Judith Martin | 06/16/2008 12:00 am

Judith Martin on Who Should and Shouldn't Wear White to Weddings

A Romanian priest recently set the blogosphere abuzz when he said women should pay a "white dress fine" if they are not virgins when they marry (click here to read the story). Meanwhile, there are others who say the bride should indeed always wear white, but the guests must make sure to wear anything but the "pure" color.

Our Judith Martin sets us straight on who should and shouldn’t wear white to a wedding.

Q: Is it ever not OK for the bride to wear white?

A: The idea that the dress is a kind of truth in packaging statement about the state of the body inside was always an extremely distasteful idea. And it has long been abandoned.

Q: Is it OK for guests to wear white?

A: No, it isn’t. It’s not the greatest crime in the world; but it isn’t OK, either.

3 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I agree. I always thought that considering how expensive white fabric was (at one time), and especially white silk, that the color was limited to the very wealthy or royals. I had read that in Spain, red was the color for the bride, as red represents life. Personally, I married in a lovely shade of dusty pink, simply for the very (personally vain) reason that I look good in pink, and washed out in white.

By Brandy Capozello on 01/29/2009 9:45 am

e-mail alert

There does seem to be a serious shortage of white tuxes for rental in San Francisco today. Hummmm. Could it have anything to do with gay marriage being legal this afternoon at 5:00? Mazel tov, everyone!!!!!

By Mugsy Peabody on 06/16/2008 2:40 pm