White dress for a wedding (as a guest?) - a no no?

[LadyThompson]

I am sure it's been asked before, but...I want to wear a white linen dress. Is that a faux pas these days? It's fairly long, but not at all bridal (I don't think). Plus I am planning to dress it up with a deep pink wrap and fascinator and animal print shoes.

Dare I ask what your relationship to the bride and groom is?

I would probably ask the bride, because I am a wet and a weed . But I didn't care what people wore to my wedding as long as they came. And I don't spend my time tutting at weddings (weddings are for drinking and eating cake).

Personally I don't have a problem with women who aren't the bride wearing white to a wedding (unless it was accessorized with a veil - that might provoke comment). My mum wore an ivory suit to my wedding, I had no problem with that - she looked lovely. And there was no problem about any of the guests getting confused as to who was the bride because a) I was wearing a silk tent and b) all our guests were friends and family and they would have known who I was even without the yards of ivory silk to give them a hint!

OP - your outfit sounds lovely, wear it with confidence and have a lovely day.

Blimey, I seriously never knew this. Had no idea people felt so strongly about something. I have to say that if I was getting married, I would honestly not care what people wore, I would just be dead chuffed they'd turned up.
And what about all the male guests upstaging the groom in their dark suits???
I'm all for respecting tradition where required, but choosing not to wear a non-bridal white dress in case anyone might turn their noses up...it just seems a bit arbitrary.

I think a plain linen white dress is fine with a cardigan! A floor length lace number with veil, I'd say no.

I'm twenty three and I don't think it's a good move, so I don't think it's an age thing. I'm from NI too [waves to Rookie], and it is simply not the done thing here. The wedding is essentially the bride's day, it's a special tradition that she wears white/off white which differentiates her from the guests. I would be annoyed if you rolled up to mine in a long white linen dress, however you've accessorised, when you have a whole spectrum of colours to choose from. I don't buy the "waste of money" line, you could get a nice colourful shift dress for under £20 from H&M or similar, which you could recycle for other occasions. You say you've lost weight, get yourself a few more bits and pieces!

If the bride is so fabulous, why don't you just ring her and ask what she thinks instead of us lot? Please do tell us what she says

....probably....if all the ladies/femme were in white and all the guys/homme were in suits ..imagine how beautiful that would be..it would look like everyone were getting married..aaww..x simply wonderful!

ps..obvioulsy...NO veils!!!

I got married 11 years ago. A lovely, if a little eccentric, school friend of mine attended in wide leg white linen trousers with a white top also. I was not in the slightest bit bothered. I was wearing lovely ivory gown and its was quite clear which one of us was the bride iyswim
BUT other guests commented on the day and after and it was very frowned upon! therefore I think society dictates we should not wear white. But I have worn black and neutral combinations to weddings myself.

It is weird to be worried about someone wearing white to a wedding. But people are weird...

OP, you said you had a coloured dress you were going to wear before you lost weight - presumably it was a nice dress. Do you perhaps know an alterations expert/tailor/ seamstress who could alter it to fit you at not too high a cost. We have a great lady for this near us who often does similar for me.

mrsebo interesting a GF of a friend wore white linen trousers and a lacy white top at my wedding.

But I was furious. How very dare she

Wouldn't have cared about a smart white suit, but to turn up in something floaty and white with her thong showing

Grrrrr