You walk to your mailbox and pull down the door. There’s a stack of letters, and you notice that one has your name written on it in beautiful cursive script. You open it, and see that it’s an invitation to a loved one’s wedding. Two things then cross your mind: what will I give them as a gift, and what will I wear? It can take time to decide on what to wear to a wedding! Typically, it says on the invitation what the dress code for the wedding is. The people getting married may want a wedding that’s casual, semi-formal, black tie optional, black tie, or white tie.
To help you when you’re looking through your wardrobe, we’ve compiled a list of 10 things that you should never wear to a wedding. By avoiding these 10 fashion faux pas, you can make a fashionable choice that will still honor the soon-to-be newlyweds’ wishes.
1) No White Dresses or Jumpsuits!
- For the wedding weekend, the bride gets dibs on the colors white, ivory, off-white, or even white with flowers on it. If you wear white during the wedding event, they may mistake you for the bride at the venue. It’s best to respect the bride and just pick a different color for the wedding.
2) Never Wear Black (Unless Specified on the Invitation)
- Traditionally, wearing black to a wedding has been seen as a sign of disapproval; that the guest objects to the marriage. Recently, however, some brides have been asking all of their guests to wear black so that their white dress pops more in pictures. But unless the bride requests you wear black, it’s best to make sure you go with something from the rainbow for a color choice.
3) Don’t Upstage the Bride
- The star of the show at a wedding should be the bride. Though you may want to dress to impress, make sure your outfit isn’t a ball gown, and that you don’t wear jewelry that takes your ensemble over the top. A full-length dress is okay, but we wouldn’t recommend anything that puffs out or has a crinoline. This is the bride’s big day, and she deserves to be the center of attention.
4) Nothing Too Revealing or Sheer
- We know that the reception dinner can sometimes turn into quite the party when the DJ plays all of the newest hits. That doesn’t mean that you should wear what you would to a club, of course: it’s best to wear clothing that isn’t sheer or very short.
5) Nothing Highlighter-colored
- This isn’t to say that you can’t wear bright colors, but a wedding is meant to be a dignified affair, after all! Anything extremely glaring would distract from the couple, and you’d stick out in all of the photos (and not in a good way)!
6) Anything Casual like Jeans or T-shirts
- You can have a casual wedding, but wearing jeans or a basic t-shirt to a wedding is too casual! If the outfit looks like something you’d wear to a baseball game, it wouldn’t be right for a wedding. Keep your casual clothing for your everyday wardrobe choice.
7) The Same Color as the Wedding Party
- It’s not quite a taboo, but wearing the same color as the bridal party is not a great idea. Contact the bride beforehand, and find out what colors she has picked for the bridal party. This way, you can make sure you don’t match the bridesmaids or groomsmen. Some invitations might include an attire card, which can be used to let guests know what colors would work best with the theme they’re going for without looking like a bridal party member.
8) Skip Holes and Rips
- If you have clothing with holes or rips in them, even if they’re intentional, it’s not a good look for a wedding. It’s best to leave those for another party. You can go for a cut-out in your dress if it’s a spring or summer wedding, but otherwise, holes are not appropriate for an occasion like a wedding.
9) Sneakers or Flip Flops (Unless You’re Specifically Told to Wear Them)
- If your footwear wouldn’t be allowed into a bar, then it’s not appropriate to wear at a wedding. Unless of course, the wedding is at the beach, where the appropriate footwear is sandals. The rule of thumb when it comes to wedding footwear is that if you wouldn’t wear it to a job interview, it’s not right for a wedding.
- Pro Tip: Bring a comfortable pair of slip-on flat shoes/sandals for the reception in case you want to dance or just be more comfortable as the night goes on.
10) Rethink the Sparkles
- Sparkles are pretty and make quite a statement, but unless it’s a black-tie wedding that says sparkles are allowed, it’s not the right clothing choice. We don’t want to take all the eyes off the bride. Instead of sparkles, go for a nice ruffle, lace, or floral pattern that will ensure you’re still the best-dressed guest!
Every wedding is different, with its own vibe and expectations for guests. Remember that the wedding and reception are about celebrating the newly married couple, so come dressed how they want. When in doubt, our best suggestion is to reach out to the wedding planner or the maid of honor. They’ll know the specifics of what is expected of you so that you can be a wonderful guest.
You can also refer to our article “10 Wedding Guest Etiquette Rules” to learn more about how you can spare the bridal party any headaches! Now that you know what not to wear to the upcoming wedding, you can move to the next step, which is to find the perfect gift. Give them a unique gift by getting an idea from our article: 10 Gifts You Can Give that Aren’t on The Wedding Registry.
Our last tip is just to enjoy yourself! A wedding is supposed to be a wonderful event, so soak up all the fun and the joy it has to offer.
Lucy is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork, Ireland. Originally from America, she is now settled in Ireland with her husband and Corgi-mix puppy Dug (yes, like from Disney’s UP!). It’s the simple things in life that matter, so give her a bag of M&M’s and she’s happy. She loves to relax with a good book, cozy up on the couch for a movie, or go to the park for a stroll with the family.
