Wedding Guest Dos + Don'ts - Red Dress Code

Wedding Guest Dos + Don’ts — Red Dress Code

My best friend says that I cannot wear my new knockout red dress to an upcoming wedding because it is not appropriate wedding guest dress code attire to wear a bright red dress. Red is my color and the style is my lucky style!

Why does she think I shouldn’t wear a red dress to our mutual friend’s wedding? It’s a beautiful bright and happy dress!

–Lucy, Newport, RI

Hi Lucy,

Red is a truly gorgeous color and since you can wear red — and not all of us can — it seems like a natural to you, but put the red dress aside for another special occasion. Red is the foremost attention-grabbing color.

*In many circles, it is considered poor etiquette to wear a red dress to a wedding , because it is an act of rudeness to the bride — and might even bring you bad luck.

There are not as many dos and don’ts to wedding dress code etiquette as you might expect, but wearing a red dress is at the top of the list.

All eyes should be on the bride — who, by the way, is the only person wearing an all-white dress at her wedding.

A red dress at any wedding is a distraction. By wearing a red dress you would be saying to those assembled, “Look at me!”

There are many beautiful less obvious reddish hues that you could wear that won’t make you stick out as blatantly as bright red. Go with any shade of light or dark coral or pink, such as: blush, cherry, ruby, currant.

Going into fall and winter the colors, burgundy, wine, cranberry, blush, ruby and berry would all be more subtle shades of red. Stay away from bright red, rose, scarlet, candy red, and crimson.

In the photo below, your eyes immediately go to the women wearing red dresses first — before they gaze at the bride.