WHEN it comes to weddings, there are a strict set of dress code guidelines to follow.
One woman’s potential pick for her friend’s big day managed to break multiple style rules in one foul swoop.
In a Reddit post, user Blatherskitefight shared a picture of the dress she was considering for the occasion.
As well as including photos of the front and back of the gown, the wedding guest offered some context to the theme of the day.
“I’m going to a backyard wedding next week and just realized that the website calls for formal attire,” she said.
The Redditor explained that her wardrobe options were limited given the weather.
“I only have fall/winter formal dresses that would have been way too hot in this heat, so I scoured the internet and found this beauty,” she wrote.
The floor-length red strappy dress featured a tight-fitting boned corset bodice.
A view from the back showed the straps crisscrossing and the ties for the corset.
The bright red material also appeared to scrunch just below the corset, at the lower back.
Before seeking the opinion of her fellow Reddit users, she added the gown to her cart.
“It arrived today and fits like a glove,” the poster reported back.
Despite the perfect fit, she became hesitant about the dress, questioning if it was appropriate for a wedding.
“I knew it was red, but didn’t appreciate until I had it on that it’s fully fire engine red,” she said.
Reddit users shared their thoughts on the gown in the comments section.
“Dresses of that style are usually cheaply made and look cheap,” pointed out one reader.
“I am concerned about the quality of the dress, the lace up back and ruched butt look a bit on the cheap side.”
By Josie Griffiths, Fabulous deputy editor and bride-to-be.
Josie Griffiths said: I’ll never forget the wedding I went to in October 2022 where a guest wore a white dress.
It was ill-fitting, knee length and looked nothing like an actual wedding dress, but that didn’t stop everyone judging her.
The rules on wedding guest outfits – which are annoyingly loads stricter for women than they are for men – are meant to be about “not upstaging the bride”, which in reality is quite hard to do on someone else’s wedding day.
But if you get it wrong as a guest, you do end up looking a bit silly, and in front of loads of people who don’t know you personally.
It’s just not the occasion for your new white dress, as much as online stores love dumping them in the ‘wedding guest’ section.
I’d avoid anything too tight/short, and ditch super formal gowns unless the dress code calls for them – you don’t want to be in a full length sequin gown at a smart casual event.
Personally I don’t like black dresses either, it isn’t a funeral.
Otherwise you should be pretty safe. Technically wearing red means you’re in love with the groom, but that’s the kind of rule most people would scoff at nowadays.
I do always check what colour the bridesmaids are in, just to be safe, after the Spanish wedding where I watched them walk down the aisle in the exact same dress I’d had in my Asos shopping basket just weeks earlier.
If in doubt, safest to just double check with the bride… but if you’re already doubting your dress that might be all the answer you need.
“I think the bright red color, boning, tie up back, and butt ruching all make it way too much for the occasion,” agreed another person.
“It looks like a prom dress, is very low in the back, and it is a loud red,” said a third Redditor.
“I probably wouldn’t wear it to a backyard wedding.”
“I think it’s too much,” wrote another reader.
I think a tieback cheapens the look of a dress and when you combine the tie back with the tight fit and boning, the bright red fabric, it’s not a good look for a wedding.”
