THESE WEDDING GUEST DRESS CODES STILL STAND – DID YOU KNOW?
What not to wear to a wedding as a wedding guest in 2024? Are there some prescribed wedding guest dress codes you should be following in 2024? Oh yes, there are! There are some rules when it comes to dressing up for the wedding. And you better follow them if you don’t want to piss off your friend, the bride. Sure, she might not be a bridezilla. But trust me, if you turn up wearing white to her wedding or something else from the not to wear to the wedding list, she might just become one. Scroll down to find out what to avoid wearing as a wedding guest.
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While we know how to be practical about locations, we sometimes forget about the traditional wedding dress codes – like the rules about leaving whites and creams to the bridal party. Oh yes, those two wedding guest dress codes still stand. But there is more about wedding guest dress etiquette you should know.
WHAT NOT TO WEAR TO YOUR FRIEND’S WEDDING?
Ps. I would skip some of these wedding dressing rules if I were going to the wedding of someone I don’t actually like. Honestly, I would love to see that b*’s face when showing up in my beautiful powder beige (sweet corn beige) tulle dress at her wedding. Oh yes, wearing tulle for a wedding when you are not the bride can be a problem too. But more about tulle later.
Here are some general dressing rules for wedding guests you simply must follow no matter if you like the bride or not. And yes, even rule number one.
1 WHITE
No white, unless written on the wedding invitation, is a number one wedding rule when it comes to dressing up for a wedding that is not yours. White is for the bride only! And if you are not the bride or explicitly asked to wear white by the bride herself, you shouldn’t wear white.
2 RED
No, red is not the wedding colour either. Even though wearing red for your friend’s wedding is not as dreadful as wearing white, it is not appropriate.
They used to believe the person who wears red to the wedding has been romanticly involved with the groom.
3 THE SAME DRESS AS THE BRIDE
Surely I know you won’t turn up at your friend’s wedding wearing a legit white wedding dress with a veil. But guess what? Neither is the bride. The bride might not wear a traditional wedding dress with a veil either. But a beautiful pastel tulle or lace dress instead.
Yes, that is why I wrote wearing a tulle for the wedding might be a problem, earlier – especially a lace Self-Portrait dress, Needle & Thread or a Dior tulle dress. Brides love them.
Therefore, be sure to check with the bride first to make sure you don’t wear the same dress as her.
Well, you can skip this rule if you don’t like the bride. I know I would if I were invited to the wedding of someone I didn’t like. But again, if the bride is your friend and you don’t want to feel unwanted at the wedding, furthermore if you don’t want to insult the bride, make sure you are not wearing the same dress as the bride.
4 CASUAL CLOTHES
Unless asked to dress casually, you shouldn’t wear casual clothes and everyday shoes for the wedding day. Weddings are supposed to be special, not to write glamorous ceremonies for which you are supposed to dress up.
So forget about your 9-5 outfits or, even worse, everyday casual clothes. You should dress up for the wedding. And yes, even for the wedding on the beach.
Nevertheless, there are more rules to follow when dressing up for the wedding at the beach. Be more about that later.
5 CLOTHES THAT DON’T FIT
Sure the bride might not care if you feel comfortable in your clothes on her wedding day or not. But she sure doesn’t want to see you wearing something too short or too tight. You are going to her wedding, not to a nightclub.
Besides, you most certainly won’t feel comfortable in that tight dress after eating all day. You do want to try the wedding cake, right?
6 CLOTHES YOU DON’T LIKE
Another thing a bride won’t care about much until you start being an annoying wedding guest simply because you don’t feel good in your wedding outfit. No bride wants cranky guests at her wedding.
7 DIRTY, CRUMPLED OR RIPPED CLOTHES
Thinking better, this should be the number one rule. Press your dress before leaving home for the wedding. Even better, take that portable steamer with you.
Ps. Don’t forget to take an extra outfit with you. Or even better, a wedding wardrobe. You know, in case someone splits wine onto your dress, or you drop a piece of cake on your dress.
Also, bringing a pair of extra shoes and a sewing kit is legit. Especially if you plan to fight for catching the wedding bouquet. We all know catching the wedding bouquet can be quite vigorous, and before you know, you find yourself sitting on the floor with no bouquet but broken heels in your hands. Or the strap of your dress.
8 A BIG PURSE
You know, what type of wedding guests are the worst? Besides those who get drunk and turn to ruin the wedding? The ones who sit there in the corner and do nothing else but squeeze their big purse to the chest all night long.
So last but not least is the big purse – the big tote.
No bride wants to see you there sitting alone. Just you and your bag. Obviously, a big handbag is not a problem in the first place, but it does make you look weird if you socialise only with your purse all evening long.
9 A MORE BEAUTIFUL DRESS THAN THE BRIDE
Last but not least, you are not supposed to wear a more beautiful dress than the bride to the wedding. Whatever you wear, just make sure you don’t outshine the bride.
Again, if you don’t like the bride, we won’t blame you. However, this is a courtesy you should show to the bride and groom. Mostly the groom since he will be the one who will have to deal with the bridezilla at the end of the night.
WHAT NOT TO WEAR TO A WEDDING AS A WEDDING GUEST?
Remember: be practical about locations and adhere to prescribed dress codes – the traditional wedding dress codes still stand.
White, red, the same dress as the bride, casual clothes, clothes that don’t fit, clothes you don’t like, dirty, crumpled, ripped clothes, and a big purse are some of the things you shouldn’t wear to a wedding as a wedding guest.
A wedding dress. You should never wear a wedding dress as a wedding guest. Or any white dress, as a matter of fact.
Yes, you can wear black to a wedding. However, you might prefer to wear another dark shade to the wedding. Check the latest colour report to find the dark colours to wear instead of black. There are two shades that are dark enough to make you feel as chic as when wearing black. But they are not black.
White and red. You are not supposed to wear white and red to a wedding as a wedding guest.
While red is not appropriate color to wear to a wedding as a wedding guest, the mother of the groom can wear red to her son’s wedding. The grannies can wear red to the wedding, too.
Animal prints! Animal prints can look inappropriate to wear to the wedding.
White, red, the same dress as the bride, casual clothes, dirty, crumpled, ripped clothes, big purse, boots, flip flops.
Only to a boho vineyard wedding.
Yes, you can wear pants to a wedding ceremony. However, you might want to wear a skirt or a dress to a church wedding.
Not for a church wedding. You are supposed to cover your shoulders at the church. However, you can wear a slip dress to a church wedding if you style your slip dress with a blazer – like this pretty Pinko blazer or layer it on with a tweed jacket – like this Balmain tweed jacket.
Sleeveless dresses, slip dresses, wedding guest outfits with deep cleavage, super short mini dresses or super mini mini skirts – nothing sexy and revealing.
A slik romper can be an excellent wedding guest outfit choice.
Yes, you can wear a slip dress to a wedding – except to a church wedding, of course. But even for a church wedding, you can wear a slip dress with a blazer or a tweed jacket.
Sneakers, flip flops, boots, jelly shoes, tourist sandals, wedges – except for a beach wedding.
Yes, you can wear wedges to a beach wedding. But only for a sand beach wedding. You would risk a sprain if you wore wedges to a stone beach.
Dressing up for a wedding is never easy. Dressing up for a wedding on the beach? Even harder. You can’t just grab any gown, fancy clutch and stilettos and walk to the beach dressed like that. Not only you would be overdressed, but you would ruin your clothes and shoes, too.
On the other hand, with the sea view and beach on your mind, you can easily underdress and show up at the beach wedding dressed like you were going for a swim and not to a formal event. Pardon semi-formal.
Anyway, this is not the only problem. Apart from the wedding etiquette, there is a practical part too. You don’t want to show up at the beach wedding in stiletto heels. Heels sink into the sand.
Whatsoever, apart from stiletto heels, there are a few other things you shouldn’t wear for a beach wedding.
Formal gown, a suit, a little black dress, swimwear, tweed dresses, velvet dresses, beach cover-ups.
Stiletto heels, plastic flip flops, jelly shoes, tourist sandals, fisherman’s sandals, gladiator sandals are not the best shoes to wear to a wedding on the beach.
MORE WEDDING DRESS TIPS AND WEDDING OUTFITS
So this is it – the don’ts of dressing up for the wedding. The general rules you should follow when getting ready for your friend’s wedding. Next on – what to wear to the wedding to be the best-dressed wedding guest in 2024. And how to be the best-dressed wedding guest every single time. By the way, are you guilty of any of those wedding guests dressing up don’ts listed above? What would make you angry and turn you into a legit bridezilla?
