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Too white for a wedding?

322 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
NarnianQueen · 16/05/2026 09:32

It’s a lovely dress but it’s long and it’s cream. As pp said, if you have to check it’s ok for a wedding, it probably isn’t!
It’s not hard to pick a different colour dress. Save this one for summer parties!

fantam · 16/05/2026 10:10

With a budget of 600 quid there has to be something better out there. I know it's a nice dress, but it doesn't shout anything other than beach vibes to me. No way would I pay that amount of money for such an ordinary dress. The colour isn't relevant, it's the dress itself!

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 16/05/2026 10:45

Stoicandhappy · 15/05/2026 15:19

Nope. People will slag you off behind your back.

That seems most strange to me. Have people not got better things to do at a wedding than criticise a perfectly pretty, totally non-bridal, dress which one of the other guests is wearing?

Alliod40 · 16/05/2026 11:12

Anyone that says you can't wear this to a wedding has something wrong with them,it's a gorgeous dress,perfect for a wedding and not plain,nor white,it's beautiful and enjoy all weddings OP xx

Ohdearnotthisagain · 16/05/2026 11:14

I think it’s beautiful and would 💯 wear it if I had that budget! It doesn’t look remotely bridal to me.

Pollyanna87 · 16/05/2026 11:52

I was looking at this dress last night! I think it’s fab, if you’re wearing a sage jacket at Church then colour-wise it will be fine.

VenusClapTrap · 16/05/2026 13:53

Beautiful dress. Rolling my eyes at posters suggesting Next and Monsoon as alternatives to Zimmerman.

It isn’t white, it’s pastel floral. And if pastel floral isn’t wedding appropriate, then I don’t know what is. Wear it and enjoy it.

LiquidSquid · 16/05/2026 14:19

@KookyOliveSwan If you wanted something for the other 2, you could try ASOS?

Too white for a wedding?
Megifer · 16/05/2026 14:34

LiquidSquid · 16/05/2026 14:19

@KookyOliveSwan If you wanted something for the other 2, you could try ASOS?

No thats too long, too floaty, too strappy, and the pink might reflect white if a flash is used in the photos.

Also the design of the bust area looks almost corset like so giving wedding dress vibes.

LiquidSquid · 16/05/2026 14:38

Megifer · 16/05/2026 14:34

No thats too long, too floaty, too strappy, and the pink might reflect white if a flash is used in the photos.

Also the design of the bust area looks almost corset like so giving wedding dress vibes.

I didn't mean only that dress, just that there might be something suitable on there.

Megifer · 16/05/2026 14:42

LiquidSquid · 16/05/2026 14:38

I didn't mean only that dress, just that there might be something suitable on there.

Sorry I was taking the piss 🤣 thats a gorgeous dress for a wedding but some would still find fault with it somehow im sure

LiquidSquid · 16/05/2026 14:45

Megifer · 16/05/2026 14:42

Sorry I was taking the piss 🤣 thats a gorgeous dress for a wedding but some would still find fault with it somehow im sure

You know what, I was 50/50 over whether you were being genuine or notGrin

It's lovely isn't it. Threads like this make me wish that I had a wedding to go to!

KookyOliveSwan · 16/05/2026 15:19

Thanks again to everyone who replied!

I’ve ordered this dress for the 2 weddings I was unsure about (it’s DH’s work colleague and a guy on his cricket team so I don’t want to bother the bride asking her opinion):
https://www.johnlewis.com/monsoon-cora-embellished-floral-dress-rose/p114716151
It seems totally inoffensive/unquestionably appropriate and I quite like it so I think it’ll work. The other one was controversial enough that I don’t want to risk it.

I’m still getting the other one because I love it (I don’t mind if it’s not everyone’s taste or they think it’s overpriced). I’ll just save it for weddings where I know it’s fine, and other special occasions. One of the things I like about it is that it’s not just a wedding guest dress, so I can wear it to my graduation and other events where the colour won’t matter.

I’m definitely not an attention seeker! Otherwise I wouldn’t have asked the question and just worn a white Vera Wang ball gown and veil!

Monsoon Cora Embellished Floral Dress, Rose

Buy Monsoon Cora Embellished Floral Dress, Rose from our Women's Dresses range at John Lewis & Partners. Free Delivery on orders over £50.

https://www.johnlewis.com/monsoon-cora-embellished-floral-dress-rose/p114716151

OP posts:
deeahgwitch · 16/05/2026 15:25

That Monsoon dress is gorgeous @KookyOliveSwanas is the original dress you posted. Both fab for a wedding. Enjoy wearing them.

LiquidSquid · 16/05/2026 15:35

KookyOliveSwan The Monsoon dress is lovely! I suggested it for a wedding the other day on here.

FreddysFingers · 16/05/2026 15:38

I wouldn't wear it to someone's wedding, it's beautiful, but it's cream, so even though there's a gorgeous floral pattern on it, it's still a bit too bridal in my opinion.

FreddysFingers · 16/05/2026 15:39

So sorry, just realised I'm a bit late to the thread 😆. The Monsoon dress is stunning, definitely wear that to those weddings 🥰

EleanorMc67 · 16/05/2026 15:43

Megifer · 16/05/2026 14:42

Sorry I was taking the piss 🤣 thats a gorgeous dress for a wedding but some would still find fault with it somehow im sure

Thank God that was a joke ... I thought a new level of craziness had been reached!!

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 16/05/2026 15:54

£600 for that? Nope.

Bikergran · 16/05/2026 16:07

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?

What "rule"? Don't bring your US nonsense over here. Unless someone turns up in an actual wedding dress, it's fine.

YorksMa · 16/05/2026 16:20

I disagree with most. That's far too white for a wedding.

JG24 · 16/05/2026 16:52

OP your dress in the op is absolutely beautiful

ThatCyanCat · 16/05/2026 17:03

Bikergran · 16/05/2026 16:07

What "rule"? Don't bring your US nonsense over here. Unless someone turns up in an actual wedding dress, it's fine.

It's not US. I heard it here, from my mother, aunt and grandmother in the 80s and many times since. It makes perfect sense to me. And as I keep saying, the Indian community manages it without faff, complaint, offence and moralising. Red is the bride's colour and guests don't wibble and whine and ask if this colour is too red, if this sari has too much red, if they wear red it's the bride's moral failing if she's offended etc. They just wear blue, purple, orange, green, anything from the zillions of other options available. It's not hard!

I've noticed a massive resistance on here from people who somehow never heard this rule (I still don't know how) and I don't understand it. Ok, somehow it passed you by, but once you know about it, why wouldn't you just wear any other colour? What's with the furious need to reject it, to insist everyone who knows about it is making it up, to demonise the bride if she's upset because you deliberately flout etiquette, which is pretty much the definition of rudeness?

Is it because people don't want to accept they've made a faux pas in the past and it's easier to claim it was never a thing or it's all the bride's fault if they upset her? Just wear something else!

DappledThings · 16/05/2026 17:19

ThatCyanCat · 16/05/2026 17:03

It's not US. I heard it here, from my mother, aunt and grandmother in the 80s and many times since. It makes perfect sense to me. And as I keep saying, the Indian community manages it without faff, complaint, offence and moralising. Red is the bride's colour and guests don't wibble and whine and ask if this colour is too red, if this sari has too much red, if they wear red it's the bride's moral failing if she's offended etc. They just wear blue, purple, orange, green, anything from the zillions of other options available. It's not hard!

I've noticed a massive resistance on here from people who somehow never heard this rule (I still don't know how) and I don't understand it. Ok, somehow it passed you by, but once you know about it, why wouldn't you just wear any other colour? What's with the furious need to reject it, to insist everyone who knows about it is making it up, to demonise the bride if she's upset because you deliberately flout etiquette, which is pretty much the definition of rudeness?

Is it because people don't want to accept they've made a faux pas in the past and it's easier to claim it was never a thing or it's all the bride's fault if they upset her? Just wear something else!

People mainly quibble over it because it is taken to extremes. Don't wear all white in anything vaguely bridal looking. Fine, sensible. But this is taken to mean don't wear anything with any even slightly white background. Or cream, or pale yellow or pale pink or pale peach even if it is covered with a big floral pattern.

The dress at the start of this thread is not white. It has a broad pattern. It does not even slightly meet the "rule" of don't wear white but people have got themselves so tied up in knots about this they are scared to wear all kinds of completely acceptable dresses. Like this one.

Megifer · 16/05/2026 17:50

ThatCyanCat · 16/05/2026 17:03

It's not US. I heard it here, from my mother, aunt and grandmother in the 80s and many times since. It makes perfect sense to me. And as I keep saying, the Indian community manages it without faff, complaint, offence and moralising. Red is the bride's colour and guests don't wibble and whine and ask if this colour is too red, if this sari has too much red, if they wear red it's the bride's moral failing if she's offended etc. They just wear blue, purple, orange, green, anything from the zillions of other options available. It's not hard!

I've noticed a massive resistance on here from people who somehow never heard this rule (I still don't know how) and I don't understand it. Ok, somehow it passed you by, but once you know about it, why wouldn't you just wear any other colour? What's with the furious need to reject it, to insist everyone who knows about it is making it up, to demonise the bride if she's upset because you deliberately flout etiquette, which is pretty much the definition of rudeness?

Is it because people don't want to accept they've made a faux pas in the past and it's easier to claim it was never a thing or it's all the bride's fault if they upset her? Just wear something else!

I think its people have never heard the rule "dont wear something that someone with extremely poor eyesight might mistake for an all white wedding dress from a distance of 100 feet"

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