Ask Angie and All: Wedding Color Etiquette

So I know this may seem a silly question but I wonder about color etiquette for guests at a wedding.

I found a nice pair of jacquard navy pants. Kind of a sheen to them and they are dressy -- esp. if I wear the right top, jewelry, etc.. My preferred shoes are black dressy sandal type heels. I'm waaaayyy more of a pants girl than a dress girl. Always have been.

Wedding is an evening event and the colors are supposed to be "pink and gold" and white for the bride.

So my color questions are:
- I haven't found the right navy silk top but even if I do - would that be the best outfit (all navy I mean, or should I stop searching and break it up with options below).

- Are white tops off limits for a wedding or are they okay? I probably wouldn't wear white, but I still wonder about the etiquette part just in case it comes up.

- Would a pink top be poor etiquette - I love hotter pinks (since the wedding colors are pink/gold)? I'm not in the wedding and will likely only be in a couple of photos as an aunt.

- Would black dressy top with navy pants and a bright pink skinny belt and a necklace with pink, gold and other colors work? I was hoping the belt and necklace would be enough with my toenails painted similar pink to add some "bookend" color (looks pretty nice even without the belt, DH approves, and I'd only need to add the belt) My bag woudl be an elegant small black clutch or a hot pink clutch (both in closet)

12 years ago

Anonymous

I think shades of white are less important if you are not one of the bride's contemporaries...especially if just worn on one half of your body and your entire ensemble doesn't make you look "bridal" in any way. You could ask the bride how she feels about this (and the pink) just to be sure. A friend of mine borrowed my white hi-lo skirt to wear to her son's beach wedding last year, and her DIL didn't mind a bit.

The pink top idea and the black top sound intriguing. I hope you will post pics!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure about navy and hot pink together, that just doesn't seem like it would work - for me anyway. But I think a white, bone or cream blouse would be classy.

I'm also thinking about wearing a tux jacket with pants to a fall wedding.

milehighstyle (Linda)

For what it's worth, InStyle magazine suggests hot pink as a pairing with navy. Also kelly green, orange and turquoise. I also agree that a white top would not look like you are competing with the bride in any way and a pink top with pants would not look like you are matching the bridal party.

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unfrumped

I've always thought of hot pink and navy as a classic and common combination.

I think of 3 main "rules":
1) avoid a lot of white, so the bride stands out..
2)Don't look like a bridesmaid.
3) Not a rule, but I don't expect wedding guests to do the bride's "colors", whatever they are, in any way--meaning, okay not to wear any pink or gold whatsoever.

For #1, I think the white top isn't a deal-breaker but is all in the styling and presentation.So ideally, I would not wear a major white top or white jacket where that's mainly what you see. A white shell under a jacket is quite different. Or maybe a white top with a scarf or colored statement necklace. That's just me, trying to keep things simple and not feel I might be straying into bride territory.

The pink is more in the actual color--if you actually want to wear pink (as above, would not choose that just because is wedding color) . If you knew the bridesmaids were wearing hot pink and you are considering buying a top that is the exact shade, that would't be ideal. But obviously not all wedding guests even know the "colors" nor what shades, and so I don't think guests are held to such a coordinating standard with clothes they may have picked out.

Heh, my bridesmaids wore navy blue dresses and carried hot pink flowers, so I'm partial to that color combination.

All of your ideas sound lovely but not bridal at all, so I really wouldn't worry about competing.

texstyle

Thanks for far for the words of wisdom. I wonder if Angie will have time to chime in. And it's true, most guests would not know the wedding colors so it would be a little much to except no one to wear pink or gold. I think the bridesmaid's colors may be a paler pink but I think I'm going to opt for the non-pink blouse and stick with a few hot pink accents (belt, necklace, toenails) just to be on the conservative side. I'm leaning still towards the black top since it is a good color for me and it's an evening affair with reception following.

texstyle, I think that would look very nice and no rules broken whatsoever!

Suz

I LOVE hot pink (or cool pink...fuchsia) with navy.

I also don't think it would be a problem to wear a white top, if it doesn't look bridal.

Then again, perhaps I'm not the ideal person to ask. As a bride, I couldn't have cared less whether my guests wore colours that my bridesmaids wore (my bridesmaids actually wore different colours) or whether anybody wore white. In fact, if somebody else had wanted to come in a wedding dress I wouldn't have cared! As long as I felt good in what I was wearing, that's all that mattered - I wanted my guests to be comfortable and to feel pretty.

pil

Option 3 as you have described it sounds really nice.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I have often worn white tops to day weddings, but never white from head to toe.

As far as colour etiquette goes these days - at Western weddings, it's really just about not wearing a white dress so as not to upstage the the bride.

Could you provide a link to the pants, Tex?

Deborah

Tex your proposed outfit sounds lovely. Any of the options would be appropriate IMHO and would look stunning.

Angie - The navy pants are BR textured Hamptons. The image on screen doesn't do them justice -- they have a much better sheen in person and look quite dressy. They are super comfortable and fit me pretty much like what you see on the model in terms of length. What do you think of the length? I know you are very picky about that ankle length. I will wear heeled sandals in near black.

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=325442012.

I have a colorful pink/gold/raspberry enameled set necklace that adds some style and color to the outfit and a gold/hot pink bracelet (vintage) and I have considered a pink belt.

I know the pants well! I am not crazy about the length and wholeheartedly believe they should be shorter or longer. I am THAT stubborn

Is this a casual wedding, Tex?

I like the sound of the jewelry - very fab - what were you thinking for on top?

They could be let down, maybe one inch - if shortened, what length do you think? I'm about 5'6"

The wedding is in summer at a church and a dinner reception following at a nicer hotel.

I'd wear on top either a draping v-neck sleeveless black top, or a navy lace layered top (but the all blue tends to look a bit "nautical" to me) or a silky white v-neck sleeveless top (yet to be found).

Edit: I should have added, that there are very few events in Texas that I would consider truly "formal" but it is a wedding for the son of a successful businessman, so of course I want to look nice, be comfortable and not stand out.

Here's similar top to the black one I have:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/vi.....rl=Blouses

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