wedding ettiquette , is a white dress ok when your not the bride?

[LilyLoo]

Just looking for opinions. I have a friends wedding in August when i will be 4/5 month pregnant. I have a white knee lentgh dress from monsoon i have never worn, strapless but fitted under the bust with a full skirt. I think it would fit me then and would save me getting a new outfit i wouldn't / couldn't wear again. But is white to a wedding ok ?

Think you should open a thread asking people to help you find a dress online, you may get a lot of suggestions.... you may not.

I really like that Isabella Oliver dress.. it's gorgeous!

agree with nomdeplume.

could you dye it?

Thank you everyone for your very valid opinions. At least i didn't have to go through that disagreement at the wedding Any alternative suggestions gladly accepted. That dress is lovely LL but i am only 5"2 and a size 10 at the minute so maternity stuff can sometimes drown me.
I may just have to leave it nearer the time or hunt out that Tesco dress Filly.

Good luck LilyLoo! x

Might be worth a try then, thanks

Lilyloo, I'm also 5'2" (yes, THAT tall, freaky genes), and Isabella Oliver clothes - while very beautiful - are not designed for the shorter lady. Will have a think about where you could try next. I used to go to a fab boutique in Nottingham called Swells, but I can't really remember the brands they stocked.

Isabella Oliver - Petite range

I stand corrected.

damn fine crimson dress

Thanks very much Walnut that is beautiful and petite but £90.00 may have to keep an eye on ebay.

seriously, lily, thats my reason too.

i just can't afford to shell out £100 on a dress i won't wear again. i just can't do it, even for a wedding, i don't live in that sort of world.

Fair enough.

However, I had a quick look at JoJoMamanBebe who I have found to be a good company (although sizes a bit random - tendency to the large size) and check this out

Apparently you CAN wear white to a wedding, Cinders...

Thanks Ladies i daren't go back there again !

Good old Mothercare?

Btw, try H&M too if you have one nearby.

Let us know!

walnut that's so lovely of you to look, thanks will let you know what i get and it won't be white that's for sure, although ......... only joking.

Lol, fair enough and do post your solution. Happy shopping xx

Absolutely LOVELY dress. Not at all bride like. Wear it with a brightly coloured scraf/wrap and some nice jewellery. I think you will look lovely and if it was my wedding I wouldnt care what colour you wore as long as you made an effort.

I think this etiquette thing regarding white is outdated. I didnt think brides were meant ot wear green but my friend got married in a beautiful green silk dress.

I think you should definately wear it amd also cos I could nver wear strapless dress!

Have only read the first few posts.......I wouldn't wear a dress like that to a wedding. It is very possible that the bride will have a strapless (or shoestring) strap dress, and that's just a bit too similar, IMHO

Getting married in a week and a half. And very nearly wore a dress that was fairly similar to yours - although was loooking for long dresses (very hard to find off the peg long white dresses so nearly had to go for knee length!) Lots of people get married in quite 'normal' off-the-peg white dresses BUT I would say, as long as you team it with some very colourful accessories, you'll be fine. Just don't look in any way 'bridal'.

FWIW, Iam now wearing a turquoise dress - but I doubt anyone will be wearing it. It has a bustle!

Just to add to my earlier post, my sister did call and ask me if it was okay for her to wear her dress, and I quote
'I've bought a dress specially for teh wedding, it was really expensive but it's pink, I can't afford anything else, you don't mind if I wear it do you?'
How could I say no?! Still pissed me off!

I woudl ask your friend if you really want to wear it but if you can get something else, do, at 4/5 months you won't be that big.

Depends on what the bride is wearing.

When my aunt got married for the second time, she didn't go for the traditional dress but she went for a lovely cream lace dress with a handkerchief hem. One of the guests turnde up with EXACTLY the same dress on. I don't think my aunt was that bothered but the other woman was absolutely mortified.

I would ask the bride to make sure it is significantly different from her dress and whether she minds you wearing white. If not accessorise with other colours and be prepared for comments from the other guests.

It must mainly just be me then, but I really think this whole do not wear white thing is really outdated. I can't believe that the dress in question could conceivably be seen as bride like, no bride would wear a dress like that to get married in, so with colourful accessories I doubt many people would really notice of care to be honest.

My dress was ivory, how many people actually wore bright white on their wedding day?

[slopes off shaking head at the nonsense of it all]

yes i didn't wear white, i wore a patterned dress, from monsoon

had someone else worn the same dress i'd have thought it rather funny, tbh.