AISLE SAY
‘Don’t take attention away from the bride, wear something less showy’ wedding guest is slammed for ‘risque’ dress
Scroll down to find out more on wedding guest dress etiquette
A WOMAN has been savagely slammed for showing off the wedding guest dress she plans to wear to an upcoming nuptials.
The fashion fan revealed that her mum wasn’t convinced that the gown was appropriate, so she turned to social media users for clarification.
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Posting on Reddit, on the thread, the anonymous woman shared a picture of the Shein dress she had purchased.
She confirmed that the dress code for the upcoming event was “formal”, with black tie as optional.
Posting under the username , the woman asked: “Is this slit too high for a formal wedding?
“My mum thinks it is but there’s also a 35 year age gap there.”
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The woman’s emerald green maxi dress has a plunge neckline, spaghetti straps and a high leg split.
The Reddit user later added: “It’s a formal wedding so I should be fine on that one and I am going to wear a shawl.
“I think typically if I was doubting it I would play it safe but this dress is ridiculously comfy so I’m trying to get some input.
“I haven’t been to a wedding in like five years so I’m not sure what the norm is. This is my first wedding that’s not a relative.”
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Not only this, but the woman also added: “I’m typically super casual but when I get to dress up I DRESS UP. If what I’m wearing isn’t a statement then usually my make-up is.
Watch the video to see all the dresses on Sophie as she plans her 2025 wedding
“I’d usually do a nice tight dress and then statement make-up. Since I’m wearing this dress I’m going to do a simple make-up look and keep my hair simple.”
BIG DIVIDE
But Reddit users were left totally divided on the dress and many flocked to the comments to share their thoughts.
As long as it isn’t white and goes with the dress code, wear what makes you feel good!
Reddit user
One person said: “If it's a millennial bride I'm sure she'd be cool with it, an older bride not so much.”
Another added: “I think it's perfectly fine. I wouldn't bat an eye if someone wore that to my wedding. I'm a millennial if age matters here.”
If it’s not your wedding then you shouldn’t draw attention away from the bride
Reddit user
A third commented: “I love it! Don’t think it’s too high at all.
"Although my very personal opinion is that as long as it isn’t white and goes with the dress code, wear what makes you feel good!”
Wedding Guest Outfit Etiquette
If you're struggling to decided on a dress to see you through wedding season, here's a few rules on what not to wear so you don't get in trouble.
- Folklore says that wearing red at a wedding means you slept with the groom.
- Casual attire like jeans and flip flops should always be avoided.
- Any colour that could be picked up as white or cream - even if it's not.
- Most would agree that your cleavage needs to be covered.
- Wearing white is a massive no-no if you're not the bride.
However, at the same time, one user advised: “Don’t take attention away from the bride. Wear something less showy.”
A second chimed in: “If it’s not your wedding then you shouldn’t draw attention away from the bride.”
Whilst someone else penned: “I think it’s a bit risqué.”
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In response to the comments, the Reddit user later wrote: “I was definitely worried about it feeling like I was about to flash people.
“But it’s actually very comfy and even when I move around or squat low I’m not flashing anybody.”
Dos and don’ts of wedding dress codes
By Josie Griffiths, Fabulous deputy editor and bride-to-be.
Josie Griffiths said: I’ll never forget the wedding I went to in October 2022 where a guest wore a white dress.
It was ill-fitting, knee length and looked nothing like an actual wedding dress, but that didn’t stop everyone judging her.
The rules on wedding guest outfits - which are annoyingly loads stricter for women than they are for men - are meant to be about “not upstaging the bride”, which in reality is quite hard to do on someone else’s wedding day.
But if you get it wrong as a guest, you do end up looking a bit silly, and in front of loads of people who don’t know you personally.
It’s just not the occasion for your new white dress, as much as online stores love dumping them in the 'wedding guest’ section.
I’d avoid anything too tight/short, and ditch super formal gowns unless the dress code calls for them - you don’t want to be in a full length sequin gown at a smart casual event.
Personally I don’t like black dresses either, it isn’t a funeral.
Otherwise you should be pretty safe. Technically wearing red means you’re in love with the groom, but that’s the kind of rule most people would scoff at nowadays.
I do always check what colour the bridesmaids are in, just to be safe, after the Spanish wedding where I watched them walk down the aisle in the exact same dress I’d had in my Asos shopping basket just weeks earlier.
If in doubt, safest to just double check with the bride… but if you’re already doubting your dress that might be all the answer you need.
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