Fashion help: what to wear to a wedding reception

[WindRavenX]

My boyfriend and I have been invited to attend a wedding reception in October for his friend (the reason why we can't go to the wedding-- his friend is getting married in a mormon temple and apparently we can't go).

So, since this is my first wedding event thingie (I'm 21 and thankfully none of my friends have married yes), I don't have a thing to wear. I'm tempted to just get a little black dress because 1)it's classy 2)it'll be used more than once.

But is black not allowed for wedding related things? The only thing I know is not to dress so that you up the bride-- but that's a duuuuuuhhh :D

So, is a black dress ok?

[miss_american_pie]

1. Yes, black is okay

Is the reception during the day or evening?

[WindRavenX]

2. I think evening

But I could be mistaken. It wouldn't be during the day, because I'm sure that's when the actual ceremony is...

[miss_american_pie]

3. If you want to wear it again

You can get something simple and make it a little dressier with accessories (unless the invite specifies that it's casual dress).

[WindRavenX]

5. here's what I'm looking at:

It's classy, cute, and I think would be flattering to my curvy, 4'11'' body :D

[miss_american_pie]

6. Oh that's cute

:thumbsup:

[snacker]

9. That's absolutely perfect...

I love that dress.

[WindRavenX]

10. and it's only 40 dollars!

Of course, I need to buy an underwire slip-- I'm a 40D and the girls need support-- so that's another 30...

But still, 40 dollars is a damn good deal, considering my senior prom dress was 150 :D

[tjwmason]

28. If it's evening then black is perfect.

A lighter colour pashmina or similar can be added to lighten the whole effect if you're concerned.

[Patiod]

11. Black is okay if it's not an Irish wedding

The Irish don't do black at weddings

Don't know about Mormons.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. Only

if you post photos.

[WindRavenX]

7. you know what

i'll post them just for you after the reception :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. W00t!

:bounce: :woohoo:

[liontamer]

12. i don't like black for weddings

it's becoming more accepted in america, but still...
Could you possibly get the dress in gray or dark blue?

[legally blonde]

13. black is definitely a good choice

and you will wear it again, trust me. The older you get, the more weddings you'll go to. Also, that dress you picked out is super cute!

[Ramsey]

14. Depends on the venue

Black is considered very formal when worn to a wedding, and thus is OK for an evening wedding, but not for an afternoon or morning wedding. For earlier wedding try a jewel tone (blue, purple, etc.), no reason not to get something you can wear again.

[MaggieSwanson]

15. I was raised Mormon, so here's a tip...

(I'm haven't been a member since I was 15, and I won't go into why here :)) But I have a strong feeling that the majority of guests at the reception will not be wearing sleeveless dresses or low necklines.

I happen to think the dress you are looking at is adorable. Maybe you could bring a little cardigan just in case the religious types make you feel uncomfortable? It might be a kind gesture for the true-believers AND spare you and your boyfriend from the glares from the beehivers, which can wilt a corsage from 10 yards away.

And I speak from experience, having at one time sported a mohawk at just such an event. But I'd do it again! :evilgrin:

:toast: to whatever you decide, and have a great time!

[WindRavenX]

16. thanks for the heads up

:thumbsup:

I have tattoos and piercings, so it'll be fun regardless...I'm used to being the 'odd' bird at formal events...

[MaggieSwanson]

17. Glad to hear it.

And black will be just fine, it's even OK for mother of the bride/groom any more.

Thank goodness, or I'd be SOL!

[pitohui]

19. yeah maggie i think that dress has a chance of being inappropriate

and i think you are a very tactful person for figuring out how to put it so nicely!

[pitohui]

18. no, don't do it, black is tacky, white is tacky

sorry, some people will try to pretend otherwise but v. traditional people at least some of them at the reception will be hurt and displeased behind your back abt the black dress

this is not a funeral or a chamber music recital

it's a wedding reception!

for the love of all that's unholy don't wear black unless you really do just want to make some older people feel bad and why do that?

okay, on reading the other replies, i'm just shaking my head but let's try it this way -- should the bride's wedding reception be about YOU and how cool you are and how many tattoos and piercings you can show off and how you're too arty to wear anything except black? or should it just maybe be abt the bride, who has chosen to marry in a mormon ceremony after all

i think it would be an act of kindness to either wear something appropriate or not go and let the bride be the star of her own show

[liontamer]

27. i agree

just because you can wear something doesn't mean you should. especially if it's someone's wedding.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Here's a whole site of Little Black Dresses

Wow! Cool fashion!

http://www.edressme.com/blackdresses.html

[WindRavenX]

21. those are nice-- too bad they're out of my price range!

But if I had money...

[Whoa_Nelly]

24. Steal the fashion and find a similar pattern

have your dress made by someone you know that sews :D

[In_The_Wind]

23. Yay! Thank you for another great shopping link!

:hi:

[Haole Girl]

22. I found the below article. It says it better than I can:

The trick is now to wear something that is both according to the dress code and attractive at the same time. You don’t want to outshine the bride and the groom, so try to stay a bit more neutral then usual.

http://ut.essortment.com/howtodressfor_rnoh.htm

[LeftyMom]

25. I wouldn't go with black unless it's an evening thing

Even then it wouldn't be my first choice. Seriously, this is a Mormon wedding, the uptightitude will be extreme. Surely you have that one uptight relative who is impossible to please? Chances are very good a whole lot of her ideological brethren will be there and you've already got two strikes against you by being 1. somebody who doesn't hold a temple reccomend and thus can't attend the wedding itself 2. somebody who (gasp!) isn't even mormon at all. Unless you want to get a lot of stink-eyed old ladies looking at you, you'll want to be feminine and very covered. At least cap sleeves and your skirt shouldn't be any shorter than just above the knee- bear in mind that the adult mormon attendees will be selecting clothes that doen't show thier garments so if you wear anything with shoulder, back or upper leg showing this will stick out to them and mark you as more of an outsider. Probably a traditionally feminine color rather than black would be a good choice as well (blask is really only okay for formal or semi-formal evening weddings and receptions anyhow.)

[radwriter0555]

26. A little black dress is perfectly fine!

Comfortable dressy sandals, a nice small purse/evening bag, hair nicely done, scarf or shawl/sweater/jacket in case it's chilly and you're a fashion DO!

[crispini]

29. Honestly, it's a cute dress, but I'd go with something a wee bit more

traditional. Get yourself something in dark blue, maybe in a pattern, with a scoop neck and short sleeves, and you'll be able to wear it for years to come at countless weddings. Make it kinda short to show off the legs, if you want to be hot. For some reason I think legs are more acceptable than cleavage or shoulders at a wedding, at least that's my guess.