Should I avoid wearing a patterned white dress to a wedding?

Question

It's a slightly below-knee sundress with flowers on it. I usually wear a short sleeved white cardigan with it.

It's the most season-appropriate dress I own, and I was either going to wear it or try to find something to buy.

I was thinking of wearing it to an acquaintance's wedding in a couple of weeks, but should I avoid wearing white altogether?

I asked a related question on here, and got a response that it might be offending.

Answer 1

If it got a flower pattern on it.. and the flower pattern is not too small then it's not so bad.  it won't look like a wedding dress.. I believe you can wear that.. but definitely don't outshine the bride on her special day... Don't wear anything all white.. and maybe wear a scarf (a stole) in the pattern on the flowers with it.. rather than a white jacket if it gets cooler and shoes not in white but also in the colour of the flowers in the dress then it should be alright... xx

Answer 2

i would avoid it me. Let your friend be the only one with the white dress lol.

Answer 3

No. It sounds lovely. Wear it. Most anything goes now adays...

Answer 4

Patterned white dress is okay.

Answer 5

When in doubt, don't.

Answer 6

A patterend white dress is ok to wear.

Answer 7

well, if the pattern is colorful and like big,ok.just get a brightly colored cardigan and do not wear white shoes.

Answer 8

If you don't think you are "out doing" the bride. Big colored flowers on a white dress should be fine.

Answer 9

If the dress is all white, don't wear it.  it if is a white dress with colored flowers, then go ahead and wear it. Get a different color  cardigan to go with it.  White is reserved only for the bride on wedding day. don't step on her toes.

Answer 10

Yes, avoid wearing white. It is the brides day and color.

Answer 11

I'm not sure how much things have changed in regards to how appropriate or not it is. I've heard stories of brides complaining about how someone wore white to their wedding. So I guess it depends on the formality of the wedding and how well do you know the bride? If in doubt why don't you ask her? It's better to know ahead than to be remembered as the girl who wore white to the wedding!

I know if it was me I wouldn't be too thrilled.

Answer 12

I think it sounds lovely.  Weddings have becomes a lot more relaxed and people are now wearing red and black to weddings.  The dress may be white, but you also said it is patterned with flowers on it so it isn't going to be any sort of competition with the bride at all.

As long as it is not al "all" white dress that would actually "compete" with the wedding gown in any way than it is fine.  As far as other people responding in offending ways you will find that there are many unhappy and miserable people on here who try their hardest to bring others down to the own sorry level.  Ignore them and keep on getting on.

Both your dress and cardigan sound fine.  Go have a good time and enjoy yourself!!!

Peace & Love  :)

Answer 13

Well, being from the South, I'd probably talk about you wearing white (flowers or no) to a wedding.  Is it seriously the only thing you can wear?  Borrow something if you have to.  Lordy.

Answer 14

ive got a wedding in 1 week and my dress is black and white...with flowers

if its all white or mostly white i wouldnt wear it... if its 1/2 white its fine

Answer 15

It has a pattern on it , I see no problem. you are at least being dressy. I now live in Georgia, and It is unreal how dressed down people are, some to the point of sleazy.( the guests) I believe in dressing up, but now out dressing the bride or the bridal party......Go and enjoy...

Answer 16

I can  not see why  not  but maybe  wear a  colourd  different  if you are worried  you could  be mistaken  for the bride.

Answer 17

I think that only the bride should wear all  white to her wedding. Go for a different dress or try to get a different sweater to go with this one.

Answer 18

I think it depends on the wedding that you are going to.  If it is a traditional wedding then I think I would find something else to wear, however, there are a lot of weddings now where this would be perfectly ok to wear.

Answer 19

As long as the flower pattern is a different color.  You might be able to find a cardigan to buy that matches the color of the pattern on your dress so the whole outfit would be less white.

Answer 20

If buying a new outfit for the wedding is not a financial burden, I would rather buy one than to wear a white dress at someone else's wedding.

Answer 21

it use to be that white was to be worn from the bride only ,but the fashion industry as changed and so is the way of thinking  by most people, if you are going to wear the dress to the wedding and feel a bit unease you could wear coloured jewelry and shoes, or wear a wrap over your shoulders, there are many ways to dress up a plain white dress, is the one that you have tone on tone? Or does it have some other colours in the fabric? Either way white is fine, this is 2008 and even brides have changed with the passing of the years wearing  all white is not what I see in the modern wedding dresses fashion industry , to wear a  "Traditional "white gown is not  important to some , they wear any colour under the rainbow!. Feel free to wear what "YOU" like.

Answer 22

You should never wear white to a wedding unless you are the bride. It is disrespectful to the bride. Find something else, with pale colors.  In this culture, we do not wear white because we do not want to upstage the bride.

Answer 23

If it has flowers, it's probably okay, but get another color cardigan or shawl or something. The good part here is that almost every woman has way more of these than she needs. Just ask at work, school, your family and lots will be offered to you.

Answer 24

White is for the bride only.  That said, if there are other colors on the dress and you can wear a colored cardigan, it should be fine.  Or, even a scarf to match the colored flowers to bring in more color would be acceptable.

Answer 25

Is best to wear a cardigan of a colour to match the floral pattern in your dress.  An outfit which is, mainly, white or one, mainly, black shouldn't be worn to a wedding.  Am sure you'll be appropriately dressed.