Guest colors

Its your wedding and you do what you want to do for your wedding. I’ve seen a lot of wedding where they had their guests wear either all white or black. It was actually beautiful. I would just write it below the invitation. Its the same thing of telling people is a formal attire event. 🤷🏾‍♀️

I think it's fine!! It's you and your significant others day and if you want ppl to wear a certain color then that's what you guys want. Not to mention from your post the colors are so easy to find, it's not like you want them to wear a lime green. Enjoy your day and Congrats

View Quoted Comment Exactly but I guess others feel some type of way

View Quoted Comment Thanks and congratulations to you as well

I don’t like being told what I should wear. I went to a wedding where they requested everyone wear a certain color and I had to go buy a new outfit because of it. It left a sour taste in my mouth. Let people wear what they want!

Don’t do it. People will oblige but they won’t like it. And that’s how they will approach your wedding. It’s a blessing that they are attending and want to be a part of your special day. Appreciate that and let people wear what they like. People aren’t going to a costume
Party and they won’t view it as that. And as a bride we shouldn’t unnecessarily add to their expenses to attend. Just my POV.

Maybe you could state that a certain color is preferred but not required. My fiancé and I are doing ours this way and we haven’t received any complaints or negative feedback.

I think it's much to tell your guest what color to wear. It's your wedding and if you don't care what your guests think or care if some people don't come then go for it. If you're concerned about guests wearing the same color as you or people in the wedding then you could ask them not to wear that particular color. But I don't ever see telling guests exactly what you demand they wear going to great with the crowd. The only time you can get away with telling guests how to dress is when the venue has a strict dress code. Otherwise guests know to wear their nicest outfit.

View Quoted Comment 100% agree with you on this.

View Quoted Comment Me neither I though mention it up here just to see but theses or so negative

View Quoted Comment That’s a good idea. Encourage a color scheme but don’t demand it.

View Quoted Comment So just food for thought. I actually know someone who told everyone to wear black to her wedding. Today, a few years later, she regrets it for several reasons. She feels it was obnoxious for one. People won’t complain. They’ll be nice because the bride gets what the bride wants. But consider not putting one more thing on their plates.

View Quoted Comment I see! But do whatever makes y’all happy! We found that most people want to follow the dress code. The color we put as preferred is black and that’s an easy color to find. People do required attire for weddings all the time!

So I guess I think that this issue is a "know your crowd" kind of thing. Our guest list was so small, and we were so very close with all of our invitees that we literally called and spoke to every person individually about if the had any black or white in their closet. 100% of them did, so when we sent out save the dates, we put "black and white attire preferred," but it was very casual in the sense that a) we already knew that people had something they owned already, b) they're mostly theater/artsy people who love color schemes anyway, make their own clothes, and have a blast doing so and c) since our guest list was so small and we knew everyone extremely well, they would have told us to "kindly shove our black and white scheme up our butts" if they thought it was too much. Actually, a lot of people got kinda pumped up about it and sent me pictures. It was a lot of fun. Some people forgot and wore something else, but I didn't care or, to be frank, notice. I don't think many people are in that same unique situation that we were in, though. If I hadn't been so close with everyone I don't think I would recommend it. If our guest list had been any larger, I don't think I would recommend it. I'm sure I'll catch flack for having done it by people on this forum, but again, every one's situation is unique. I agree with some previous posters that most people will oblige because they love you and not say anything, even if they grumble about it behind your back.

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Fortunately, it shouldn't be necessary to say, "don't wear red." Standard wedding etiquette dictates that you don't wear red.

View Quoted Comment I thought the only color you're notnsupposed to wear is white... red is generally okay as long as its not too bright.

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White, black,(it's a wedding, not a funeral) and red. Darker reds, like burgundy, is fine. But, I don't really think of those as red.

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It doesn't matter why you want to dictate what color your guests wear - it's still rude and inappropriate. A wedding reception is not just a party in your honor, it's actually a thank you for the guests who are honoring you with their presence. If you want to remember your father with the colors gold and black, you do so with the decor, your own outfit, the colors your wedding party wears. Not your guests. Your guests are not props. As a host, you have obligations and duties to treat your guests well and put their comfort above your whims and vision. If you (general you) are not willing to do so, you shouldn't have guests.

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No, it doesn't.

View Quoted Comment Agree with this. The only color that is not acceptable per etiquette is whatever the bride is wearing. For the majority, that is white.


Unless the venue requires a certain formality of attire to enter the premises, you can wish and hope all you want that people wear certain things but you cannot mention it in any way. It is not for the hosts to decide or dictate.
Just because something may be common in your social circle or people are too polite to call you (general you) on your rudeness, does not give you free reign to do whatever you want, up to and including denying them entry.

People are so hellbent on erasing etiquette from existence, calling it outdated, etc when it is there for a specific purpose: to guide people through social situations and avoid awkward/rude scenarios from happening. As long as humans coexist, it will never go away, nor should it. Tradition on the other hand is a completely different animal and can be and is changed/dropped/altered at will and no one bats an eye.