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 agree it was totally ambiguous. I don't understand why you are getting a hard time OP. I would have no problem with you wearing this to my wedding, but on reading this thread I would avoid as other guests might share the opinions expressed here. If in doubt, don't is probably wise advice.

I think there needs to be a little thought behind the common "ask the bride" suggestion.

I once met up with a bride to be who was made to feel very awkward. She wasn't really all that happy to say "yes" but could tell that the guest wouldn't take "no" well.

1. If you have to ask, the answer is probably that it's a no.

2. Asking puts the bride in an awkward position. How does she know that it would truly be OK to say no and/or that you're not going to talk about her being a bridezilla behind her back?

3. In light of point 2, you should only ask if you know the bride will be comfortable being honest and if you will truly accept the answer "no" in a positive manner.

For what it's worth, I think the dress is lovely and fine in theory, but it might muck up the photos a bit as it's so pale in the middle and therefore both you and the bride will stand out (but you'll stand out for the wrong reasons). My mother actually wore a white floral pattern dress to my wedding which we both thought was lovely and was a perfectly suitable choice (not bridal, lovely pattern, gorgeous dress) but in hindsight (aka when looking at the photos) it wasn't quite right because her dress did stand out quite a bit. The camera lense picks up more white/there is more contrast in photos than there is with the naked eye. You could mitigate this by standing behind people (only an option if you're certain you won't end up called to the front of a group)!

Sorry OP……much too white. If it had more floral print it would be lovely but………nah! To white!

Gorgeous dress, but not for a wedding. Sorry, OP.

That said, my mum wore a mainly cream suit to my wedding and I didn't mind at all.

It's a beautiful dress and if you love it then maybe buy it for other occasions.
I think whether it is too white would be decided by the bride, and ideally not on the day. If in doubt, don't.
Oh and never mind all the hate posts, they seem to get on every thread these days. Better to ignore them and let them bore off.

I really like the dress, unfortunately it’s the completely the wrong style for me. Pick out colours from the dress for bag/shoes/pashmina and hat/fascinator and I think you’d be fine.

Apart from the men who wear a white shirts without anyone giving them the side eye. See also black, red or green if worn by a bloke.

I would have had no problem with you wearing it to my wedding, one of my friends wore a plain white top with a pale pink skirt which looks almost white in the photos, another wore white trousers but I would chose something else because of the number of people that are judgy AF about any white at weddings.

Looks to me like the sort of dress someone would wear at a registry office or second wedding where they want bridal but not too bridal . I think it’s the sleeves that sway it , if it didn’t have sleeves it would just look like a normal summer dress . I wouldn’t wear it to a wedding .

I mean….if you don’t mind loosing a friend over this, sure go for it but I am 100% with your mum. There is too much white/cream for it to be acceptable.

If you need to argue whether it is "white" or "looks more like cream", it is too white.

If the floral print on the side was that dense everywhere, it might be ok, but there are larger patches of very light on the front.

Of course, not every bride cares, but ubleas you know that she doesn't and expect many guests in similar style, it is too close

White shirts tend to be worn with a (non white) suit, though...

(I have a friend who turned up to my wedding in a fabulous colourful maxi skirt and white blouse, no issue, she looked fab! And a great/practical outfit choice as she was breastfeeding...).

It is absolutely perfect for a bride, perhaps one who is older or for whom it is a second wedding, who wants something bridal without wearing a full wedding dress. It is not suitable as a wedding guest dress. Sorry OP

I agree with this.

No no no. Even 10 or 15 years ago it would have been too white, and now there's a definite trend for non traditional wedding dresses and this is a good example of what they could look like. Don't.

It would make a gorgeous wedding dress!

Sorry but I wouldn’t! Hope you find something else that you love though

I think the golden rule is don’t wear predominantly white or cream to someone else’s wedding op,

and don’t ask the bride, it puts them in an awkward position and they have enough to do without vetting guests outtifts, just pick another colour.

Sorry OP, it is gorgeous but definitely not for wedding. I can actually see a bride choosing this for a relaxed summery wedding

What are you talking about? Why are you being so spiteful?
It was perfectly understandable for OP to be confused by your initial post, because your initial post was lacking in ANY information. It was a completely pointless thing to post because it could’ve been taken either way.
She was asking for opinions because she wasn’t sure. It’s not difficult to understand why she needed you to clarify... she thought the dress was ok but her mum gave her food for thought. Your post was the second on the thread, and the only other post before yours said that the dress was fine. What made you think that other people would be able to read your mind?

It’s a lovely wedding dress but not suitable for a wedding guest to wear.

Many years ago at my sibling’s wedding, one of their friends wore a white dress. The friend is a nice person and it wasn’t done to deliberately upset anyone. Nobody said anything on the day, but I remember it being discussed at length afterwards! Don’t be that person, @EndlessCupsofSugaryTea

This looks very very similar to the dress my cousin wore to get married in last weekend!

It’s beautiful and looks cream to me, rather than white. It also doesn’t look bridal, though I agree that it would be perfect for a non-wedding dress wedding dress, as it were! I think it depends on what you know of the bride though and how much you care about attitudes like those from many on here.

If white, probably best not to risk it if you care about opinions.
If cream, yes but possibly open to some tutting.

It's a gorgeous dress but it looks like a wedding dress. I definitely would not wear that to a wedding.

You should get it and wear it for a different type of occasion.

definitely too white , wear something else

I think that judging by the responses on here OP, this dress is best avoided for a wedding. You don’t want to risk upsetting the bride, drawing attention in photos or being the negative focus of fellow guests.

I think it’s fine as long as you have coloured accessories, shoes, hat etc. It is a beautiful dress. I can see pps are right that a bride having a less formal wedding might choose it as her wedding dress, but I do also think it is ok to wear to a wedding if the bride is in full length traditional white.