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Too white for a wedding?

315 replies

KookyOliveSwan · 15/05/2026 15:10

I have 4 weddings to go to this summer, so I’m looking for a dress that I can wear to all of them.
I’ve fallen in love with this one, but is it too white/cream: https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/zimmermann/dresses/midi-dresses/floral-print-lace-paneled-cotton-voile-midi-dress/46376663162888639

I wouldn’t choose white or cream accessories, and for the church wedding I’d wear a sage coloured jacket with it.

It definitely isn’t bridal, but is it still too white?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
Roulett · 15/05/2026 15:30

I think it’s too white

MiaKulper · 15/05/2026 15:31

It looks like a sundress.

DappledThings · 15/05/2026 15:31

Overtheatlantic · 15/05/2026 15:29

It’s about the colour not the style. I wouldn’t wear a white trouser suit to a wedding. I got married in cream silk suit, dress with a jacket. There was a guest who wore a white dress. It wasn’t bridal in style but it was white. Looking back I think she just didn’t know.

So you are saying there's a reason white is intrinsically unacceptable as a guest and it's just coincidental that that's a traditional bridal colour?

That's nonsense. If it doesn't look like a wedding dress it's fine. No further stress about it is required and any bride offended by it is, to put it politely, daft.

Overtheatlantic · 15/05/2026 15:33

As long as @DappledThings says it’s fine lol.

ThatCyanCat · 15/05/2026 15:33

It's too white.

DappledThings · 15/05/2026 15:34

Overtheatlantic · 15/05/2026 15:33

As long as @DappledThings says it’s fine lol.

Thanks! Any time I can help to get anyone's head out of their arse I'm happy to help

Wynter25 · 15/05/2026 15:34

I think its fine x

FruAashild · 15/05/2026 15:34

Overtheatlantic · 15/05/2026 15:30

Oh ok. I will show myself out. 😒 But first….did you mean to be so rude??

Yes. The 'rule' in the UK, such as it is, is to not rock up in a dress that might mean you are mistaken for a member of the bridal party. Nobody her would look at someone in a cotton peach floral maxi dress and think they were a member of the bridal party.

Screamingabdabz · 15/05/2026 15:36

I’ve worn cream polka dot midi dresses to the last 3 wedding I’ve attended! I didn’t know ‘the rule’ but I’m fat and middle aged. No one would assume I’m trying to ‘outshine’ the bride surely?

Faceonthewrongfoot · 15/05/2026 15:53

FruAashild · 15/05/2026 15:34

Yes. The 'rule' in the UK, such as it is, is to not rock up in a dress that might mean you are mistaken for a member of the bridal party. Nobody her would look at someone in a cotton peach floral maxi dress and think they were a member of the bridal party.

Exactly. Its about making sure the bride 'shines' and guests don't outshine her. So you shouldn't turn up in a floor length cream silk number. But a floral maxi dress is totally fine.

(Also, the whole 'white' wedding thing only started in the west when Queen Victoria married, so its not even a particularly long standing tradition)

MiaKulper · 15/05/2026 15:57

the whole 'white' wedding thing only started in the west when Queen Victoria married, so its not even a particularly long standing tradition After all, most of us remember watching the wedding on telly.

Retro12 · 15/05/2026 15:58

KookyOliveSwan · 15/05/2026 15:10

I have 4 weddings to go to this summer, so I’m looking for a dress that I can wear to all of them.
I’ve fallen in love with this one, but is it too white/cream: https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/zimmermann/dresses/midi-dresses/floral-print-lace-paneled-cotton-voile-midi-dress/46376663162888639

I wouldn’t choose white or cream accessories, and for the church wedding I’d wear a sage coloured jacket with it.

It definitely isn’t bridal, but is it still too white?

I think you could wear that for a wedding... As you say, not bridal at all - It's very pretty!

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 15/05/2026 15:58

MiaKulper · 15/05/2026 15:31

It looks like a sundress.

A very expensive sundress!

Taluulaah · 15/05/2026 16:08

It’s a really gorgeous dress! Personally I do think it’s a bit “too white” Probably I’m being overly cautious, but don’t think I’d risk it to a wedding, even with the darker jacket etc.

Imaribenaberry · 15/05/2026 16:12

It’s a lovely dress but it’s not a wedding guest outfit imo, more of a holiday vibe and it’s also white so no I would choose another dress.

kleenx · 15/05/2026 16:12

Someone wore a white dress to my wedding but it was a kind of an off-white macrame/crochet style, and it was very clearly not a wedding dress. Sort of similar to this one in essence.

Even though I spoke to her during the wedding, I had so much on my mind that the fact it was white went completely over my head. It didn't click until I was looking at photos later, and even then, it made me laugh more than anything! It helped that we had a beach wedding and her dress was very beach-y, and that she was a distant enough relative of my husband's (and nice enough person) that while it was a weird choice, it seemed innocent enough.

I read somewhere that guests wearing white - apart from being "disrespectful" - is bad because it draws attention away from the bride in photos, but there were so many colours all over the place that it really didn't; same goes for two men who had white/cream jackets.

That said, I did have to rope my mum in to make sure my aunt didn't show up wearing white, which she was threatening to do. She is a very glamorous woman and knowing her it definitely wouldn't have been a quiet beach dress like the other guest, but thankfully my mum managed to talk her down in time...

Alwayswonderedwhy · 15/05/2026 16:12

That's gorgeous and definitely suitable.
It amazing me how many threads there are about this. Are there really that many bridezillas out there?

kleenx · 15/05/2026 16:14

Sorry - that's all to say I think it's fine unless you are aware of any possible tensions with the bride etc.

So much blood, sweat, and tears (and money) went into that wedding that I still take any chance to talk about it, no one wants to hear it in real life anymore 😆

Tryagain26 · 15/05/2026 16:19

Overtheatlantic · 15/05/2026 15:20

It’s not about looking bridal; I keep seeing that on here from people who don’t understand the rule. How can it be so hard to not wear white or cream to another woman’s wedding?

That had never been a rule in the UK!

MiaKulper · 15/05/2026 16:21

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 15/05/2026 15:58

A very expensive sundress!

It looks like a sundress or a nightdress not a price tag.

MyEasterBonnet · 15/05/2026 16:27

I think too white. It’s not bridal, but in the photos only the bride should stand out in white.

Foodgloriousfoodie · 15/05/2026 16:29

It’s fine - but I think it would downgrade it with a jacket over

it’s not very smart for the money

SingedSoul · 15/05/2026 16:31

It will definitely be too white for at least one of them.

Foodgloriousfoodie · 15/05/2026 16:34

SingedSoul · 15/05/2026 16:31

It will definitely be too white for at least one of them.

yes agree with this

you must be able to find a similar style in sage green or whatever

as others have said it’s about the photos

HomeSafety · 15/05/2026 16:37

It's pink. And floral. And quite casual.

People are allowed to wear pale pastel colours to weddings fgs.

It's very pretty, very wedding suitable imo.