Which of these would you wear to a very posh wedding?

[HahaHarrie]

I have a very formal, traditional wedding this weekend and I still haven't found a dress! I'd prefer something with sleeves given it is November, but I haven't liked any of the lacey sleeved options on offer. Everything seems so fitted and I'm carrying a bit of baby weight around the middle. I'm size 12, 5' 6".

Dress A

Dress B

Dress C

Dress D Something else again!

Once I have the dress then I need to sort out hats, wraps, shoes, bags, etc.!

What if you wear a black dress but everything else is a bright/pastel colour? Re sleeveless in church - not very likely for a November wedding in the UK!

Black is more old fashioned but if it is genuinely an aristocratic wedding do not wear black. The Dowager Duchess will not be impressed

That's cobblers actually, to aristocratic weddings you can wear pretty much what you like.

It's bourgeois weddings that people worry about 'rules'.

Black is widely seen at weddings these days.

OP didn't say aristocratic, she said 'very formal, traditional'.

That's cobblers actually, to aristocratic weddings you can wear pretty much what you like.

It's not "rules"; it's good manners.

B

A is lovely and I am of the, 'It's okay to wear black' brigade, but I don't think that dress looks sufficiently wedding-wear-ish. It's more, 'From the boardroom to a dinner date'esque.

C is too summery.

B

Well people do wear black to weddings, and assume it is fine as no-one says anything, but eyebrows would be raised, and the older generation might find it very bad manners indeed. And why risk offending anyone when there are so many other colours to choose from? Just as one wouldn't wear shocking pink to a funeral unless asked to specifically.

B

Although A with coloured heels and killer accessories could also work.

Whoa!! It's definitely ok to wear black to a wedding! Especially with lovely bright accessories. C has lots of white in it and that's a real no no for most brides. There's lots of dresses with sleeves around though so I would keep looking for something like that. Diane Von furstenburg has some really nice lace dresses with sleeves in lovely colours. Enjoy the wedding!

www.matchesfashion.com/mobile/product/1000894

Thank you for all the replies!! Your honest opinions are really helpful and I appreciate the links. I have found the whole wedding outfit shopping very uninspiring. The wedding is THIS weekend so I'm starting to panic. I thought I could rely on something I already had in the wardrobe but when I tried it on, it wasn't to be! Sorry I had to post and run, but the dresses all arrived this afternoon by courier and now the children are in bed I've tried them on. Here is my verdict...

Dress A - I love it. The fabric is very forgiving and the fit is perfect. It is very elegant and an added bonus I know I will get plenty of use out of it. It definitely needs some livening up with accessories for a mid afternoon church wedding. For the church maybe something contrasting like this bolero, a belt, hat and bag?

Dress B - Screams 'I'm a wedding guest' and felt a bit cliched. Also I could see my mother wearing it.

Dress C - Was much better than expected. The off-white silk is luminous so makes it look quite special. Because the flowers are black and blue I think you can just about get away with it for November day into evening. Again I would wear it with a bolero/shrug for the church in dark blue.

So it is either A or C...

How about A with faux fur and 20s-esque accessories?

They are all a bit middle aged IMO.

Have you looked at Zara or Reiss at all. Less chance of someone rocking up in the same dress than LK Bennett too.

C definitely. Unless you go for A and wear a coloured blazer/shawl (black shawl will make people think funeral).

I'm more for C having read that it's off white. Which do you feel most comfortable in?

Me and em do a crepe swing dress in red or the most fab deep purple which is forgiving, chic and not middle aged.

Everyone buys dresses for weddings from Coast. It's the mainstream go to so chances are someone else will have that dress.

C

I wouldn't wear black during the day to anything very smart unless it was Paris fashion week, never mind a wedding ceremony.

I agree with Remus ref dress A. I like B and C, so really think it's down to which one you feel most comfortable in/is most flattering.

Personally, at a really formal/fancy wedding I'd probably wear a jacket or dress coat rather than a cardigan or bolero.

This thread is the first I have ever heard of not wearing black to a wedding and I've been to a lot of weddings. I've even seen bridesmaids in black.

I agreed it is middle aged, but then so am I (well 40) and I think the wedding will be a bit too as it is 'traditional and formal'. I love the idea of the Me + Em dress but on me it might look frumpy and a bit maternity also I need it by Friday.

Reiss dresses all looked too clingy, but I do like and buy from Reiss.

Zara - if I had better legs and no boobs. They are all short and high necked.

Oooh yes - love that idea from Remus of faux fur and 20s style! How about a fake fur stole?

Don't say that Harrie, I am 40 and am most certainly not middle aged IMO.

Cool, trendy people with boobs and a bit of junk in the trunk go to posh weddings. There must be something a little more with it to wear than those options.

If yu are not into vintage and dressing up on an every day/occasional basis you will look a compete plonker going all 40s.

Have you looked in Anthropologie?