Long Dress Appropriate for Guests?

[brightlight]

I normally don''t wear long dresses to weddings. I feel like they''re more formal than other dresses, and I feel like the bride should have the fanciest dress at the wedding. However, I''m considering wearing a long dress to an upcoming wedding and was wondering what other people thought.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It would help to know if the bridesmaids and mothers are wearing long dresses. If not, I certainly wouldn''t want to be the only one besides the bride in a long dress! But I''d think it would be okay if others in the wedding party are wearing long dresses.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 10:06:44 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
It would help to know if the bridesmaids and mothers are wearing long dresses. If not, I certainly wouldn''t want to be the only one besides the bride in a long dress! But I''d think it would be okay if others in the wedding party are wearing long dresses.

I think one of the mothers is wearing a long dress. I''m actually not even sure if the bride will be wearing a long gown.

 

[happydreams]

What do you mean by long dress? DO you mean a gown? Like a fancy one? Depends on what kind of wedding it is.
If it''s a dressy wedding, I would think it''s fine. If the wedding is more casual, yeah, I would reconsider.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 10:12:35 PM
Author: happydreams
What do you mean by long dress? DO you mean a gown? Like a fancy one? Depends on what kind of wedding it is.
If it''s a dressy wedding, I would think it''s fine. If the wedding is more casual, yeah, I would reconsider.

That''s part of the problem for me. I have no idea how fancy the wedding is. All I know is that it''s a church ceremony, and the reception is at an expensive hotel.

The dress is just a basic silk dress with a sweetheart neckline with an A-line skirt. That''s it.

 

[brightlight]

Btw, I''m pretty sure some of the older women at the wedding will also be wearing long dresses.

 

[happydreams]

well, you aren''t exactly wearing red! i think it''s perfectly fine, especially if reception is at an expensive hotel.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 10:23:55 PM
Author: happydreams
well, you aren''t exactly wearing red! i think it''s perfectly fine, especially if reception is at an expensive hotel.

Speaking of red, is that still a no-no? I''ve heard people go both ways on the red issue, but I''ve tended to be safe and stay away from red. A guest wore a red dress at a previous wedding I went to, and no one noticed (well, except me).

 

[happydreams]

oh...I personally think it''s fine. but i was imaging a long red dress - that would be kind of weird. it''s too attention grabbing.
i think red is fine for weddings, but long red is a bit dressy. Do you want to post the pic you are planning on wearing so others can comment?

 

[brooklyngirl]

I don''t think it depends on the length of the dress as much as the style of the dress. Also, it sounds like it''s a pretty formal wedding if the ceremony is in a church, and reception in a fancy hotel.

I wasn''t aware of this rule previously, and I would think it doesn''t make much sense, since not everyone is comfortable wearing shorter dresses.

Now you make me wonder -- I went to a wedding last month, wore a long dress, but the MOB/MOG weren''t wearing long dresses. Was that a faux pas on my part

 

[doodle]

What time is the wedding? It''d definitely be more acceptable for an evening wedding than an earlier one. Absolute worst, take some safety pins with you and if you feel it''s too formal, you can pin it and turn it into a bubble skirt dress.

Yes, I''m a dork.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 10:42:32 PM
Author: happydreams
oh...I personally think it''s fine. but i was imaging a long red dress - that would be kind of weird. it''s too attention grabbing.
i think red is fine for weddings, but long red is a bit dressy. Do you want to post the pic you are planning on wearing so others can comment?

Yes, I think red is fine too.
Unfortunately I don''t have a picture, but it''s black silk.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 10:48:56 PM
Author: brooklyngirl
I don''t think it depends on the length of the dress as much as the style of the dress. Also, it sounds like it''s a pretty formal wedding if the ceremony is in a church, and reception in a fancy hotel.

I wasn''t aware of this rule previously, and I would think it doesn''t make much sense, since not everyone is comfortable wearing shorter dresses.

Now you make me wonder -- I went to a wedding last month, wore a long dress, but the MOB/MOG weren''t wearing long dresses. Was that a faux pas on my part

I don''t think it''s an actual rule. I''m just paranoid about wearing a dress that''s too attention grabbing. I think you''re fine ... unless you were wearing a ball gown.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 11:37:27 PM
Author: doodle
What time is the wedding? It''d definitely be more acceptable for an evening wedding than an earlier one. Absolute worst, take some safety pins with you and if you feel it''s too formal, you can pin it and turn it into a bubble skirt dress.

Yes, I''m a dork.

It''s a late afternoon ceremony and an evening reception.

 

[brightlight]

Thanks for all your comments ladies!

 

[doodle]

Kinda funny--where I''m from, people would respond negatively to someone wearing black to a wedding but would be unlikely to notice the length of a dress. Ultimately, the "rules" are inconstant, and what is appropriate is entirely based on what''s appropriate for your social circle. Poll your friends, or anyone else you know who will be attending, and dress according to how they''re dressing, and you''ll be fine. I think if it''s causing you pause, you''d probably do better to just wear something else and not have to worry about being dressed inappropriately. Either way though, posting pics is always fun for us, tehe!

 

[brightlight]

Date: 5/22/2009 11:50:28 PM
Author: doodle
Kinda funny--where I''m from, people would respond negatively to someone wearing black to a wedding but would be unlikely to notice the length of a dress. Ultimately, the ''rules'' are inconstant, and what is appropriate is entirely based on what''s appropriate for your social circle. Poll your friends, or anyone else you know who will be attending, and dress according to how they''re dressing, and you''ll be fine. I think if it''s causing you pause, you''d probably do better to just wear something else and not have to worry about being dressed inappropriately. Either way though, posting pics is always fun for us, tehe!

You know, when I first started going to weddings, I assumed it was inappropriate to wear black. Then, I saw just how many ladies wore black dresses to weddings.

 

[tropiqalkiwi]

I am really hoping my female guests wear long dresses. But on my website I gave the dress code "black tie optional" and my bridesmaids/mob & mog are all in long dresses too.

 

[ilovesparkles]

I can''t think of a single reason why you can''t wear a long dress to a wedding! Any wedding, at any time of the year, no matter where it is. I don''t believe length has anything to do with anything, but the feel of the dress has to do with every thing!

Is it satin, taffeta, cotton, chiffon, lacy? What is the material?

How dressy is it? You can wear a long sun dress, but that doesn''t make it formal!

Is there beading? Sequins? Lace detail?


Are you catching my drift? To me, length is a personal preference, not a factor in how formal the dress is. I won''t wear anything knee length or shorter for comfort reasons. It''s just personal taste I guess.

 

[meresal]

Think a long dress is appropriate for evening formal wedding... otherwise, I would stick with something short, especially if the family/bride aren''t even wearing long dresses.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/23/2009 12:17:01 PM
Author: meresal
Think a long dress is appropriate for evening formal wedding... otherwise, I would stick with something short, especially if the family/bride aren''t even wearing long dresses.

Ditto! What I said earlier is certainly not a rule. I just personally wouldn''t want to stand out at a wedding by wearing something no one else was wearing. This wedding sounds appropriate to wear a long dress, IMO.