Can You Wear White to a Wedding? Ivory, Prints and Shoes

Not as a guest at most Western weddings: white belongs to the bride, and so do ivory, cream and anything that looks white in photos. White is fine when the couple asks for it, and in small doses like shoes, a bag or a print on a colored background.

The rule itself is simple. The edge cases are where guests get stuck: the cream midi you already own, the floral dress on a white background, the white sandals that go with everything. Here's where the line usually sits, and what to wear when white is out.

Why you can't wear white to a wedding as a guest

White is the bride's color at most Western weddings, and wearing white to a wedding as a guest can look as if you're competing with her, or as if you didn't think about it. Even if nobody says a word on the day, the photos last. A guest in a white dress standing near the bride in a group shot is the kind of detail people notice for years.

The custom is younger than it feels. Queen Victoria married in a white gown in 1840, and the White House Historical Association notes that her dress helped popularize the white bridal look, though it wasn't the only origin. Many brides still wear white or something close to it, so guests leave it to them.

The courtesy covers the whole day, not only the ceremony. A white dress for the reception still sits next to the bride in every photo, and some brides wear white to the rehearsal dinner and the bridal shower too, so the same thinking applies there.

Ivory, cream and colors that look white

Cream and ivory count as white at a wedding, so it's best not to wear either as a guest. In a room full of color, and especially in photos, an ivory dress reads as white, and a cream dress next to a white gown looks like a near-match. The same goes for off-white, eggshell and bone.

A few other shades sit close to the line:

• Champagne and pale gold. Some brides choose a gown that's more gold than white, so WeddingWire suggests skipping outfits that are mostly gold or champagne.
• Pale silver. WeddingWire notes that even pale silver can feel bridal, so it's worth avoiding too.
• Barely-there blush, mint or lilac. A pastel with very little color in it can look white or ivory in photos. Pick a shade where the color is obvious.

Deeper versions of the same shades are easy to wear. Dusty rose, a clear lavender, powder blue or a soft sage keep their color in photos, so they give you the light, pretty look without the question.

White floral dresses and other prints

A white floral dress is usually fine for a wedding when the flowers cover most of it, and not when white is the first color you see. Big blooms on a navy, green or pink background read as a floral dress. A few small flowers scattered over a white or ivory dress still read as a white dress, especially from across a room.

WeddingWire draws the line at patterns that are mostly white or ivory, and that's a fair rule of thumb. Look at the dress from a few steps back, or at the listing photo shrunk down on your phone. If it still looks mostly white, choose another one.

Black and white works the same way. A bold black-and-white print, like a graphic floral or polka dots on a black background, reads as a pattern and is usually fine. A white dress with black trim or a tiny black print reads as white. Lace is the other catch: white or ivory lace looks bridal even in a short cut, so save it for another event.

White shoes, bags and jewelry

Yes, you can usually wear white shoes to a wedding. Shoes, a bag and jewelry are small next to a dress, and white sandals or a white clutch with a colored dress won't be mistaken for anything bridal.

The catch is how much white you add. White shoes, a white bag and a white wrap with a pale dress add up to a near-white outfit. Keep white to one or two accessories, choose plain styles, and skip satin pumps with pearl or bow trim, since those are the details bridal shoes are known for.

Jewelry is the easy part. Pearl earrings or a pearl necklace suit almost any guest dress and don't make an outfit bridal on their own.

A white or ivory wrap needs more thought. Over a navy, black or bright dress it's usually fine; over a pale dress it can look bridal in photos, so pick a wrap with more color. Our guide to shawls and wraps for dresses has evening fabrics, and wedding guest shoes covers heels by dress code and season.

When the couple asks guests to wear white

Some couples ask everyone to wear white: an all-white party, a beach celebration, a welcome dinner with a white dress code. Then white is the polite choice, and a white wedding guest dress is exactly what to look for. Follow the invitation or the wedding website, and if the wording is vague ("light colors", "summer whites"), it's fine to ask the couple what they meant.

Even then, keep it clearly a guest look. Skip floor-length lace, tulle skirts and anything sold as a wedding dress. A simple white midi in a plain fabric like crepe, cotton or viscose, a white jumpsuit or a white dress with a colored print all work, and colored shoes or jewelry help set you apart from the bride.

Some brides wear a color instead, like blush, red or a printed gown. That doesn't automatically open white up to guests, since many families still treat white as the bride's color whatever she wears. Ask first, or wear a color anyway.

What to wear instead of white

Almost any other color is fair game once you've ruled out the bride's shades and the bridesmaids' color. These suit the moments when white is tempting:

• A print on a colored background. A floral or abstract print on blue, green, pink or black gives you the fresh, summery feel of a white dress without the worry.
• Pastels with real color. Dusty blue, lavender, peach and soft pink look light and spring-like and stay clearly colored in photos.
• Jewel tones for evening. Emerald, sapphire and berry feel dressed up at night and look good next to a white gown.
• Black, at most evening weddings. It's widely accepted now; our page on can you wear black to a wedding covers when it works.

Red is usually fine at a Western wedding too, with a few cultural exceptions, and can you wear red to a wedding also lists the other colors not to wear. For dresses by occasion and dress code, start at our wedding guest dresses hub.

Check the dress in daylight first

Before the day, put the dress on, stand by a window or step outside, and take a photo with your phone. WeddingWire suggests this for pale pastels: if the color holds in sunlight, you're fine, and if it looks white, skip it. Indoor photos at an evening reception can be harsher still, so a dress that's borderline in daylight is worth swapping.

And if white is the first color you notice in that photo, wear something else to this one. The dress will keep for a summer party or a vacation, where white is all yours.

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