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Original poster

Can I wear a red dress to a wedding?

33 replies

NoCapes · 03/09/2016 19:53

I've ordered a red dress to a wedding I'm going to next month and I shown a family member today who said you're not supposed to wear red to weddings as its bad luck?

Apparently I can wear it to the night part but to the daytime it's a bit of a no no
I didn't know this Confused

They also have it available in nude or a sage green, would I be best ordering one of those colours instead?
Is this 'rule' widely known?

OP posts:
LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 03/09/2016 19:57

I didn't know that but thinking about it now, I wore red to a wedding once and the grooms mother said "oh your outfit's very daring Lois" Oh dearBlush

AppleJac · 03/09/2016 19:58

I love the colour red so i would wear it without a doubt!

My wedding cake had red roses going all down it and i ve seen a fair few red bridesmaid dresses

justinelibertine · 03/09/2016 19:59

I wore a red an white polka dot 50's style dress with a huge underskirt underneath to a wedding. No one, including my very proper granny said anything about bad luck.
Go for it OP. And get red shoes too!

EdithWeston · 03/09/2016 20:00

I definitely wouldn't wear red to a Chinese wedding (as that's the bridal colour)

Never heard that you shouldn't to a European one.

Randytortoise · 03/09/2016 20:00

My wedding dress was red!
Definitely wear it.

JessicasCrocodile · 03/09/2016 20:01

I wore a red dress to a wedding in April and will be wearing the same dress for a wedding next Saturday. I've never heard of it being bad luck.

afatalflaw · 03/09/2016 20:02

I wore one yesterday! Have never heard that one although have heard the 'blood and bandages' superstition about red and white on a bride.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 03/09/2016 20:03

It's some old superstition about the mistress wearing red, I think.

It's rubbish don't worry about it. Red is lovely. Your dress will be great.

SanityClause · 03/09/2016 20:04

I've heard of green being bad luck, and black being bad manners, because it implies sadness. Also white being bad manners, because the bride will usually wear white.

But I have never heard of red being bad luck.

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/09/2016 20:06

Oh good!
The wedding isn't Chinese and I'm definitely not the mistress Grin
What's the blood and bandages thing?

Oh dear Lois I hope no great grandmothers tell me off Blush

OP posts:
Paintedhandprints · 03/09/2016 20:10

Depends whether the bride or groom are superstitious batshit I guess. Not heard of this one. Do people make them up?

VikingLady · 03/09/2016 20:10

Green is meant to be bad luck as it's the colour of the little folk, I think. Black because it's associated with death. White is just bad manners. Otherwise I think it's fine!

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/09/2016 20:11

I've never heard of no green either
No black or white I knew
Gosh it's a minefield isn't it!

OP posts:
afatalflaw · 03/09/2016 20:13

I think blood and bandages came from bad associations with World War One field hospitals etc. not great associations/ luck for a bride.

softboiledeggs · 03/09/2016 20:17

My SIL wore red to my wedding and she looked lovely... MIL is the font of all knowledge on such things so would have told her if it was wrong so it must be ok Grin

Cel982 · 03/09/2016 20:20

'Bad luck' isn't a real thing, fortunately. Wear whatever you like, OP.

Original poster
NoCapes · 03/09/2016 20:33

Oh fatal no not a great look for a bride ha

Well you've all made me feel much better Smile thankyou

OP posts:
WholeL0ttaRosie · 03/09/2016 20:42

"Blood and bandages" I've only heard that in regards flowers. Years ago nurses were told during training never to mix red and white flowers in patients' vases. It is the only superstition I've ever followed.

notthe1Parrot · 03/09/2016 20:45

I've just been to a wedding where a young(ish) mum wore a bright red sleeveless dress - looked great, and I didn't hear any negative comments.

heateallthebuns · 04/09/2016 10:19

Every wedding I've been to there's been loads of people wearing red. That is the most obscure superstition I've ever heard of. Definately not even in those old fashioned etiquette books on weddings!

Only colours to avoid are mainly cream/white and black as far as I've ever known. Although even black seems to be creeping in nowadays.

Hagothehills · 04/09/2016 10:23

Green is the colour of the little folk? I shall have to have green in my wedding dress then, I'm great friends with the wee free men ;)

ophiotaurus · 04/09/2016 10:29

The only one I've heard is "Green for grief" not heard about red.

PovertyPain · 04/09/2016 10:34

How dare you, OP! Angry

Posting on here about a dress and not putting a photo on! Get yer finger out. Grin

Am I the only one that wants to see a photo of the red wedding dress?

Original poster
NoCapes · 04/09/2016 10:45

Haha Poverty I don't know if I'm brave enough to post a photo, you lot can be ruthless Blush

OP posts:
deepdarkwood · 04/09/2016 10:53

My MIL (ex florist) had a think about red and white together at weddings for the bride (blood and bandages) but she is the queen of random wedding traditions.

Otherwise, red is a traditional bridal colour at muslin weddings iirc (so as a guest, the equivalent of wearing white to a church wedding), so could it be a misremembered memory of that?