Who doesn’t love a wedding? From the yummy three-tier cake to the emotional, heart-string-pulling vows, being invited to share the celebrations of the biggest day of a couple’s life is nothing short of a privilege and honor – but that doesn’t mean weddings don’t come with their fair share of stress.
Alongside trying to get the day off work, booking the hotel, and sorting out the transportation, one of the most stressful aspects of preparing to attend a wedding is (you guessed it) sorting out your outfit.
From the price to the design, comfortability to the color – there’s a lot to think about, and the color scheme is something that you don’t want to get wrong.
If you’re currently considering wearing red to the wedding, then we can certainly see why you might want to do that. Not only is red a super flattering and attention grabbing color, but it’s also the color of love – so what better place to wear red than at a wedding?
Well, as it turns out, wearing red isn’t always such a good idea – and we’re here to help you figure out whether or not you should wear a red outfit or ditch for something a little more neutral. Below, you’ll find all the do’s and don’ts for wearing red at a wedding, as well as some more context on why it’s such a controversial color. Let’s jump in!
Why is red a controversial wedding outfit color?
Even though it is widely accepted that ivory, cream and white should never be worn to a wedding in fear of upstaging the bride, red is another color that many people believe should not be worn at a wedding.
Besides being deemed as disrespectful by many, red is also a vibrant color that has the ability to pull focus entirely away from the bride, which is the main issue that many people have with it. For this reason, it is generally considered good manners to opt for neutral colors, instead.
When is it okay to wear red at a wedding?
If you’d like to wear red at a wedding, then more often than not you should find that the bride is totally fine with it.
The main colors that are a total no-no at weddings are white, ivory, and cream (so that you aren’t clashing with the bride) so red will usually be fine to wear, so long as the couple hasn’t stated otherwise, in which case you should opt for something else.
Full length portrait of newlywed couple having fun with bridesmaids and groomsmen in green sunny park
Nevertheless, even though there isn’t technically anything wrong with choosing to wear red to a wedding, some people believe red to be a disrespectful color to wear, as it is attention-grabbing and may pull focus away from the bride – who is the star of the day.
For this reason, if you do have your heart set on wearing red, then we recommend that you opt to wear an outfit that is a deep shade of red, as this will be less vibrant and eye-catching and, in turn, will be deemed as being a respectful and appropriate color scheme for a wedding day.
In addition to this, if you’re ever unsure about whether or not it is suitable for you to wear red to a wedding, then you could simply opt to speak with the bride and groom and ask them whether they are okay with it or not. After all, it is their wedding day and their wishes will need to be respected.
Of course, if the bride and groom have specifically requested that all guests wear red or an accessory that is red in color, then this will of course be a scenario in which red is absolutely appropriate to wear to a wedding.
When isn’t it okay to wear red at a wedding?
In some instances, red may be seen as a rude and disrespectful color to wear to a wedding, because it has the potential to pull focus away from the bride and groom.
In addition to this, it is also not recommended that you wear red if you are planning on attending a Chinese wedding, as red is usually a color that is worn by brides on their big day.
You should also refrain from wearing red if the couple has specifically stated that they do not want that color worn to their wedding. As we have already said above, if you’re ever unsure, just reach out and ask the bride and groom directly – it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Final Thoughts
Wrapping up, if you’re planning on attending a wedding soon, then we recommend that you try to be as mindful as possible when deciding whether or not to wear red, as it can be seen as disrespectful to some people, as well as potentially destructive to the bride’s dress.
More specifically, you should be especially careful of wearing red if you are attending a Chinese wedding, as you will need to be respectful of Chinese wedding traditions and refrain from wearing anything that is the same color as the Bride’s qipao, which often features the color red.
Needless to say, if you would like to go ahead and wear red, then we recommend that you consider wearing a red dress that is perhaps a deeper shade of red, as this will certainly be less distracting and attention-pulling than a cherry red number.
In addition to this, you could also simply choose to talk to the bride prior to the big day and ask her personally whether or not it would be ok to wear red.
Of course, you don’t need to ask for permission, but it is generally considered to be good manners to do so and will show that you are being respectful to the bride’s wishes on her big day.
Ultimately, however, you should make sure that you are wearing an outfit that you feel most comfortable and confident in, as that is what is most important. Thank you for reading!
