Too white for a wedding guest dress?

[EndlessCupsofSugaryTea]

I have my eye on this for a spring wedding. I love prints, it’s silk and is in the sale - perfect combination.

However, I showed it to my mother and she said “But it’s white!” in a horrified way. I was bewildered. I don’t believe most people’s first thought on looking at this would be “white”. To me, it’s all about the print - and in any case, the background looks more cream to me.

I love it, but not for the first time, my mother has created a nagging doubt. Would anyone really think I was trying to look remotely bridal in this?

I generally don't agree with the "too white" rule on here but for this particular one, no, I think it's too close to what might be picked by a bride.

That dress is absolutely stunning OP!
I would not wear it to a wedding though, its a little bridal! Even accessorised its just a bit bridey

I love it though!

Lovely dress and fine if paired with colourful shoes, bag, fascinator, etc.

I saw it and thought it looked very bridal for a non traditional bride look, and that if I'd seen it before my wedding I might have chosen it.

Yes I think it could be a variation of a wedding dress if you wanted it to be so I'd avoid it, it's a bit too close if you ask me!
Lovely dress though, maybe I'd save it for something else!

What makes it bridal? I’ve been to 5 bridal shops with dd in the last few weeks. Not a single dress looked like that. All this negativity is barmy. I guess if it’s second time around or an older bride, but my DD would laugh at the notion of that being bridal. No veil, got loads of flowers. No bouquet and the woman wearing it is NOT the bride! She knows who she is. Plus modern editorial photos don’t line everyone up! This whole thread has so many outdated views.

If the bride is in full on, white meringue mode and it's a big wedding - probably OK.

If it's a low key and/or second wedding then probably not as the bride may be in similar.

You need to ask the bride. Any light colours ask the bride. If you aren’t close enough to ask just wear a different colour. You don’t want to upset her and ruin her photos.

I think it’s very pretty btw and at some point I will be getting married. I’d wear that style as my wedding dress so an older bride like me or a second marriage this is a good dress option. So I’d not want to upstage the bride by wearing the same dress.

Depends. If it's an informal wedding and the bride isn't going to be wearing a traditional dress then it could look bridal. But if there's going to be someone there walking down the aisle in a long white dress with a veil and a train then no, this is not going to look bridal in that context.

How up yourself do you have to be to choose a white dress to wear to a wedding? Even if you don’t understand why anyone would object, why bother risking it? There are lots of other colours to choose from. Don’t be that person.

It and some of the others from Hobbs in the lighter colours are all on my list of possible dresses for my own wedding .I’d die of embarrassment if a guest turned up in the same dress as me 🙈

There is a yellow white one op? But as mentioned I’m a bride to be looking for my dress and these are all ones I’m considering. As a guest I’d 100% go for navy black dark green instead.

https://www.hobbs.com/product/petite-ariel-floral-silk-dress/0126-5352-3793L04-YELLOW-MULTI.html#cgid=occasion-wedding-guest&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0126-5352-3793L04-YELLOW-MULTI&pos=50

Not all brides are the same?

I’m looking for a bridal dress. I’m not going to bridal stores as I’m not after that sort of thing. I wouldn’t have been at any age so it’s not even about my age. I’m just after something low key and that I think is pretty. I probably won’t even pick a white or cream based dress in the end and go for black with a pattern as that’s more me and id feel more comfortable. I don’t intend to wear a veil or have flowers none of that stuff just a pretty dress so something like that would be ideal for me.

I bet @EndlessCupsofSugaryTea isn’t going to show her mum this thread! 😁

Not appropriate
I just can’t understand why people feel the need to wear , white, cream or ivory at a wedding. So many bloody colours to choose from

I think the dress is really lovely. It's actually a bit like my wedding dress when i got married 20 odd years ago. But mine was shorter I think.

But yes, if in doubt don't. I agree with people who say it would be lovely for a day at the races or a garden party etc.

FWIW my mother asked me what colours she should avoid when i got married. I laughed and said 'just not white' thinking she was having me on. She went for .... cream full length dress with a cream brocade bolero.

If you already owned it, I’d think about ways to add more colour, a jacket in one of the flower colours etc. but as you’d be buying it just to wear to a wedding - no. Just no.

Youll stand out in the photos.

You’ve answered your own question- this is the sort of dress an older bride or a 2nd time round would often pick. Often women who don’t go to bridal shops, as they usually only offer the long formal white evening /ball gown styles.

If this is a non-church wedding, there’s a “not zero” chance the bride would wear something similar. If you have any other option, it’s rude to go with white or cream to someone else’s wedding, and as the OP hasn’t bought this dress yet, she does many other options that won’t involve being rude.

The dress is quite a statement. I think it is that more than the white that might put people off it. Personally I am live and let live but brides (first timers) can be very sensitive to this, so it’s a NO from me..sorry!

And I’m sure you’ll look beautiful in whatever you choose. However, I think the fact tht a lot of brides nowadays, choose dresses from a high street shop rather than bridal wear, does mean that the chances of a guest having the same or similar dress increases. I can’t help but feel that if brides want to ensure they stand out and wear something that no one else is wearing, they perhaps shouldn’t get married in a shorter dress with flowers on it. I’m not sure the guest is at fault if they turn up in a Hobbs floral dress and it’s the same dress as the bride is wearing. And of course a bride can wear what they want, but when you veer from traditional wedding dresses and onto the high street, you are going to stand out less and someone else might be wearing the same. That’s fine if the bride is happy with that but if she’s not, then I do genuinely feel that’s on her

Too white

It’s very similar to my actual wedding dress.

You absolutely cannot wear that, as a wedding guest

@FancyBiscuitsLevel So you think the op didn’t know what type of wedding she is gojng to? Anyone younger will be in a proper wedding dress, not a floral mum dress.

The green Hobbs dress is beautiful. I’d go with that and remove any doubt about being too bridal.