Taboo Colors for Wedding Guests: What to Wear and What to Avoid

Discover the dos and don'ts of color choices for wedding guests. Learn what to wear and what to avoid to look your best and avoid offending the couple.Taboo Colors for Wedding Guests: What to Wear and What to Avoid

Weddings are special and joyous occasions, and as a guest, you want to look your best and make a great impression. But with so many rules and expectations around what to wear to a wedding, it can be difficult to know what's appropriate. And when it comes to the colors you can wear, there are some taboo shades that you should steer clear of.

Never Wear White

White is the most obvious taboo color when it comes to wedding attire. Eighty percent of brides choose to wear white on their big day, and wearing white as a guest can be seen as an attempt to upstage the bride. It's important to let the bride shine and be the center of attention, so avoid wearing white altogether.

Ivory, Off-White, and Other Close-to-White Hues

Don't think you can get away with wearing ivory or off-white instead of white. If a color is close to white, it's best to avoid it at a wedding. The same goes for other similar hues, such as cream, eggshell, vanilla, and bone. And stay away from fabrics featuring patterns that are mostly white or ivory, like florals, polka dots, or stripes.

Think Twice Before Wearing Champagne or Gold

In recent years, champagne and gold wedding dresses have become popular. If the bride you're attending is fashion-forward, she might choose a gold or champagne-hued dress. To be safe, avoid ensembles that are predominantly gold or champagne-colored. Even pale silver can look bridal, so it's best to steer clear of this shade as well.

Beware of Super-Light Pastels

Pastels are often considered appropriate and even encouraged for wedding guest attire, especially for spring events. But be careful of pastel hues that are too light. They can look white or ivory in photos and upstage the bride. If you're considering a blush or pale mint dress, try taking photos of it in sunlight to see if it retains its hue or not. If it looks white, it's best to avoid it.

Too-Sparkly Metallics

Metallics with too much sparkle are another color to avoid for daytime or informal weddings. Wearing an ensemble with too much beading or sparkle can steal the spotlight from the newlyweds. However, if the wedding is formal or black-tie, sparkly gowns are usually acceptable. Just don't wear something that could be mistaken for a wedding dress.

Stay Away from Neon

Overly bright neon hues are another color to avoid at weddings. Wearing neon will grab attention and steal the spotlight from the newlyweds. It's best to stick with more subdued shades for a wedding.

Denim is Usually Too Casual

For most weddings, denim is considered too casual. Unless the couple has announced a denim dress code for a relaxed event, it's best to avoid denim or chambray. The only exception would be to bring a denim jacket as a cover-up for a colder-weather event, but only if the wedding is on the casual side.

Can You Wear the Bridesmaid Dress Color?

Wearing the same color as the bridesmaids can make guests look like they're trying to upstage the bride. To avoid this, guests can ask the bride or one of the bridesmaids what color they're wearing, or they can use the wedding invitation as a clue. If a color is prominently featured on the invite, it's best not to wear it.

Cultural and Religious Weddings: What to Avoid Wearing

For Hindu weddings, black is viewed as an unlucky color, so guests should avoid wearing it. White is also considered inappropriate, as it's the color worn at funerals. At Chinese and Indian weddings, the bride usually wears red, so guests should steer clear of this color to avoid upstaging the bride.

Final Thoughts

Wedding attire can be a source of stress for guests, but following the guidelines of what not to wear can help make the decision easier. White, ivory, champagne and gold, super-light pastels, too-sparkly metallics, neon, denim, and the bridesmaid dress color are all colors that guests should be cautious of wearing. By following these guidelines, guests can ensure they look appropriate and complement the bride and groom, not steal the show.