Wedding guest question?

Question

Is it offensive to wear white as a wedding guest? I have a long white skirt with a nice, light green tank top. It is an outdoor wedding and it is supposed to 90 degrees. I don't really have anything else to wear and this outfit is very tasteful and dressy for the occasion. Do the old rules on this still apply? Would you be offended? The entire outfit isn't white, just the skirt.

The bride and groom are not people I am very close with. They are my boyfriend's college friends. I have known them for 5 years, but as his friends, not mine. They live 2 hours away too, so it isn't like I see them very often. I don't think the bride would really care; I was just uncertain as to the ettiquite. The skirt is just a long, linen skirt. It isn't fancy or anything, but it is tasteful.

Answer 1

I am getting married in three weeks, and I would not be offended. I think as long as you do not wear solid white you would be fine. And it's the lower half and would certainly not be that obvious. I would assume also, that the bride would have more going on that day, than to really notice what color your skirt is.

Answer 2

I would try to take the attention off of the white as much as possible. Maybe you could wear green everything else, shoes, purse, belt, earrings, etc. so the attention goes from the white to the green.

The attention really is supposed to be on the bride and as long as it is tasteful and does not upstage her than you should be fine. Although, depending on how close your relation to the bride is maybe you should ask her or someone closer to her to make sure that is alright.

Just about the worst thing that could happen is for the bride to be mad at you. If the bride okays you then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. It could be that the bride has chosen another shade of white to wear and your ensemble would not match but contrast her dress.

By asking the bride you are giving her a chance to say whether or not she would be ok with it and are not stepping on any toes by just going ahead and doing you own thing. Put yourself in her shoes. If she is a perfectly reasonable and understanding person, she may not mind. But, say, if you had some former relation to the groom that makes her antsy, she may feel as though you are personally attacking her.

I hope you have a wonderful time at this wedding and good luck on choosing attire to wear.

Answer 3

Advice for what a wedding guest should wear to every type of wedding

Daytime Wedding
for her
* a fun floral dress
* a skirt and a sweater set with slingback shoes. (H&M has some surprisingly affordable and stylish skirts right now that will work for a daytime wedding)
* a light colored suit – try to stay away from black, navy or anything that looks like you're going to the office.
* a beautiful hat that coordinates with your outfit.

Evening Wedding
for her
* dress as you would if you were going out to the theater or to dinner.
* a cocktail dress – nothing too sexy but something fun to dance in. Black is fine.
* a dressy suit or a cocktail suit
* wear darker colors and look for something sophisticated
* avoid beads or sequins unless the invitation specifically says black tie

Black-tie optional
for her
* A cocktail dress, perhaps to the floor

Black tie
for her
* a formal dress, usually to the floor
* bring out those beaded purses, fancy wraps and formal jewelry that's been waiting for an occasion such as this
* black tie weddings almost always involve dancing, so don't wear anything too constricting

DON'T WEAR:
* White. (This rule has relaxed some, and you can get away with wearing a printed dress with a white background and some cream colored clothing. Just be careful not to upstage the bride.)
* Black to a daytime wedding
* Jeans
* Anything too sexy or revealing
* Anything torn, with holes, stained, too big or too small for you!
* Anything sleeveless or strapless to a religious wedding. Bring a wrap to cover your shoulders.

Answer 4

Since it’s just a white skirt (and not a big, poofy one) and the wedding’s outside, I think it’s totally fine. True, you’re not supposed to wear white to a wedding, but I think of that as meaning all white. Outdoor weddings also bend the rules a little bit more, since they’re not quite as formal. I wouldn’t be offended at all if it was my wedding, though I might be offended a little by someone wearing a white dress, or an all-white outfit. So I would say go for it unless you’ll feel really uncomfortable wearing it (by the fact that you’re considering it, I think you’ll be fine in that regard ;o) ).

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but no. I would be offended. It is not polite, and I truly do hate it when people say "now-a-days the rules don't apply, blah blah blah". Yes they do. It is proper etiquette. Please find something else to wear. ESPECIALLY if you don't know the bride that well. Even if there is a small chance you might offend the bride, you don't want to feel awkward all day wondering if you are. And there will be older people at the wedding who will take offense to it. Whatever happened to people's manners? And I'm not old either. I'm only 22.

Answer 6

As long as you don't wear a white dress it should be fine. A skirt with a dark top should be fine also, but the general etiquette says that only the bride should wear white.

Answer 7

White skirt, lime top are perfect for a summer wedding.

The real rule isn't so much about white, but about not upstaging the bride. It's her day, and she should be the most beautiful person there.

Answer 8

I don't think anyone would be offended if you wore a white skirt to a wedding. I'm wearing one to a wedding tomorrow! It's entirely appropriate for Summer and I don't believe the old rules still apply anymore.

Answer 9

I think something like that is ok. Now if you were wearing a white skirt and white top it wouldn't be a good outfit, but I think a white skirt and a colored top is fine.

Answer 10

I think you should look around for another skirt, maybe a green print. The problem is people will think you are trying to look like you are the bride.