How to dress for a wedding (without overshadowing the bride) (2024)

FAQs

How do you not overshadow the bride? ›

No see-through tops, anything bare-backed or plunging necklines, or anything that can totally upstage the bride! What you can wear is plenty. If the wedding is quite a formal affair, it is perfectly acceptable to wear black or white, but you need to make sure you're accessorizing with a brighter color.

Another way to wear white to a wedding is to opt for white separates instead of a white dress. A white blouse or skirt paired with a colourful blazer or shoes can be a great way to incorporate white into your outfit without looking like you're trying to steal the bride's thunder.

What we recommend you wearing for a daytime wedding, is a swing or tea dress. As we mentioned earlier, this style of dress is one sure to stand the test of time, while ensuring you look quite the opposite of matronly.

It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally. Sabatino suggests that men show up in a jacket and tie, even when the invitation says casual.

Shelley Brown, bridal style expert and former senior editor at The Knot says, “The general rule of thumb has always been: don't upstage the bride (or the couple).

Don't Look Like You're Competing with the Bride

So, don't choose gowns or dresses that would overpower the bridal gown. Also, try to avoid loud patterns that will overwhelm in photos and make you stand out from the rest of the wedding party.

However, nowadays, the idea that you must be 'pure' in order to wear a white dress is rather outdated. Many brides choose to wear white on their wedding day, even if they aren't a virgin, or even if they have children already. These days, white is merely chosen because it's traditional.

There's an easy way to gauge if your floral ensemble is appropriate or not for a wedding. "If it's a pattern with a white base or a print with white in it, I would suggest sticking to a rough visual ratio of 75 percent color to 25 percent white," says Gabrielle Hurwitz of Gabrielle Hurwitz Bridal Styling.

"In this case, I find only one: It is OK to wear white if, and only if, the couple has specifically requested that white attire be worn," she says. "In this case, the attire will be specifically mentioned in the invitation.

A-Line Dresses: A-line dresses are a classic choice for mothers of the bride. This silhouette gently skims over the waist and hips, creating an elongated and slimming effect. Choose a dress with vertical details, such as pleats or vertical lace panels, to further enhance the illusion of length.

What should the mother of the bride not do? ›

These days, virtually anything goes—formal gown, short or long dress, skirt-and-jacket ensemble—so long as it matches the style of the wedding. Brides can be very helpful by encouraging "the moms" to work together in choosing their outfits.

"Tradition dictates guests avoid wearing red out of fear that it could take attention away from the happy couple,” explains Hurwitz. “Visually, it's quite bold. In a photo, your eye is immediately drawn to the color, especially if it's next to neutrals like white, black, gray, or beige.”

We advise against wearing white to weddings, but a printed dress with a hint of white or ivory is definitely approved. A black-and-white dress is a classic choice, as long as the pattern isn't too distracting.

Fit-and-flare Wedding Guest Dresses For Women Over 60

Fit-and-flare dresses whether knee-length or longer are chic and flattering. It has a defined waistline and fits closer to the body but is not too tight which makes it uncomfortable. This forgiving silhouette fits every body type.

Don't Look Like You're Competing with the Bride

Your daughter's wedding day is a moment to celebrate her, not compete with her. So, a basic rule of wedding etiquette is that the mother of the bride should not outshine her daughter. So, don't choose gowns or dresses that would overpower the bridal gown.

Saying "congratulations" to a bride-to-be would infer a victory, as if she had conquered something impossible: landing a husband! “Saying congratulations to a bride implies that she has won something – her groom. The groom is to be congratulated for getting the lady to accept his marriage proposal.

Rethink the sparkles.

Of course you wanna win best-dressed guest, but you don't want everyone's eyes to be on you...and off the bride. Instead of over-the-top sequins, try other textures like ruffles, lace, or plissé for a look that stands out, but doesn't literally shine.

A very common wedding superstition to this day is that the groom mustn't see the bride before the wedding. This emerged from a time when arranged marriages were commonplace, and was practiced to ensure the groom would go through with the marriage regardless of the bride-to-be's identity or appearance.