoise accessories...... And thinking back to our wedding 5 yrs ago I don't remember being offended by any guests wearing black, in fact one of DH's cousins wore a white dress but with a big black sash belt and that didn't offend me either though that prob cos she's lovely and were good friends, if one of the other inlaws had worn white I might have been a bit more snobby.... On the other hand I was offended by another one of DH's cousins girlsfriends that wore white skinny jeans red red boob tube and plasticy stripper shoes... Oh and she wasn't even invited....but that's a different story!!!

Housewife2010 · 05/03/2011 21:29

Definitely never black or white to a wedding. Totally bad form - see Debrett's.

meditrina · 05/03/2011 21:35

I wouldn't be so bothered about whether it's "bad form" or not, rather that it's traditionally unlucky to wear a funeral colour, and it would be a poor thing to do something the bride wouldn't like. Always check.

ThreeBubbasAndManyBumps · 05/03/2011 21:36

My MIL wore black to our my wedding Hmm! 'Nuff said.

Original poster
livingstonbach · 06/03/2011 07:57

Thanks for all your replies, very interesting comments.

I'd never even heard of Debrett's until now. I will have to exercise extreme will power not to go back to their site and carry out a post-mortem on our wedding which was the happiest day but definitely common not good form!

Still not sure what to do though - I think I will err on the side of caution and steer clear.

OP posts:
FakePlasticTrees · 06/03/2011 08:05

black would be fine for most weddings - why not ping a text to the bride and check?

My mum wore a mainly black with cream and red patterns dress to my wedding, but would only buy it when I promised her DH wouldn't think she didn't like him because of it... (She looked stunning in it)

sweetiesue · 06/03/2011 08:15

I'm wearing black to a wedding in a couple of weeks. Black shift dress and black shoes but have added a coloured shrug and jewellery. For evening bit have borrowed a black shrug and got chunky pearl jewellery. Dress, shoes and shrug cost a fortune (shh don't tell DH as far as he knows they have been in the wardrobe for ages!!!)but jewellery is Primark and looks fantastic. In my opinion it's not the colour it's how you wear it that makes the difference.

BerryLellowFluffyChicks · 06/03/2011 08:21

I think as long as you aren't planning on wearing a black veil and sobbing through the service then you should be fine Grin

As long as it looks weddingy I can't see the problem, definitely worse to wear white skinny jeans and a boob tube - Debrett's would implode!

Georgimama · 06/03/2011 08:23

My mum wore a very striking lime and black suit to my wedding (it was lovely, honestly). I wore a black dress and pink hat to DB1's wedding and at DB2's wedding I was a bridesmaid in black (evening black tie wedding). I think it's fine.

Don't wear (all) white under any circumstances, even if the bride isn't wearing white.

Lulumama · 06/03/2011 08:26

me & my sister wore black to our DBs wedding, the bride's sisters wore black too, half the female guests were in black. A lot of evening wear/black tie stuff is black.

Just don't wear anything white/cream or vaguely bridal, that's far more bad form

TheSecondComing · 06/03/2011 08:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrameyMcFrame · 06/03/2011 08:28

I work in the wedding industry and black and white or the monochrome look is quite popular with wedding guests at the moment. Or at least it was last season. Lots of black and white floral and prints.