I've just bought a gorgeous red dress to wear to the wedding of a friend of my boyfriend - only to learn that the bride is wearing red! I know the etiquette about not wearing white so you don't upstage the bride - do you think this applies to other colours too? My dress is knee-length and lightly patterned, so not "gown-like", although I don't actually know how formal the bride's dress is.
2007-10-15 08:34:12 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Thanks for all your opinions so far.
In answer to some of your questions - my dress is a sort of darker red - not quite burgundy but not bright red, and I wasn't told directly what colour she was wearing - my boyfriend told me. I don't know if she has let everybody know.
I don't know what colour her bridesmaids are wearing, that is, if she has any.
2007-10-15 09:10:58 · update #1
Red is the traditional bridal gown color in some cultures (just an FYI for those dissing the bride).
I'd say it's best to pick another color in this case.
Why risk hurting the brides feelings and more importantly drawing negative attention to yourself.
Take your boyfriend out on the town and paint the town in your new red dress instead.
2007-10-15 09:47:19 · answer #1 · answered by jennifersthegreatest 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm a bride who will be wearing dark red. Frankly, I couldn't give a rat's patootie about what anyone else wears! :-) Then again, a bride who wears a non-traditional dress isn't likely to care whether her guests honor all the traditions.
Our wedding will be in February, and I know that dark red is a popular color for winter clothes. So...I expect some guests to come dressed in red. And it's fine.
Unless the bride from a culture in which red wedding attire is common, I wouldn't worry about it. Wear what you want. I would hope that people would have better things to do than worry about what you're wearing. :-)
2007-10-15 09:51:07 · answer #2 · answered by SE 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say not to wear red. Weddings are changing it isn't just traditional white dresses that people are wearing these days. And since it is proper not to wear white because the bride is white, I woudl say then that the same goes for the red dress especially since she is letting it known that she is doing something a little out of the ordinary and wearing a red dress.
2007-10-15 08:47:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anna 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can you ask her- it's the only sure fire way. Although speaking from my own experience, I wore a raspberry ink colour wedding dress. Everyone knows that you don't wear white to a wedding unless you're a bride, so if you choose a non-traditional dress you have 2 options- to inform all your guests not to wear ...... colour, or to expect that one of your guests will turn up wearing a similar colour to you. But like you say, the chance of your dress being remotely similar to hers is so unlikely that it wouldnt matter. I actually persuaded one of my friends to wear her pink dress as she is broke but was worried about looking silly next to me. I didn't care a bit, and she certainly never got mistaken for a bride!!!!!
2007-10-15 09:22:30 · answer #4 · answered by emily_jane2379 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about a black, or white lacy shawl, or wrap to go with your dress and black earrings or necklace to match with it so it won't upstage the bride. How about a burgundy or mauve dress a little bit softer?
In all honesty, if she is wearing red which is very attracting and noticeable, I would not wear red unless instructed to do so. Then there would be two attention getters so to speak. No offense. Just think about it.
Curious, are her bridesmaids wearing what kind of color dresses?
2007-10-15 08:47:56 · answer #5 · answered by Born Valentine's Day 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think I would avoid wearing red, in a way it is the same as turning up in white if the bride is wearing white. Shame if you love your dress, but hey, you can always buy another dress and keep the red one for a different occasion.
2007-10-16 01:24:32 · answer #6 · answered by sparkleythings_4you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would only wear a dark red dress, as to not compete with the bride. How do you feel when you buy a new peice of clothing and wear it the next day to only find out that three other peolpe are wearing the same thing?
2007-10-15 08:44:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would wear it anyway. I think that the rule to not wear the same color the bride is wearing is obsolete nowadays. You are not trying to upstage the bride so go ahead and wear the dress.
2007-10-15 09:10:48 · answer #8 · answered by musicgrl42002 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wore a deep red dress for my wedding, as i had not told anyone what colour i was wearing and it is an unusual colour for a bride i would not even have noticed if any one else wore red. wear what you like.
2007-10-15 23:23:46 · answer #9 · answered by madge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although red is untraditional, I would stay away from wearing the same colour. Some brides don’t care about that stuff, but I’d avoid it just in case.
2007-10-15 08:56:37 · answer #10 · answered by quiet_hands 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋