When you get invited to a wedding, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is ‘but, what will I wear?’. Your wardrobe will depend of course on how formal the wedding will be, which is usually indicated on your invitation and while traditionally, guests were not supposed to wear white or black to the event – in recent years, the little black dress has become a wedding season staple. So, this begs the question: is it now okay to wear white to a wedding?

Wear White to a Wedding

Some etiquette experts have come out to say that in some cases it is acceptable to wear white. For instance, if your dress has a white lace overlay on top of a brighter colour, if your dress is a knee length sheath dress, or if the wedding is on a beach. However, if your dress is floor length with a big puffy skirt– it might be best to pick a different outfit. That being said, most etiquette experts still maintain that wearing a white dress to a wedding where you are not the bride is frowned upon.

Now, we know what you’re thinking, not all brides wear white. Correct, not every bride will be wearing white– so does that mean it’s okay for you to wear white as a guest? Most experts maintain that it is still a faux pas to wear white. Generally speaking, it’s best to play it safe and avoid wearing a white dress when going to any type of wedding.

The reason being, that white is traditionally a bridal colour. This may result in guests who are not familiar with the bride mistaking you for the person of honour. In general, it is never a good idea to upstage the bride.

That being said, the no white rule generally applies to dresses that are entirely white. For instance, it is permissible to wear a dress that is only partially white– like a white bodice with a coloured skirt or, a floral dress with a white background. Another exception to this rule would be if the couple decides to have all their guests wear white a la Beyoncé and Jay Z.

The good news, is that there are so many great options for wedding guests no matter what season – head over to Pinterest for the latest fashion inspo!