Wedding Etiquette Forum

black dresses

My BM just asked me if it was ok to wear black to the rehearsal dinner.  She says she knows it's not appropriate for a wedding but wasn't sure about a rehearsal.  I said I had never heard of any rules about the rehearsal but she seemed worried.  Is there some rule about this?
image

Re: black dresses

  • You're never supposed to wear white, but I think of black as a great/elegant choice.
  • Seeing how I had my BM's wear black, I think it's a ridiculous "rule."  And either way, there is no old wives tale about wearing black to the RD.
    imageBabyFruit Ticker
  • FSIL wore a black dress to her rehearsal.

    And there's no rule that says you're not supposed to wear black to a wedding, either.  Or my friends and I are all going to hell in a hurry.
    image
  • I've never heard of a rule about wearing black at rehearsal dinners.  Also, if you don't care, why does it matter?  Unless someone who'll be at the RD is a real stickler for etiquette and you don't want anyone to offend them (in which case you should probably check with them, since sometimes people just make up their own rules about this kind of thing), I would think if the bride doesn't mind, this is not such a big deal. 
  • My BM's are wearing black dresses to my wedding, so I wouldn't bat an eye at anyone wearing black to a RD.
    Anniversary
  • Didn't wearing black back in day meant you didn't approve of the marriage?

    I wear black to almost all parties. I also want my BM to wear black so I will definitely be break a rule.

  • I thin its fine. Classy and elegant.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_black-dresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:57f80c25-9ed3-41a6-a1e6-7d3e7d8ae0eaPost:e88c11bb-5401-46b1-b8a1-093c74cb9752">Re: black dresses</a>:
    [QUOTE]If there is a rule, I broke it.  I wore a black dress to my own rehearsal.
    Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

    Me too I've also worn black to other weddings and RDs. I'm a rebel like that.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I think the "no black at a wedding" rule is long gone. As long as she doesn't wear a floor length white dress she's good to go!
    image
    Anniversary
  • Yeah, the rule about no black at weddings is considered archaic by most people. At least in the northeast, you can expect at least half of your female guests to be in black for a wedding. It's what I almost always wear and when I got married the first time, my BMs and both mothers were in black.

    I've never heard of any rule about colors at a rehearsal.
  • I think that no black at the wedding rule is still somewhat in existance for mothers of the bride/groom. As in, I wouldn't have a problem with it or think twice (at my own wedding or as a guest) but some people might. Both our moms specifically made sure to get colored dresses for that reason, even though they thought it was a silly 'rule'. Of course, someone told my mom that her chocolate brown MOB dress wasn't very 'festive' and was a little 'dark' for a wedding. *eyeroll*

    So-- your BM should where her black dress.
  • Thanks, thats what I thought.
    image
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_black-dresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:57f80c25-9ed3-41a6-a1e6-7d3e7d8ae0eaPost:e88c11bb-5401-46b1-b8a1-093c74cb9752">Re: black dresses</a>:
    [QUOTE]If there is a rule, I broke it.  I wore a black dress to my own rehearsal.
    Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]
    Me too.
  • No rule I know of. The only one you still hear around these parts is no black on the moms because it's considered an expression of disapproval. I'm from a small town, and if my FMIL wears black to our wedding, people will ask me why she doesn't like me. 

    I'm sorta hoping she does, so that I get a story out of it. :P
    image
  • mctlongmctlong member
    10 Comments
    edited April 2011
    My sister's MIL wore black to my sister's wedding as a silent protest against the couple's marriage. No one got it.

    Black use to be a symbolic gesture of disapproval, but people wear black to weddings all the time now. Maybe the "no wearing black" rule went out with the "only virgin brides wear white" rule.

    Wearing black to a RD is perfectly fine, IMHO. As MissySue wrote: Classy and elegant.

This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards