Are black dresses allowed at a wedding? Why my friends say this $270 buy is a ‘no no’ for guests
A young woman feels like she has nothing to wear to an upcoming wedding after her friends trash her chosen outfit.
The woman opted for a $270 dress from ‘Reformation’, a trendy Los Angeles brand – but to her horror when she showed it to her friends, they told her the look was a ‘big no, no’.
Taking to Reddit, the frustrated wedding guest explained that the off-the-shoulder, tea-length party dress was black — which seemed to be the problem.
She explained that she now lives in Australia – so thought the dress would be fine for the formal occasion – but her friends back home were convinced it was inappropriate.
A young woman was criticized by friends after revealing she would wear this dress to a wedding
The question left the people of Reddit divided.
‘If they are really traditional, then not. If it’s going to be warm or sunny, in a church, or if it’s a daytime wedding, no. Whether they go for a casual, boho or beach atmosphere? No,’ a woman muttered.
‘Black is for funerals. And red is for those who slept with the groom,” said another.
A third stated: ‘Traditionally, wearing black means you don’t approve of the union.’
But Australians appeared to support the young woman in her choice of outfit.
“I think I’ve almost exclusively worn some sort of black dress to every wedding I’ve been to in Melbourne,” one woman said.”
“I’ve worn black almost exclusively as a guest at weddings as an adult, worn it as a bride at my own wedding, and it seems like there’s a good chance I’ll wear black as a bridesmaid at my sister’s,” said another.
A third added: ‘I love this – I didn’t even know not wearing black was a thing! At weddings in Melbourne there are always so many people in little black dresses.”
Others suggested that the correct answer can only be given by the bride, as it is up to her what is and is not acceptable.
‘Ask the bride. For some people it’s fine, for others it’s very bad, and it’s hard to say who’s going to have a family that’s going to be angry.”
Some said the “ambiance” of the wedding gives people clues so they can make an educated guess.
‘If it’s a daytime wedding in a sunny location, such as a garden, then no. “If it’s in the evening and has a cocktail or formal theme, or at a winery, then yes,” they said.
The young woman said dark blue was her first choice, but she “looked yellow” because of her olive skin.
She added that she doesn’t “know the bride or groom personally” and that’s a plus.
“I asked my partner, but he never did it.”