Black dress to summer wedding?

[MrsJamieFraser2]

I've seen a gorgeous cream and black hat for a summer wedding.

Would it be frowned upon to wear a black dress such as this one from Reiss? I'm not sure what the etiquette is!

OP, the only opinion other than your own that matters is that of the bride - just ask her. I wore a black dress to a fabulous wedding last month with coloured accessories - it was totally fine. Get a cream wrap to match the hat and you’ll look lovely. Incidentally totally agree no white or cream.

I wouldn’t. But less to do with etiquette and more to do with the fact I really loathe wearing black in summer. I love summer and wearing black seems so un-summery and jarring. It actually annoys me when I see people wearing black wintery clothes in summer! I feel like forcing them into sandals and linen and light colours!

You don't wear black or white to a wedding. So no, don't wear that dress.

In wore a black dress to me DBs wedding long before the Mn edict that one should not wear black to a wedding. It was fine. Wear what you like. You certainly won't be mistaken for the bride in it!

I personally would never wear black to a wedding.

I think it’s fine.

I've worn black to a wedding

Just wear it with a white jacket that black and white hat

Think those "mustn't wear this, mustn't wear that" rules are old fashioned

As long as you don't style it like a funeral outifit or the office it will be fine

Absolutely, I think these days most things go. I wore black and white to my brother's wedding & unbeknown to me ended up matching the bride

As long as you accessorise up and don't have a black veil and somber look you'll be fine. Much better than one showing huge amounts of cleavage and/or right up your arse

Of course it isn’t ‘old fashioned’ that black is a funereal colour. Black is worn for mourning.

Black used to be only worn at funerals and for mourning but now it’s worn all the time for happy events as well as sad. That’s why I think it’s old fashioned to say black can’t be worn to a wedding as it’s a mourning colour. Yes it’s still worn at funerals but it’s moved on from being only for that purpose. Women wear black to work, in the day time, gym, casual, summer, winter, nights out, on the beach, everywhere. It can look classy and chic and sometimes better than floral prints which a lot of people wear for weddings.

It’s just so unimaginative though. Plus makes you look a bit uncouth, IMO.

But if you really want to do it, go ahead I guess. I wouldn’t actually judge you for it.

That polka dot dress is gorgeous and would look fantastic with that beautiful hat OP

If you’re going to stick with black I agree, the polka dot dress (or another polka dot/patterned/monochrome dress) is a better option.

Make it pop with a bright colour for bag/shoes.

It’s fine. Last wedding I went to the bride wore black!

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

What about a dark blue?

Well that’s a little different isn’t it - obviously If the bride wears black she’s not exactly a conventional character...

I’m going to wear a dress with a black base for my own wedding (registry, very small, us and two witnesses) but I still wouldn’t wear to someone else’s wedding.

I wouldn't wear black to a summer family wedding.
Why would you, especially are you haven't bought the dress yet....crazy!

I would urge caution. Some view wearing black to a wedding as an objection to the marriage.

Why would you? Because black and white’s stylish and elegant. Because you’d get lots of wear from it afterwards because it doesn’t scream wedding. Because you like it. Because “rules” are made to be broken. Because you don’t want to look like everyone else.

The hat and a cream wrap would lighten up the black but it’ll just look like a plain dark sombre dress once you’ve taken them off later in the day.
I also agree with others about not wearing black or white to a wedding.

So many mixed opinions!

I'm really torn. I want to look lovely as it's s family wedding but don't want to spend loads on a dress I'll probably wear once.

I can't really wear patterns, and I know I'll feel elegant and sophisticated in that dress, especially with the hat.

What about with some amazing heels, bright pink or yellow. Or animal print ones (have seen some amazing zebra print ones but not sure I can do it).

As the PP said, maybe it is bonkers to plan to wear black if I haven't even bought the dress.

If you love the dress you could find something similar in a navy or a very dark green, (like ‘Meghan green’) or aubergine. The hat will go beautifully with any of those options.

Hot pink shoes and lipstick would lift it. Whatever you wear with that hat has to be basically black. Black and white and aubergine or dark green would look as if you were colour blind.

Black is Fine.

I have worn it myself and others wore it to my wedding and in fact, it is very fashionable for bridesmaids to wear it these days.

Those with old-fashioned (or outdated) standards will have issues.

So, it depends I suppose. If you care about upsetting those with dated views, then don't wear it. Otherwise, no-one else gives a shit. HONESTLY.

While I'm on it, black is a "Summer Colour" in the UK I suppose because there is very little summer? Other countries wear black year round without anyone having a fashion conniption.