Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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
DappledThings · 17/05/2026 14:39

ThatCyanCat · 17/05/2026 14:23

Right, I'm bored, so last one.

It's a long established etiquette not to wear white to someone else's wedding. I'm sorry you don't like that (and honest to God don't know how you missed it, truly) but that doesn't mean I and OP and other posters made it up. It's a thing. A longstanding thing. Don't blame me. If I was going to make up stuff to spread around, I wouldn't choose this. I'd make up something like it being the height of rudeness not to consider plain, boring middle aged women like me not to be the height of sexiness and glamour. Or something.

You didn't know, ok. Now you do, you have a choice. Wear something from the almost infinite number of hues that you know for sure is appropriate and definitely won't cause offence or upset, or make a fucking point of choosing something from the one colour shade that you now know might do. And now that you do know, you would be making that point.

You probably won't ever know if you did cause upset because brides and guests tend to be polite (like I said, nobody was rude or hostile to the women who wore white at those weddings). But that doesn't mean you didn't. And if you do deliberately make the one choice that you know might cause upset rather than the zillions that you know won't, that's kind of the definition of rudeness.

I appreciate that it sucks to realise you may have made a mistake in the past, but if your response to that is to dig your heels in rather than just do something different from now on... it's not the bride's failing if you do offend her.

Just wear another colour. It's possibly the least draconian rule there is, other than getting off with the groom during the reception. Don't do that either. And just don't wear white.

Have a great Sunday.

Firstly I've never worn white or anything pale because I don't personally like it on me. So it's moot really.

But you are still missing the point. It is generally accepted that one shouldn't wear white to a wedding. Fine. No argument. The idea that white includes multiple other colours and patterns is far from any rule or etiquette or any generally accepted notion.

Megifer · 17/05/2026 15:39

ThatCyanCat · 17/05/2026 12:22

I was careful not to say they were all women, because they weren't. What an assumption!

Can't speak for Bangladeshi weddings, never been to one. Perhaps thd culture is different, perhaps you on a personal level don't mind, it's beside the point. Etiquette exists and when you flout it on purpose at someone else's wedding, it's not the people who notice the rudeness who are the bitchy ones.

The last few weddings I've been to, I wore sky blue, mint green and deep purple. It's not hard. I just don't get it. If you somehow didn't know, ok, it's a mistake (I don't know how people missed it but ok). But once you do, why wouldn't you just wear something else? What's the objection? Why can't you just get it in green?

So you went to one wedding as the brides "something blue", another wearing the colour of Royalty, and a third in green, which used to mean bad luck?

TheCommonWoMan · 17/05/2026 17:31

ThatCyanCat · 17/05/2026 14:23

Right, I'm bored, so last one.

It's a long established etiquette not to wear white to someone else's wedding. I'm sorry you don't like that (and honest to God don't know how you missed it, truly) but that doesn't mean I and OP and other posters made it up. It's a thing. A longstanding thing. Don't blame me. If I was going to make up stuff to spread around, I wouldn't choose this. I'd make up something like it being the height of rudeness not to consider plain, boring middle aged women like me not to be the height of sexiness and glamour. Or something.

You didn't know, ok. Now you do, you have a choice. Wear something from the almost infinite number of hues that you know for sure is appropriate and definitely won't cause offence or upset, or make a fucking point of choosing something from the one colour shade that you now know might do. And now that you do know, you would be making that point.

You probably won't ever know if you did cause upset because brides and guests tend to be polite (like I said, nobody was rude or hostile to the women who wore white at those weddings). But that doesn't mean you didn't. And if you do deliberately make the one choice that you know might cause upset rather than the zillions that you know won't, that's kind of the definition of rudeness.

I appreciate that it sucks to realise you may have made a mistake in the past, but if your response to that is to dig your heels in rather than just do something different from now on... it's not the bride's failing if you do offend her.

Just wear another colour. It's possibly the least draconian rule there is, other than getting off with the groom during the reception. Don't do that either. And just don't wear white.

Have a great Sunday.

It's not that long established.
When I was attending lots of weddings in the late 80's/early 90s (and was getting married myself), it was not a 'thing'. We all wore what we liked and what suited us. No one cared.
I appreciate things have changed however, but do fell it's a pity when people (both brides and guests) are potenitally upset by silly little things just because of newish conventions (often encouraged by postings social media).

DeeDoyle · 17/05/2026 17:55

I dont know why anyone is saying this is unsuitable for a wedding,its got lots of colour and perfect for a wedding.

minimonkey11 · 17/05/2026 18:16

It’s beautiful and it’s perfect for a wedding! I dont know anyone who would care about this daft rule…

Geranium1984 · 17/05/2026 18:19

If you have a coloured jacket, hat and bag for each wedding then I think it's fine. I wouldn't wear the dress without a jacket though.

Mykneesareshot · 17/05/2026 18:25

Very pretty. Not too "bridal" to offend imo.

Mt563 · 17/05/2026 18:26

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?

[Edited; question answred)

Cherrytree86 · 17/05/2026 18:56

No jacket is gonna look right with it, OP so don’t bother

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 17/05/2026 19:59

I personally wouldn’t wear it to a wedding. I just don’t wear anything that’s majority white or cream to a wedding.

However: If you wear it with dark accessories (also on the top half of your body) you would probably be fine.

But it is fairly casual and beachy. But that wouldn’t be an issue with casual to semi casual weddings.

SoberannSerene · 17/05/2026 20:02

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.

I’m from the UK and I think it’s too white and probably too casual ( unless all four weddings are very laid back and casual)

Applestreet · 17/05/2026 20:03

I wouldn’t have minded if someone wore this to my wedding, but I probably wouldn’t have worn it to someone else’s!

SoberannSerene · 17/05/2026 20:04

TheCommonWoMan · 17/05/2026 17:31

It's not that long established.
When I was attending lots of weddings in the late 80's/early 90s (and was getting married myself), it was not a 'thing'. We all wore what we liked and what suited us. No one cared.
I appreciate things have changed however, but do fell it's a pity when people (both brides and guests) are potenitally upset by silly little things just because of newish conventions (often encouraged by postings social media).

I really think it is a “thing” . And if one of the brides ( and there are 4 of then) thinks it is a “thing” then why upset her on her big day?

Snippit · 17/05/2026 20:29

Absolutely bloody gorgeous! It’s not too white. I once wore an ivory suit with a kiwi lime coloured shirt with navy shoes and bag. I never knew about the white rule until mumsnet 🤪

PinkTonic · 17/05/2026 20:29

ThatCyanCat · 17/05/2026 12:22

I was careful not to say they were all women, because they weren't. What an assumption!

Can't speak for Bangladeshi weddings, never been to one. Perhaps thd culture is different, perhaps you on a personal level don't mind, it's beside the point. Etiquette exists and when you flout it on purpose at someone else's wedding, it's not the people who notice the rudeness who are the bitchy ones.

The last few weddings I've been to, I wore sky blue, mint green and deep purple. It's not hard. I just don't get it. If you somehow didn't know, ok, it's a mistake (I don't know how people missed it but ok). But once you do, why wouldn't you just wear something else? What's the objection? Why can't you just get it in green?

I don’t know why you keep banging on and on about it as though you’re the fount of all wedding etiquette knowledge, but you aren’t. Just to be clear. Your family and friends might be obsessed with a made up rule, but there is no rule or tradition in British wedding culture whereby a floral or spotty day dress with a white, cream or pastel background is rude or inappropriate. It’s not a thing except on MN and apparently in some bridezilla’s heads in this decade.

ANGIEPANGY77 · 17/05/2026 20:35

Not at all.

GingerdeadMan · 17/05/2026 20:37

I had to go back for a second look.

Its not white. Its not even cream, or ivory.

Its pale peach/pink.

I get the 'no white ' etiquette, but it's not bloody white!!!

FruAashild · 17/05/2026 20:37

SoberannSerene · 17/05/2026 20:04

I really think it is a “thing” . And if one of the brides ( and there are 4 of then) thinks it is a “thing” then why upset her on her big day?

I was looking at old wedding photos. I got married in the late 90s, my SIL wore a white frock coat over a black outfit. I did not take this as an insult, should I have? A few years later I then wore cream trousers with a coat that was a pattern of cream and coral to my brother's wedding. Should my SIL have been insulted?

The reality is that over twenty years ago this was not a big thing, you weren't suppose to turn up in a bridal outfit (nobody would have) or look like a bridesmaid. Beyond that nobody cares if your outfit had a touch of white or cream.

I was aware from US films that Americans were stricter about 'no white' (byt not apparently about looking like a bridesmaids because they all wear evening dress to weddings) but nobody anywhere was ever worried about a multicoloured pastel floral patterned dress that had a cream lace trim. Because that is insane.

EleanorMc67 · 17/05/2026 20:41

Just looked up previous posts on this (somewhat tiresome) topic. Other dresses that have been deemed "too white" ...

... honestly, who needs the patriarchy to control & govern what women can & can't do, when we're so good at it ourselves?? 🤷‍♀️

Too white for a wedding?
Too white for a wedding?
Too white for a wedding?
Too white for a wedding?
Too white for a wedding?
HomeSafety · 17/05/2026 20:44

It is insanity.

DappledThings · 17/05/2026 20:48

EleanorMc67 · 17/05/2026 20:41

Just looked up previous posts on this (somewhat tiresome) topic. Other dresses that have been deemed "too white" ...

... honestly, who needs the patriarchy to control & govern what women can & can't do, when we're so good at it ourselves?? 🤷‍♀️

Bonkers. Nobody would make any comment about any of those in real life.

The only genuinely inappropriate or rude choice I've ever seen at a wedding was a friend's where her (the bride's) sister decided to re-wear her own actual wedding dress

Genevieva · 17/05/2026 20:55

It doesn’t look like a wedding dress. No one will confuse you with the bride. Therefore, it’s perfect for your summer wedding calendar. I remember a year of endless weddings. It’s expensive enough without needing several outfits.

Genevieva · 17/05/2026 20:57

CancellingAgain · 17/05/2026 12:10

Imagine your wedding day being ruined by the sight of a guest wearing something white (or for that spokesperson of the Indian community, red). I wonder if some people forget what a wedding and marriage are about. It’s quite tragic.

It’s traditional in Nepal for women to wear their red wedding sari to weddings.

PhotoFirePoet · 17/05/2026 20:57

flabbypea · 15/05/2026 15:16

I think the colours fine but it’s more holiday attire than wedding. Bit too casual

Casual? At that price?!?! 😆

TheCommonWoMan · 17/05/2026 20:58

Ahhh, so this is another American import is it?
No further comment needed..