Can I wear a black dress to a wedding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People on DCUM overestimate how much people pay attention to wedding guest attire, as long as it isn't wildly inappropriate (i.e. sweats or jeans). That black dress is totally neutral and forgettable. Accessorized, it is perfectly fine for an evening wedding.

+1

[Anonymous]

Get a nice sheath dress from Calvin Klein if you want to wear black. They're classy and comfortable, and you can dress them up to be a little fancier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People on DCUM overestimate how much people pay attention to wedding guest attire, as long as it isn't wildly inappropriate (i.e. sweats or jeans). That black dress is totally neutral and forgettable. Accessorized, it is perfectly fine for an evening wedding.

This, I say this all the time. Other than women in their 20s, and immediate family, no one I know goes out and buys new dresses for weddings. You reach in the closet and sometimes you have cute new stuff, and sometimes you don't. And no one at the wedding gives a crap.

I said as much on another thread about wedding attire, and people got mad at me like I was an affront to brides everywhere if I didn't put a lot of effort into my dress. As it happens, I actually love dressing up and have a wonderful wardrobe and love to get dressed up for weddings - and I typically think of myself as one of the better dressed people at the wedding. But I always make a mental note of how most of the room just looks "fine" - and that THAT is totally is fine. I think it is way better to show up in a plain back old navy dress than to wear the beautiful but totally wedding inappropriate green floor length oscars-worthy gown on the other thread. Of course, wear something beautiful and appropriate if you love clothes and shopping or have something perfect in your closet. But otherwise, don't sweat wearing a black or a daytime casual dress. No one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if it’s black-tie at a formal venue after 6 pm.

This. Although in New York, I would say you can wear black to any evening wedding.

[Anonymous]

Yes. But if it feels questionable, opt for a deep blue or green... or caramel or jade, etc. You'll feel more comfortable and have more fun knowing that you don't have to wonder about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if it’s black-tie at a formal venue after 6 pm.

This is the correct answer.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I’ve worn all-black to two weddings—as a bridesmaid in both!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve worn all-black to two weddings—as a bridesmaid in both!

I wore a long formal black dress that I picked myself as a bridesmaid at a formal evening wedding in DC, then I wore that same dress to a different formal evening wedding in NYC. Those are the only times I’ve worn black to a wedding.

[Anonymous]

Yes you can wear black but for goodness sakes please find something better looking than that.

[Anonymous]

This is insanity. Of course you can wear black to a wedding!!

[Anonymous]

I was just at a wedding this last weekend and this would have fit right in. Invite said "cocktail attire". Most people did not wear black but some did and no one would have judged this dress. Agree you should add some interest with accessories so it doesn't look like you're at a funeral or going to work.

I don't wear black to wedding anymore just because I have found other colors that are more flattering for me and have a small wardrobe for events like this that doesn't involve black. But back in my 20s and early 30s I would wear black cocktail dresses to weddings often because I couldn't afford to have a bunch of cocktail/formal dresses and it's easier to get away with wearing the same black dress to multiple events than a dress with a color or pattern. Just change out the accessories and your hair and you look different enough that people don't notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People on DCUM overestimate how much people pay attention to wedding guest attire, as long as it isn't wildly inappropriate (i.e. sweats or jeans). That black dress is totally neutral and forgettable. Accessorized, it is perfectly fine for an evening wedding.

This, I say this all the time. Other than women in their 20s, and immediate family, no one I know goes out and buys new dresses for weddings. You reach in the closet and sometimes you have cute new stuff, and sometimes you don't. And no one at the wedding gives a crap.

I said as much on another thread about wedding attire, and people got mad at me like I was an affront to brides everywhere if I didn't put a lot of effort into my dress. As it happens, I actually love dressing up and have a wonderful wardrobe and love to get dressed up for weddings - and I typically think of myself as one of the better dressed people at the wedding. But I always make a mental note of how most of the room just looks "fine" - and that THAT is totally is fine. I think it is way better to show up in a plain back old navy dress than to wear the beautiful but totally wedding inappropriate green floor length oscars-worthy gown on the other thread. Of course, wear something beautiful and appropriate if you love clothes and shopping or have something perfect in your closet. But otherwise, don't sweat wearing a black or a daytime casual dress. No one cares.

I think I saw your post on the other thread and thank you! I agree and reading these threads on DCUM makes me feel much more anxious about going to a wedding than anyone needs to be. People get all caught up in the details and act like we are living in some kind of rigid society with very strict rules of etiquette that everyone follows. This might be true in certain small pockets (in which case you know what the rules are because are part of that sub-group that cares deeply about them) and it might have been true 80 or more years ago, but in most parts of the US now, you can go to a wedding and see a range of interpretations of the dress code and most are considered acceptable. And in certain parts of the US, even wearing jeans or shorts would not be considered out of bounds at a wedding (I've been to weddings in California, Montana, and Colorado that featured one or both of these and other than a few older relatives, no one really cared that much).

[Anonymous]

People wear black to plenty of weddings. The color is 100% fine.

The style is a little on the casual side, but I think it can be dressed up. There is almost no one paying THAT much attention to you as a wedding guest, so it'll be ok no matter what.

[Anonymous]

If you are tacky, wear the black.