Dress for 16 year old attending a family church wedding

[lavenderjune]

We have a family wedding to attend in July. I’m trying to find a dress for my 16 year old daughter. Everything I have suggested has been met with a big thumbs down. She has just shown me this dress. I really don’t think it’s right but thought I would see what others could come up with please.

Must admit the old advert with the tagline “Unzip A Banana” immediately popped into my head when I saw that dress. For a host of reasons it's hard to imagine anything less suitable for the occasion.

However there are some lovely alternative suggestions on this thread.

I think it’s only Catholic Churches that are funny about shoulders, I was in a strapless dress for my church wedding! That said the posted dress isn’t age or event appropriate for other reasons not just being strapless

Yes I get that, but it’s not a requirement of a dress. You can cover your shoulders if you want by adding a jacket. A previous poster dismissed the dress because it had no sleeves, when nearly all the wedding guest dresses and bride dresses I have seen have straps or are strapless - both in this country and abroad!

This is a great choice for a 16-year-old in my opinion! Super cute too x

Go to Asos and type in "yellow wedding guest dress" quite a lot of dresses with a similar vibe but which would be suitable https://www.asos.com/other-stories/other-stories-maxi-slip-dress-with-tiered-ruffle-detail-and-low-tie-back-in-yellow/prd/208535280#colourWayId-208535287

https://www.asos.com/forever-new/forever-new-one-shoulder-ruffle-maxi-dress-in-yellow-floral/prd/208087412#colourWayId-208087437

Different vibe but would work for a 16 year old https://www.asos.com/vila/vila-satin-halter-mini-dress-in-cornsilk-yellow/prd/207843341#colourWayId-207843354

How tall and what size is DD. What is her skin colouring?

Is it a traditional British wedding or are there other cultures involved?

Can you give some example of thing she has rejected:
For me the rules would be: no thigh high slits; not too booby; straps need to have a cardigan or jacket in the church; no platform shoes; not white not black.

At my cousin's wedding 20 years ago, a relative from the other side insisted on wearing something not far off from this who was an adult and old enough to know better and it is still laughed about at family gatherings (she was 100% trying to upstage the bride). So a dress like this will be remembered long after the wedding day. It's not the shoulders as much as the amount of leg and how tight it is.

Edit: just seen the peeled banana comments and cannot now unsee 😂

would this work for her? If she isn’t model tall it will sit a bit longer.

…this
https://www.phase-eight.com/product/velma-floral-dress-10008070106.html#navAjax=true&is=true&cgid=dresses&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=color&prefv1=Cream%7CWhite&pid=10008070106&pos=14

@LHR2JFK nice dress - perfect example of the old rule that you should choose legs or boobs but not both!

alternative yellow dress with ruffles (follow link to colours)

https://m.shopcider.com/product/detail?pid=110590029&style_id=2147829&utm_source=google_shopping_h5&utm_campaign=pla-gb-allprod-w2plpcs-daba-gb-230527&link_id=43ba02f330ae4f9594aef217f4575c84

It’s not about weddings per se, but about churches-covering shoulders has always been a thing in any religious building.

Lashed at 16? At a family wedding?

Love the yellow and the orange dress! The green pattern looks like a sofa! But I would not get into any of those dresses and am not 16 so what do I know??!!

Agree with you not suitable for wedding.

Your DGD should ditch the fiancé if accurate

As mentioned above, the vast majority of all wedding dresses have uncovered shoulders and no brides are wearing a shawl or jacket in the church!!

Shoulders uncovered is fine OP but yes, something a little less nightclub would be preferable.

In the last couple of decades shoulders out at church weddings seem to get a pass. It's definitely acceptable for brides and bridesmaids so why not guests?

But the high slit will definitely look out of place. The one by @SunComeBack is really lovely and will show off a young slim figure without flashing too much leg.

I'm in my 50s now but I often wore "sexy" stuff in my late teens. A couple of times I did realise I stuck out like a sore thumb due to the occasion/location and felt a bit uncomfortable so you could be doing her a favour in that respect.

The dress would be nice just as a short dress. That dress is more "award ceremony".

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/womens-race-dresses/yellow-textured-stripe-cut-out-maxi-dress/p/923916288

How about these, as long as they are not similar to what the bridesmaids will be wearing.

https://www.stacees.co.uk/products/a-line-halter-chiffon-knee-length-bridesmaid-dress-with-pleated-S22023XYB?color=Yellow

https://www.stacees.co.uk/products/a-line-one-shoulder-chiffon-knee-length-bridesmaid-dress-with-pleated-S22046XYB?color=Daffodil

https://www.stacees.co.uk/products/a-line-princess-v-neck-sleeveless-knee-length-chiffon-bridesmaid-dress-with-pleated-S18173B

your daughters choice is a laugh out loud moment - its a church so shoulders, chest covered. She's 16 shel'l look cute in anything.

Did you last go to a wedding in 1955?

I got married in a church 21 years ago next month and even as the bride didn't have my shoulders or decolletage covered, as I was wearing a very mid 2000s sleeveless, strapless gown. Most of the female guests were not exactly covered up either as it was a warm day.

I agree the dress OP posted is not right, but there are a lot of things which would be eminently suitable inbetween that at one extreme and having her arms, legs and decolletage covered up at the other end of tbe scale.

It’s hard trying to compromise with a teen, these are some that I’ve found in Zara:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/floral-cut-out-print-dress-p03468317.html?v1=448223728&v2=2420896

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/floral-godet-dress-p00085128.html?v1=440151189&v2=2420896

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/draped-midi-dress-p04772305.html?v1=439929770&v2=2420896

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/gathered-midi-dress-p03641370.html?v1=438818614&v2=2420896

I'd perhaps wear one or more of those but I'm 49. I don't think either of my DDs (16 and 20) would be seen dead in them.