When you’re invited to a wedding as a guest, it can sometimes feel like the dress code is just that, a code you need to crack, especially if they want to follow a specific theme and colour palette. However, whether you’re attending a formal or informal wedding, there is one unwritten rule all guests follow: your outfit should never take focus away from or upstage the bride and groom in any way.
Traditionally, this meant that the colour red was a big no no for wedding guests and should be avoided, but feelings around red have shifted as we move into a different time period for weddings. In this article, we will be looking at and answering whether you can wear red to a wedding, so you can feel comfortable in a colour that works for you when attending a wedding and that doesn’t detract from the marrying couple.
Why was red on the wedding outfit blacklist?
There’s no hiding from red, it is a very bold colour and traditionally it has scared both guests and bridesmaids away from wearing it out of fear that it would be too attention-grabbing for a wedding. If you see it in a wedding photo, you can’t help but focus on it, especially if it amongst more neutral and subtle colours like the white of a wedding dress.
What is the current view of wearing red to a wedding?
Over time as weddings have become less restrictive and fixated on the “rules” of the past, so have the outdated ideas concerning guest attire and what colours can and can’t be worn at a wedding. Many couples are now more creative and freer with their wedding designs which as a result broadens the horizons for what guests can wear without feeling like they have made a big mistake or gone against what the couple want.
Therefore, it is definitely no longer thought of as a crime against fashion to wear red at a lot of UK weddings. If you love red and are looking for a stunning dress to wear for a wedding, Maids to Measure has an amazing range of red bridesmaid dresses that can work for bridesmaids and guests alike.
How to dress red for seasonal weddings
Fall and winter weddings
The great thing about red is that there are a lot of different shades which can be very advantageous if you’re dressing for a seasonal wedding. For an autumn or winter wedding, there are a number of red shades that will fit the mood and aesthetic like the increasingly popular burgundy. If you’re a bridesmaid or are looking for a more formal dress as a guest, we have a beautiful collection of burgundy bridesmaid dresses that work perfectly for cold weather weddings.
Margot satin wrap dress in Burgundy
Spring and summer weddings
For spring and summer weddings you might be more drawn to brighter shades of red or potentially moving a bit more in the direction of pink. Our Allegra satin tie shoulder dress can come in a variety of colours and is incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear, perfect for weddings in warmer climates.
Allegra satin tie shoulder dress in rust
Are there any times where you can’t wear red to a wedding?
Naturally you can’t wear red if it has been explicitly said by the couple not to wear the colour. Although this might not be a common occurrence at many weddings, red is a significant and valued colour in certain cultures. Therefore, if you are attending a wedding, you know is incorporating cultural beliefs you should consider that red might already be a big part of the day and isn’t the right colour for this occasion.
Going back to wearing red at UK or other Western culture weddings, it still requires careful consideration. Whilst a lot of couples are more relaxed in terms of traditions, some might want to take a more formal approach and red probably won’t fit in with what they want or the setting in which the wedding is taking place.
Top tips for choosing the right red dress for a wedding
- Be respectful- as mentioned above you should be mindful of the cultural beliefs of the couple when choosing what colour to wear to the wedding. Not only this but if you are wearing red, there are ways to play it down and not go out of your way stand out as this could be perceived as disrespectful to the couple.
- Choose the right shade of red- depending on the season and overall aesthetic the couple of going for, there are many circumstances in which red can look amazing without being overpowering. Maids to Measure offer dresses in light and dark tones to help you find the best option.
- Feel confident in your decision- make sure you are fully happy with your choice of dress as you could be wearing it all day, which isn’t great if the dress makes you uncomfortable or the colour isn’t right for the day. Maids to Measure has a wide selection of comfortable and affordable dresses that are great for both bridesmaids and wedding guests.
Summary
To answer the main question of the article, yes you can wear red to a wedding in most circumstances. However, in some situations you may want to check with the marrying couple that red is acceptable to wear as a guest and it won’t go against their culture or distract from their big day. Explore our range of guest and bridesmaid dresses online today to find the right dress to suit the occasion.
