Skip to main content

Which Color is or is not Taboo for Wedding Attire?

 

Learn what formally taboo colors are now proper to wear for a wedding and the one color that is not in this informative wedding etiquette article. 

The Mother of the Bride wants to wear the lacy white skirt-suit she bought especially for her daughter’s wedding.  Is it appropriate?  Hmmm...  How about that spicy red number the Groom’s cousin yearns to don?  Hold onto your cummerbunds, we’re diving into the wedding attire info pool. 

Wearing White

Some still consider wearing white to a wedding as an insult to the bride, as if stealing the spotlight.  But it just isn't so.  A little white here and there is not an issue.  It is an issue if the outfit appears to be wedding attire. 

Wearing Black

Wearing black, especially as the mother of the groom, was once viewed as a symbol of her disapproval.  It was also viewed as a faux pas for wedding guests to wear black before 6 pm. Luckily, this is not the case today.  Black attire is viewed as trendy, cool, and stylish.  In fact, many couples request that their guests dress in only black and white to create a more chic and unified appearance.

There’s a Reason Stop-Signs are Red

Red is the only taboo color for today's wedding guests.  It stops and steals the show and is viewed as insulting. 

More by The Polite One

Just the Facts: Wedding Etiquette Tips

What is Proper for My Flower Girl?

Anti-Clueless Advice: How to Decode a Confusing Wedding Invitation

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

4 of the Most Asked Wedding Etiquette Questions Answered

After decades of answering etiquette questions, especially about weddings, I’d like to share a few of those questions that represent the majority of concerns.   Q: Is an invited coworker obligated to spend a certain amount? I'm going to both the wedding shower and the wedding. Should I buy both gifts off the registry? A: Unfortunately, yes. This is one of the biggest reasons I feel that the gift-less wedding shower is the smartest route for us to follow today.  Why should the couple receive more than one gift per guest?  It just doesn't make any sense and isn't fair to guests. Q : Registries feel so impersonal.   Is there any way to make it more personal? A: I honestly can't think of any way to make a registry more personal.  If a couple decides to register, they should choose items from the low end of the price range as well as the bigger ticket items, so the list doesn't appear to be a greed-fest.  Unfortunately, it can have th...

When and Where to Seat and Sit

Playing Musical Chairs With Parents Dear Polite One,   On the day of the wedding when it becomes time to seat the parents of the bride and groom, who sits first and last especially when dealing with stepparents? Me First Dear Me First , We have more parental issues to deal with these days than we did in the past.    In fact, more weddings are encore wedding than first, which reflects this trend.  So, to keep everyone happy and separate, we seat parents in this order:  Groom’s father and stepmother (third row); Bride’s father and stepmother (third row); Groom’s mother and stepfather (first row); Bride’s mother and stepfather (first row).   If everyone is on friendly terms, all parents may sit in the front row in the given order.  The stepparents follow the person escorting parents to their seats.   Sincerely, The Polite One Seating Chart Dilemma Dear Polite One,   I'm working ...

Do I wear nylons with strappy sandals for a fall evening wedding?

  Dear Polite One, From what I have read on your site, I should wear a cocktail (little black dress or equivalent) to a fall evening wedding at a golf country club.  Do, I need to wear nylons with my strappy sandals? Wedding Newbie in Wisconsin Dear Wedding Newbie in Wisconsin, Bravo on doing your attire homework!  You are absolutely correct about your attire choice.  Nylons aren't nearly as popular or expected due to our love of sandals. Strappy sandals look splendid with nice dresses, even in the winter.  FYI: It is a faux pas to wear nylons with open-toed shoes. Sincerely, The Polite One More by The Polite One How to dress for a wedding as "the second wife"? How to Dress for Formal Wedding in New York ? What to wear to a formal evening wedding in Napa?