Is it a no no to wear a black dress to a wedding?

[zookeeper]

It's a very nice posh black dress with a little shrug black jacket - was thinking of jazzing it up with heels etc and a bright pashmina. I mentioned it to a friend and she is horrified and am now having a crisis of confidence. Please let me have your view - I am feeling fat pale and frumpy, am comfortable in this and am really not up to looking for a wedding ourfit

Yes metallics are v. in at the moment so there'd be loads of choice.

I am pale , have reddish hair and of Irish descent - more well-fed farmer's daughter raised in dank peat bog than Corr sister though

thnks little lapin and to all of you for your commnets - the shrug is pretty but on me might look a bit like I've borrowed granny's cardi

I would have to second the excellent Mrs B. Beware bright colours with black. Cream would be better, methinks.

cream sounds good - woill look for scarf/shrug/stole/pashima this w/e

Definitely fine - my mum wore a black dress to MY wedding (with a cream jacket).
Thisnk it's become more popular in the last few years.

ooh yes black with cream sounds gorgeous- you will look v. sophisticated

Black is fine for an evening wedding, but probably not for a daytime service.

You might ask the bride what she thinks. And if she thinks it's fine, go with it. It's her day after all and if she is not bothered then you don't need to be either.

Hi everyone - just spoken to the bride who thinks I am mad to worry so feel much better. Thanks for your commnets

black's fine. SOme poeple wore black to mine I seem to recall.

I wear black on the outside
because black is how I feeeeel on the inside

I went to a wedding yesterday and the theme was black and white, there were so many people wearing black, it looked lovely all together.

Black is not the greatest choice for a wedding - I'm sure that a personal shopper could find something to make you feel fabulous in, and it sounds as though finding something you look fabulous in is just what you need right now!

Go shopping!

My brothers wedding the adult bridesamaids wore black.It looked really chic.
Think weddings are more relaxed now.

Only read OP but think wearing black to a wedding is definitely a yes yes. Think of Kristen Scott-Thomas in Four Weddings and a Funeral ... pure class if you ask me until she goes all colourful at the end. Eww!

Black is slimming. Wear fake tan and jazz if up with some nice jewellry. That answers your fat pale and frumpy crisis (know how you feel on that one). I'm sure you'll look great.

I think it's just fine to wear black to a wedding.

The two important things to consider (imo) are:
1 - Does it look suitably smart for the occasion?
2 - Do you feel good/comfortable in it?

If the answer to both of those is yes, then go for it!!!

Teaming it with heels and a bright pashmina sounds like a fab idea. I'm sure you'll look great.

Obviously if you were planning to team it with black hosiery, black shoes, black bag, black hat, black veil...that might be problematic! :D

the last wedding we went o I wore a deep purpley/cerise with a floral flip skirt H wore a pale pair of pants and smart business shirt (no tie) it was a summer wedding - we were almost the only people not in black and there was nothing on the invite indicating black there were other accents of colour etc but mainly black and I made the choice prior agonising over what to wear as I had many black options but thought it bad manners/tatse - WELL obvisously I was wrong and have learnt that lesson BLACK is fine for a wedding

can I hijack, zookepper? hope you don't mind?

Style people: want a mini-project? Sort me out for a wedding?

Got an informal summer wedding in a month's time. It's my best friend's wedding and want to make an effort for her big day. Can't afford to buy anything new but would like thoughts/advice from you style people if poss.
I have a smart BLACK dress from monsoon circa late '05. Floaty but smart and looks good on me, esp since I've slimmed down a bit. Have dark hair, olive skin (with a great tan at the mo ), and prefer strong colours. Have never worn a hat to a wedding but wouldn't be averse to it.

What can I wear with it to make it more weddingy? Any ideas? Am overseas but anything you suggest I may be able to find/invent similar here.

Many thanks!

a stylish bump

.

do not put bright colours with black
or pastels

either do a monochrome black and white outfit
or accessorize in something like pewter or bronze

maybe a b&w patterned wrap and/or bag?