Women Wedding Suits

Is It Tacky For Guests to Wear All Black at an Evening Wedding?

I went to a wedding, and all the guests men in black suits and women in all black dresses or skirts and blouses. It looked so morbid like a funeral or something. Only the bridesmaids were in hunter green dresses which were stunning. Is this a cultural thing or what? I wore a dark blue blouse with a black skirt and blue pumps, so I was semi color coated.......

Public Comments

1. People tend to wear black because it is safe. It is flattering, it blends in to the background very well, and it doesn't call attention to you.
2. Black is a morbid colour, so that's why it's worn at funerals. I know people wear pieces of black clothing but that is different than being entirely dressed in black and at a suppose special occasion. This wedding must not have seem right to you if you ask the question. But then again, each to there own, as people are becoming more and more strange as time goes on. This isn't the first time I have heard of this happening, so it must be catching on. Next, everyone will be wearing white to funerals.
3. Black was considered Morbid in the 1800's maybe...I personal see black as more of a fashion choice. Its simple, its classy, it is figure flattering. wear it with some red, purple, or statement shoes with color to add a pop of color and lessen the "morbidness" if you must. Your jewelry can play a part as well. Or place a flower in your hair and make sure your make-up is bright and fresh! It may of been the area too...sometimes near metropolitan areas a lot of people wear more black to black tie events especially in the Midwest....or North East. Maybe to Californians and Floridians it may be odd
4. Black has come to be associated with formality and evening weddings are, in general, considered to be formal. Yes, it can be a bit dark, but it is not inappropriate. If you want to stand out, wearing a brighter color is a great choice. If you want to be safe, black it is. It is also sometime difficult to find a nice dress in a color. Black can be worn for more than one occasion so many people choose it for the most versatility with the least wardrobe expense.
5. That whole 'black is for mourning' is an old fashioned tradition that is rapidly dying out and thank goodness for that! the fact of the matter is that black is a very flattering colour for most body types. I personally wouldn't go to a wedding dressed from head to toe in black out of respect for more elderly, conservative guests but I have worn black to weddings but broken it up with brightly coloured accessories.
6. It's not tacky at all. Black is a formal color appropriate for all formal occasions. You were wearing black, too, just not all black.
7. It is becoming more and more acceptable to wear black at weddings, especially if it takes place in the evening in a large urban area. So in that sense, yes, it is cultural. Lots of things have lost their meanings, or taken new meanings as time changes. It's normal. Before, the white wedding dress used to symbolize purity and virginity. Nowadays most brides have lost their virginity years before their wedding day, so the white dress now symbolizes new beginnings, or just tradition in general. So it's the same for black. It used to be only for mourning, now it's just a safe, classic, flattering color to wear.