Is it OK for a wedding guest to wear a mainly black dress?

[MsSampson]

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_012010526360_-1

I know I personally didn't care less what guests wore to my wedding (SIL kept emailing to ask if such and such a dress was OK, and I was a bit bewildered), but are people still bothered by such things?

I'm just trying to avoid spending a fortune on a wedding guesty dress that I will never wear again. It's a London wedding in November. Dress code just says formal.

(I'm pretty excited I've found something in Debenhams that isn't totally revolting. But I haven't tried it on yet, so we'll see).

Yes, some people are bothered. Do you know the B&G well enough to be reasonably sure of their preference?

If not, then stick to the normal approach ie colours

I would say yes definitely. However I was expecting a LBD and was very disappointed at what was shown.

There are loads odd sales on at the mo. dresses cheaper than that one.

Is there nothing on this page you like. What about the grey long sleeved at the bottom or the black sleeveless inthe middle? £31 and £45.

I got one for my wedding that saved me £100 and it's beautiful . Excellent quality.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J/BRAND_ELIZA%20J,default,sc.html?cm_mmc=Google+Adwords--TM+-+Head+Terms+-+%28Exact%29--TM+-+Head+Term+-+Eliza+J+-+%28Exact%29--%2Bhouse+%2Bof+%2Bfraser+%2Beliza+%2Bj&$ja=tsid:58624%7Ccid:318112627%7Cagid:19344145027%7Ctid:kwd-52440914084%7Ccrid:81597305347%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:12556047094849828889%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:1t1%7Cmt:b#www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J/BRAND_ELIZA%20J,default,sc.html?start=30&sz=30&spcl&ajaxsearchrefinement" rel="nofollow" target="blank">www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J/BRAND_ELIZA%20J,default,sc.html?cm_mmc=Google+Adwords--TM+-+Head+Terms+-+%28Exact%29--TM+-+Head+Term+-+Eliza+J+-+%28Exact%29--%2Bhouse+%2Bof+%2Bfraser+%2Beliza+%2Bj&_$ja=tsid:58624%7Ccid:318112627%7Cagid:19344145027%7Ctid:kwd-52440914084%7Ccrid:81597305347%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:12556047094849828889%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:1t1%7Cmt:b#www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J/BRAND_ELIZA%20J,default,sc.html?start=30&sz=30&spcl&ajaxsearchrefinement

I forgot the link. Ooops!

( oh heck. I didn't mean to sound rude)

Just don't wear white is the general rule isn't it.

I'm sure you can find something much nicer than the dress on your link OP.

How about something like this if you like darker colours

www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/cameo-rose-black-floral-print-skater-dress_361935409

I don't think that Debenhams dress is formal enough for a wedding.

I love that green picachou. That's the kind of dress I wear a lot and I have a lot of them to wear.

Great on a warm day as they are sleeveless and I Intend to wear them well into winter as the black band at the bottom works well with black boots and as the winter worsens thick black tights along with a black coat, scarf hat etc

Oh heck I hope I haven't put you off it for a wedding.

Only the most Bridezilla/Groomzilla/MoB-zilla types would bat an eyelid at a black dress, as long as it didn't include a widow's veil and a full set of Victorian mourning jewellery.

This is the one I wore yesterday. Without the boots.

www.quizclothing.co.uk/clothes/00100005253.html

( I also have its pink sister)

They are so easy to wear. So comfortable. Hides a multitude of sins and there's a lot of support in the fabric so holds you in in places while still letting you breathe.

I like that dress and would actually consider it for a London wedding I have coming which will be a little bit trendy and alternative. But that couple would never put a "formal" dress code on the invite.

I love the star dress, its really pretty. I wouldn't wear it to a wedding tho, unless I was going to the evening only. Something a bit brighter for a whole day event is needed, Imo. Especially if you are likely to be in any of the photos.

As an aside, i noticed outfits people wore to my wedding but i wasn't bothered about their choices - i was just pleased people turned up and had made an effort to look nice!

Great dress but the combo of black and fairly casual means it isn't rigt for a wedding I don't think. I wouldn't be offended but others may think you were looking pretty casual if everyone else is in suits or things like that Quiz dress above. It's the kind of thing I'd wear on a normal evening out.

I think the pattern makes it ok, but I wouldn't consider it formal, although you could maybe upgrade it with accessories.

I have this one and it looks really elegant on. Very multifunctional

www.quizclothing.co.uk/clothes/00100005164.html

I will be shot down but i was the least bridezilla going. However one thing I stressed to all 9 of our wedding guests is no white or black dresses. Really no excuse with all the other options. I still don't understand why others do this. Im not even remotely old fashioned either I'm sure you could find a nicer brighter alternative

It wouldn't have bothered me if a guest had worn mainly black at my wedding, but I don't really care for that dress.

So people think that weddings in London are more on trend and "cool" than weddings in the provinces

In my experience they have been Bunbaker. My London friends are all of a certain type though and had a very particular sort of trendy wedding wear that dress would have been fine but I appreciate it was a lazy generalisation - sorry .

(For what it's worth I got married in Norfolk).

where not wear - it's been a long day.

I have worn black (dress or jumpsuit) for most weddings in the last few years. I have a black dress that has done about 6 weddings! It looks smart, no one cares imo. A friend came to our wedding in jeans. I didn't care. It was nice to see him. Yes, there are brighter alternatives but when you have the expense of one or several weddings and need a dress for lots of occasions then a black dress may be all you have or all you want to wear. Also, trousers are fine too.

Op your dress looks fine, get a bright clutch.
Wedding guest clothes are generally hideous.

I tried the dress in your link on last week. It is really nice and would be fine for a wedding.

I like the dress OP.

I don't see anything wrong with a mainly black dress to a wedding.

Having said that, I wore white trousers and a black top to my BIL and SIL's wedding a few years ago and SIL hasn't spoken to me since because she accused me of trying to upstage her . So I guess some cunts people might care.

This dress is in Debenhams big advertising campaigns at the moment, worn with some really ugly black boots and messy hair. It's very grungy festival.

I don't think I'd go to the effort of dressing it up, really... I'd probably be put off by the fact that now that its everywhere, it'll date quickly.

I do think there's a degree of difference between what people wear to many London weddings and what people wear to them in the bit of rural England I moved to after I left.

My experience is that wedding guests over the age of 30/35 where I now live are far more likely to wear obviously 'wedding-y'outfits in light or bright colours (that wouldn't really be worn for any other occasion, other than maybe a posh garden party) whereas Londoners are less likely to aim for a specifically 'wedding-y' look, and more likely to wear darker colours.

That dress would have been perfectly appropriate for any London weddings I've ever attended, but it would probably have looked more unusual here.