Don’t wear white!

I mean that's a pretty universal faux paus, I'm surprised you've seen it more than once...

I would just use word or mouth. Mention it to your BMs and close family to help spread the word casually. Most people already know.

If you have a wedding website itd go nicely there in an faq section

I feel Like this is a pretty well known do not do this at weddings.

The last few weddings I’ve been to there has been at least one person in white 🙄 it’s makes my blood boil even as a guest. But honestly, I think everyone is going to judge that guest so hardcore for having the nerve to show up in white that you don’t even have to worry about it. They’re just making themselves look bad.

I’m having a small wedding and everyone has asked me what to wear I gave a general outline of what I’d like to see them in but I made it very clear... please don’t wear all black or all white. I’d prefer no dark colors but the biggest no no was wearing all white. especially since it’s a small event they would be in lots of pics and it would drive me crazy. So just get the word out talk to BM and maybe even some of the guests and family members.

I am worried about my FMIL pulling something like this, since she has done it at someone else's wedding in the past, and it was just... a bad sight. I wasn't physically at that wedding because it was long before I was with FH, but I saw pictures and I was shocked. I don't know if there's really any way to say "Hey to my lovely guests, please refrain from wearing white." Because I honestly think most people wouldn't think to do that. And if they do, don't stress because everyone knows you're the bride. No one would ever be able to upstage you or take their eyes off of you. If a person (especially a lady) wears white to your wedding (and further more a white gown that looks like a wedding dress) they will look downright ridiculous.

View Quoted Comment Lol same I saw pictures of mine wearing white and she said it was a soft pink 😂

View Quoted Comment

HAHA! What a laugh! Soft pink. LMAO!!

I’ve had a few family members ask me what colors they should wear and I basically said my dress isn’t white. Wear what you want as long as you’re not in the white, ivory, champagne family of colors.

Maybe on the website or invite you can do a cute little poem. Something like: “Cocktail attire: wear your dancing shoes and something that looks just right, the only color off limits is what I’ll be dressed in - white!”

In a word, no. There is no way, politely, to say that. The usual etiquette does not say, no white at weddings. It says, no white dress that looks bridal ( in style and fabrics ). At a formal or semi formal wedding, that pretty much means very few white dresses would be okay, as most white formal dresses could pass for bridal. But for a daytime wedding it has always been fine to wear a white or cream skirt suit or pants suit, either in materials like wool boucle, or in a severe tailored style. Nothing about the material or style say bridal, for either one, especially with a colored blouse or accessories. Since so many brides do not wear white, ivory, or cream, it is often fine for non brides to wear white. Just not look like a bride. And you cannot prohibit others from wearing a color because it is your gown color. You may think some guest wearing white is rude, but there is no way to stop it that is not equally rude. And for all the people I have seen wear white at weddings, only once have I ever seen anyone look at all bridal. Most either wore suits like worn by Queen Elizabeth, solid, sensible, matronly though of elegant design. Or Palazzo pants in black with a white top. The one exception was a bride's mother in a white Cinderella type ball gown. And people actively laughed at her. She was no more competition for the bride's spotlight than a chimp in a flowered hat. It simply is not worth worrying about.

You'd think that it would be well known not to do this right? But somehow there's always someone who misses the memo?

I'd just put something like "Dress Code: Formal, no white please"

Can't make it more obvious.

No there really isn't a way to 100% prevent this. There isn't really a polite / within etiquette way to say "don't wear white to my wedding!" It's generally known not to wear white to a wedding, but if someone did happen to show up wearing white, would it really ruin your day that much? This is one of those things that you can't really control, and not worth stressing over.

You may have to tell them directly, in a nice way of course. People wearing white to a wedding doesn't bother me because it's quite common in my culture. I didn't know about the "no white rule" until I've gotten older.

View Quoted Comment

OMG yes. For my wedding I am wearing a white knee length boat neck shift dress. A month or two after seeing my dress, my FMIL sent me a selfie of her in a white knee length boat neck shift dress with a light blue pattern you can barely see, it just looks like my dress. We had talked previously about her checking in with me about what to wear. I told her that it was too white and too much like my dress. She gave me a little attitude, but came to terms with it and found a different dress.

I have never seen it. Maybe people with heavily flowered dresses with a base of white but otherwise never seen it! FAQ page on website seems good enough to put that information. The little poem someone wrote above is nice

I never wear white other than an occasional t-shirt. I'm a messy eater. Maybe I'll get a bib for wedding day.

Most people will have the courtesy to not wear white, so I wouldn't say anything. If someone does show up in white, that will only make them look rude!

I’m so paranoid about other people wearing white that I’m planning on having appropriate dresses in a variety of sizes available “behind the scenes” for people to change into if they wear white. Better safe than sorry!