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Appropriate to wear black at weddings?

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ForteKitty

ForteKitty

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 7, 2004
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I''m going to a wedding on a yacht in Newport Beach. It''s at the end of April. Can I wear a black strapless dress with a light colored cardigan or wrap? All my spring dresses are too beach casual looking.

Thanks!
 
I think you can! Sounds cute and appropriate especially since the dress is strapless AND you''ll be accessorizing with a lighter color. Reality is only part of the black dress will be showing.

I read somewhere that THEE color to avoid is red. This color will distract guests from the main focus: the bride
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Absolutely - black at weddings is no longer taboo and your ensemble sounds very tasteful.
 
I think that a lovely black dress is fine for any occasion. I''d MUCH rather see a nice black dress at a wedding than a white or ivory dress. I''m no expert on etiquette, but I feel white/ivory is reserved for the bride only.

DiamondLil
 
Date: 4/4/2005 12:32:30 PM
Author: sparklish
Absolutely - black at weddings is no longer taboo and your ensemble sounds very tastefu.
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It's not only no longer taboo, but bridesmaids are often dressed in black! I don't believe I could bring myself to do it, though! I am not sure if the question was, "May I wear black?" so much as "May I wear black in the *summer*?", though. (In this case, spring.)

Deb
 
Date: 4/4/2005 12:33:38 PM
Author: diamondlil
I think that a lovely black dress is fine for any occasion. I''d MUCH rather see a nice black dress at a wedding than a white or ivory dress. I''m no expert on etiquette, but I feel white/ivory is reserved for the bride only.
DiamondLil
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Both black and white used to be utterly taboo.

Deb
 
Also being from Southern CA area, I would say you definitely could wear what you''re describing! It''s an evening wedding and a formal yacht ride. You will look very classy with your described attire...

I love NB!!
 
My rule for my wedding, as well as ones I attend, is you can''t wear all black or all white/ivory. You''ll be wearing black and a pastel, so that would be fine in my book. If my BM''s were wearing black (they''re wearing red actually!), my rule would change to nobody wears all white or ivory but me. All-white weddings are a different story, as well as white-tie events.
 
It''s actually an afternoon wedding... would it still be appropriate?
 
I''ll try to find the article, but I recently read that exact question in a magazine etiquette column. The answer was that any color, including black (and red) is appropriate. The only color that is not is white. That is reserved for the bride.
 
I''m the queen of black - but wouldn''t wear it to a wedding as a solid color. Maybe I''m just old fashioned though.
 
Date: 4/4/2005 12:50:10 PM
Author: ForteKitty
It''s actually an afternoon wedding... would it still be appropriate?
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Yup - still fine! My only stipulation is no all-over black - looks like you''re attending a funeral.

F&I - I''m 23, and I agree with you - you''re not old-fashioned!!
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Date: 4/4/2005 12:50:10 PM
Author: ForteKitty
It''s actually an afternoon wedding... would it still be appropriate?
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In Newport Beach, it would still be appropriate. I guarantee you that you won''t be the only one dressed in black and the fact that you''ll be accenting it with some color...you''ll be in style for sure!
 
If it's before 6
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0pm, I wouldn't wear black or floor length. And never white/ivory, no matter what time of day. But then, I still can't bring myself to wear white shoes or carry a straw bag before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. I can just see my grandmother looking me up and down with one eyebrow raised.

There's protocol, and then there's style, and the two don't always meet. How formal is the wedding? How traditional are the bride's parent's? Go with your gut, but I'm sure they'd rather have you there in black than break the bank to have to buy something in a different color just so you feel you can attend.

That didn't help much did it? sorry ...

LizzyD
 
I see more black at weddings than any other color, regardless of whether is''s an evening or afternoon wedding. Maybe it''s a New York thing?
 
Thanks guys!
 
The dress is slightly below the kneecaps, and I just bought the cutest pair of black strappys so i really want to wear it out! I''m thinking mint green or pink wrap, dangling earrings, hopefully my new marquise pendant, and one ring on each hand... what do you think?
 
Date: 4/4/2005 1:20
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9 PM
Author: lizzyd


There''s protocol, and then there''s style, and the two don''t always meet. How formal is the wedding? How traditional are the bride''s parent''s? Go with your gut, but I''m sure they''d rather have you there in black than break the bank to have to buy something in a different color just so you feel you can attend.

LizzyD
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They didn''t mention how formal it is, and they''re Asian, so as long as i don''t wear red i should be fine. I do have a nice pink dress, but finding shoes to match gave me an even bigger headache, so i just decided to wear black.
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I''ve never not worn black to a wedding (and all black at that too!) except for my own, of course. My bridesmaids wore all black- each one got to wear whatever dress she wanted, as long as it was knee-length, church appropriate, and spaghetti strap. My husband was a little shocked, as he thought black would look funereal, and bumblebee-ish with the yellow flowers, but it all looked very nice.
 
Date: 4/4/2005 1:28
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4 PM
Author: ForteKitty
The dress is slightly below the kneecaps, and I just bought the cutest pair of black strappys so i really want to wear it out! I'm thinking mint green or pink wrap, dangling earrings, hopefully my new marquise pendant, and one ring on each hand... what do you think?
Click to expand...
The pastel-colored wrap sound perfect and will soften up your dress. . .I'm not sure about the jewelry, though. You have many gorgeous pieces, but unless the bride is going to be decked out in jewels, maybe a more minimalist look would be fitting in this situation. . .like just the necklace and a ring. . .???
 
Date: 4/4/2005 1:34:48 PM
Author: Logan Sapphire
I''ve never not worn black to a wedding (and all black at that too!) except for my own, of course. My bridesmaids wore all black- each one got to wear whatever dress she wanted, as long as it was knee-length, church appropriate, and spaghetti strap. My husband was a little shocked, as he thought black would look funereal, and bumblebee-ish with the yellow flowers, but it all looked very nice.
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I wore a long black formal dress to my cousin''s wedding in NYC. It was very appropriate and not out of place at all. The bridesmaids wore a dark burgundy, which under certain lighting looked black anyway....
 
Absolutely.
 
I live in NY and agree that 95% of people wear black, and head-to-toe black, to weddings.
 
Date: 4/4/2005 1:46:46 PM
Author: MichelleCarmen
The pastel-colored wrap sound perfect and will soften up your dress. . .I''m not sure about the jewelry, though. You have many gorgeous pieces, but unless the bride is going to be decked out in jewels, maybe a more minimalist look would be fitting in this situation. . .like just the necklace and a ring. . .???
Click to expand...
Perhaps studs then? i was planning on wearing my ruby 3-stone rhr... do you really think it''ll be too much? I wear it with my marquise frequently, so they''ve all seen that already...
 
Date: 4/4/2005 12:35:33 PM
Author: AGBF

It's not only no longer taboo, but bridesmaids are often dressed in black!
; I don't believe I could bring myself to do it, though!
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AGBF, you must be reading my mind.
I went to two weddings in the US and I was either the only, the the one of two guests not wearing black
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The first time (NYC) I thought I got to the wrong ceremony and that was a funeral, not wedding. The cultural stance got cleared, of course, but the second time around (Newport, RI) I still could not bring myself to wear anything black.

It must be the Romanian traditions lag one generation relative to US fashion
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I attend weddings regularly since I''m a wedding photographer, and I always wear black
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It''s formal and I blend in with the guests. I also don''t stand out in other photos and their video which is always a good thing.

The last time I was a bridesmaid, we all wore black too.
 
I live in NC, and at the last wedding I attended (a winter evening) almost all the women were wearing black dresses. I think it looks elegant!

I did, however, wear pink shoes, just to make it interesting
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Oh, and at my aunt's wedding 10 years ago (also in NC) all the bridesmaids wore long, black dresses.
 
Okay, Ladies (and gentlemen)....

I need some more help. I am a flip-flops/tank top/shorts kind of girl, so this whole dress w/ strappy heels thing is all new to me. My dress is black, and i''m gonna get a lighter wrap... should i get colored strappies? or stick with cute black ones? If I were to go with colors... should it be bright, dark, light, or shiny? And for the purse? This whole thing''s giving me a headache... i am so tempted to just toss on a sundress and wear flip flops, but my friend said NO.
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I think it depends on the wedding. if it''s an evening thing or if it''s very casual it should be okay.
 
NO FLIP FLOPS!!!

There are lots of choices -- all of the them correct. You can get a colored shall and wear black shoes and black bag. Colored shall and matching shoes and bag. Colored shoes and matching shoes and black bag. Colored shall and funky shoes with the color in it and black bag.

I think you can''t go wrong with a black bag... matches everything. Be fun with the shoes and shall -- or class with black shoes.
 
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