Franklin Dean
Choosing what colour to wear to a wedding can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it doesn't have to be. While it's important to avoid wearing white or ivory, which could be seen as upstaging the bride, there are plenty of other colours to choose from. The time of year, formality, location, and seasonal weather will all be key factors in determining what colours you'll feel good in and what will look great in photos. For example, spring and summer are the perfect seasons for pastels, brights, and lighter hues, while fall and winter lend themselves to deeper, moodier palettes. If you're attending a black-tie wedding, darker tones like black, navy, emerald green, or burgundy are typically appropriate, while less formal affairs allow for much more flexibility.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colours to avoid | White/cream/ivory, light colours, the colour family of the bride and bridal party |
| Colours to consider | Black, navy, emerald green, burgundy, jewel tones, pastels, brights, lighter hues, slate blue, amethyst, sage green, fuchsia, copper, silver, magenta, periwinkle, dark green, beige, champagne, camel |
| Factors to consider | Season, time of day, location, formality, dress code, skin tone, wedding theme, culture |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid white and ivory
When it comes to choosing a wedding outfit, it's important to consider the level of formality, the season, and the time of day. While there are many colours to choose from, it is widely considered poor etiquette to wear white or ivory to a wedding.
White is a traditional wedding dress colour, symbolising purity and formality. It became popularised when Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840. Since then, white wedding dresses have been associated with brides, and wearing white to a wedding may be seen as an attempt to upstage the bride. Even white shoes are generally considered inappropriate for wedding guests.
Ivory is a similar colour to white, with warm, creamy undertones. It is a popular choice for brides who want a softer, more romantic, or vintage-inspired look, especially those with fair skin tones. Ivory dresses often flatter the wearer more than stark white, which can appear harsh or washed out.
To avoid upstaging the bride or causing offence, it is best to steer clear of white and ivory when selecting a wedding outfit. Instead, opt for darker neutrals like camel, beige, or champagne, or seasonal colours like pastels for spring, and darker colours like burgundy, navy blue, and forest green for autumn.
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Black is usually fine
While wearing black to a wedding was once considered a major faux pas, today, black is usually fine. It is a flattering shade that can be worn to weddings of any kind, provided the outfit choice is appropriate for the season and dress code. For example, black is a good choice for a black-tie event or formal wedding. It is also a safe choice if you're concerned about how dressy you should be.
That being said, it's important to avoid wearing the same shade as the bridal party. If you're worried about this, you can check with the bride or groom to see if there are any colours they would prefer you to avoid. This is especially important if you're wearing a solid black outfit, as you may be mistaken for a member of the bridal party.
The time of year and location of the wedding can also impact whether black is a suitable colour to wear. For example, black is more commonly worn to weddings on the East Coast of the US, whereas in Australia, it is less common. Black is also more suitable for a modern wedding than a tropical one, where bright, fluorescent shades are often recommended.
Ultimately, the most important rule of thumb is to avoid wearing white or ivory to a wedding, as this is often seen as disrespectful to the bride.
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Check the dress code
The dress code on the invitation is a good starting point when deciding what colour to wear to a wedding. If the invitation states it's a black-tie event, a formal dress code is indicated, and darker tones such as black, navy, emerald green, or burgundy are appropriate. For a formal wedding, you could also wear a jewel tone like sapphire blue, dark purple, or amethyst. If you're heading to a wedding before 6:00 pm with a formal dress code, you can wear a tea-length dress.
If the wedding is cocktail, semi-formal, or casual, there is more flexibility, and you can wear any colour. For a casual wedding, colourful heels or strappy sandals may be acceptable or even encouraged. For a semi-formal dress code, you could wear a floral pattern or lighter pastel shades. You could also wear a bold colour like fuchsia, which works well for a cocktail dress.
The time of year and location of the wedding can also guide your colour choice. For spring weddings, light colours like pastels or light blues are a good choice. For summer weddings, you could wear brighter colours like yellow, orange, or green. For fall weddings, rich hues like burgundy, navy blue, and forest green work well with the changing leaves of the season. For winter weddings, classic holiday colours like red and green are a good choice. If the wedding is in a tropical location, a more casual dress is often recommended, especially one with yellow, orange, or green.
If you're unsure about the dress code, it's best to check with the couple or refer to the wedding website. Some couples may request that guests wear colours of a certain palette or theme. It's also a good idea to avoid wearing the same colour as the bridal party if possible.
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Consider the season
When choosing what colour to wear to a wedding, it's important to consider the season. The season will dictate the colour palette that's appropriate for the occasion. For example, jewel tones and darker shades such as emerald, plum, burgundy, deep red, navy blue, and charcoal grey are recommended for cold-weather weddings. These rich, deep tones can be easily paired with gold or silver accessories for a polished look. Darker colours will also do a better job of keeping you warm.
For summer weddings, lighter fabrics and brighter colours are more common. Bright oranges, bold yellows, and lively blues are perfect for a summer wedding. Beach weddings or other tropical events require guests to dress accordingly, so consider breezy attire in bright colours like fuchsia and lime green. These colours are more acceptable at beach weddings and outdoor summer weddings than at formal indoor events. For a casual beach wedding, black and navy will look out of place and make you feel too warm.
If you're attending a wedding in spring or autumn, you can opt for colours that fall somewhere between the shades of summer and winter. Dusty blue and sage green are great colours for spring and summer weddings, while darker hues work well for fall and winter weddings.
Ultimately, you may want to consider choosing a colour that makes you feel good about yourself and at ease.
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Avoid the bridal party's colours
When deciding what colour dress to wear to a wedding, it's important to avoid the bridal party's colours. This is to ensure that you don't get mistaken for a member of the bridal party or the bride herself, and to avoid clashing with the overall aesthetic of the wedding.
The first step is to find out what colours the bridal party will be wearing. You can do this by consulting a member of the wedding party, another guest, or the couple themselves. Sometimes, the wedding invitation may give a hint as to the colour scheme, or you can check the wedding website. If all else fails, you can simply ask the bride if she has any colours she would prefer guests to avoid.
Once you know the colour palette of the bridal party, you can choose an outfit in a different colour. This is especially important if the bridesmaids are all wearing one solid colour. For example, if the bridal party is wearing navy blue, you might want to avoid wearing a navy blue dress yourself.
In addition to avoiding the bridal party's colours, there are a few other colour-related considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it's generally advised to avoid wearing white, cream, ivory, or any light colours that could be mistaken for the bride's dress. You should also be mindful of the season and level of formality of the wedding when choosing your outfit colour. For example, darker colours are typically more suitable for winter weddings, while pastels and lighter hues are more common for spring and summer celebrations.
By following these guidelines and using your best judgement, you can choose a dress colour that is stylish, appropriate, and respectful of the happy couple on their special day.
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Frequently asked questions
Colours that you should avoid wearing to a wedding include white/cream/ivory, as these are too close in colour to the bride's dress. It's also best to avoid wearing the same colour as the bridal party if possible.
For spring and summer weddings, light and pastel colours are a good choice. You could also opt for brighter colours like yellow, orange, or green.
Warmer, darker colours like burgundy, navy blue, and forest green are perfect for autumn or fall weddings.
Classic holiday colours like red and green are great for winter weddings. You could also opt for slate blue, paired with silver accessories, or jewel tones like emerald green.
