Kathleen in VA Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 OK, help me on this one. My niece is getting married in January - an evening wedding - and she has chosen black for her bridesmaid's dresses. I know black is a formal color, but for the bridesmaid's dresses? I'm just a bit stunned. Tell me this is going to be ok and that it will look great and everyone will be amazed at how beautiful they all end up looking.:) She is a very classy young lady when it comes to fashion so it will probably surprise me and turn out ok; it's just that I've never heard of it before. I have heard that you should never wear black to a wedding, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 My best friend had us wear black, full length bridesmaid dresses. It was an evening wedding. It was beautiful. Dont worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lissijane Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Having been to several black and white weddings I can promise it will be fine. Actually it has a very classy feel to them. Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Country Mama Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 OK, help me on this one. My niece is getting married in January - an evening wedding - and she has chosen black for her bridesmaid's dresses. I know black is a formal color, but for the bridesmaid's dresses? I'm just a bit stunned. Tell me this is going to be ok and that it will look great and everyone will be amazed at how beautiful they all end up looking.:) She is a very classy young lady when it comes to fashion so it will probably surprise me and turn out ok; it's just that I've never heard of it before. I have heard that you should never wear black to a wedding, lol. I understand your horror--but I can tell you, as a bridesmaid who was asked to wear a black outfit, that it turned out GORGEOUS and the wedding party looked stunning. Our outfits were sort of like what you might imagine an Arabian princess wearing--the pants were flowy, and the the bodice shimmered. But yes--all black. And it was fabulous! Take heart. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Maybe she is getting shorter dresses in black that her bridesmaids will be able to wear often after the wedding? I personally hate the idea of a black wedding and have always heard it was a no no. But...things change and maybe it will look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 It will be beautiful. Black-and-white weddings look very classy. A friend's niece had a black-and-white wedding. The bridesmaids wore black and carried red flowers. The pictures were stunning. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Black is perfectly fine. I wore black in two different weddings. Well I wore it in one wedding, but got into a fight with my brother days before his wedding, and we ended up just not going, so I have a second black bridesmaid dress sitting in my closet with tags still on it. IT looked wonderful in the wedding I went to. I'm sure it looked fine in the second one too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I love the black & white together. The picture will be beautiful. A black bridesmaid dress may actually get used more than once and is so much better than bright pink taffeta, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I have seen two very beautiful black and white weddings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Black is pretty normal at evening weddings now. My bridesmaid dresses were black and wine and that was over 15 years ago. Lots of bridesmaid dresses are black: http://www.perfect-bridesmaid-dresses.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I've worn a black dress as a bridesmaid and the wedding/photos turned out just fine, the bride and groom survived the honeymoon, and they are still married almost 20 years later so black dresses don't spell doom. Depending on the style of the dress the ladies may even be able to wear their dresses more than once. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Thanks, ladies! The knot in my stomach has loosened up a bit.:D It will probably look outrageously beautiful. This girl is one of the most gifted, creative young ladies I have ever known. I should just trust her instincts. It was just such an odd idea to me at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 While I personally prefer navy, chocolate brown, eggplant, or hunter green, I've been to weddings with black bridesmaid dresses that looked fine. I went to Christmas wedding once where the bridesmaids looked adorable in black dresses with tartan sashes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 My bridesmaids wore black dresses 9 years ago (in the afternoon, even ...) They were gorgeous! The church I married in had red carpet, pale blue and white walls, and cream curtain hanging behind the cross with silver pipes for the organ. Plus it was decorated for Christmas (a nice, cheap way to decorate for your wedding LOL) In other words, it was a mess of colors. The only thing that would tie that mess together was Christmas colored flowers (perfect) and black dresses. And, if you ask me, it was beautiful. I'll try and post a picture from the other computer later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Men have always worn black to formal affairs and looked nice. So it's not like she is dramatically changing the color tone of the wedding. It would have been half black anyway:) I'm sure it will be lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Well, I don't know. This: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3302959028_7b5a2b8881.jpg or this: http://tackyweddings.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/bad-dress-1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Pics from my sister's wedding: <--me w/ kids. Dd was sick. <--my 2 bigs, when they were little®. <--that's my elbow, 2 bridesmaids, groom's bro (does that make him my bil? sis's bil? dude at the wedding.) <--other bridesmaids I wish I had some of the formal shots to show how beautiful it was, but the rest of the ones I've uploaded (much better, because they're of *my* kids, lol) but less relevant because there's less of the black dresses showing: http://aubreysmagnumopus.blogspot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 OK, help me on this one. My niece is getting married in January - an evening wedding - and she has chosen black for her bridesmaid's dresses. I know black is a formal color, but for the bridesmaid's dresses? I'm just a bit stunned. Tell me this is going to be ok and that it will look great and everyone will be amazed at how beautiful they all end up looking.:) She is a very classy young lady when it comes to fashion so it will probably surprise me and turn out ok; it's just that I've never heard of it before. I have heard that you should never wear black to a wedding, lol. My sil did it. She wanted dresses we could wear again and she took into account the fact that all of her bridesmaids were pregnant :p The hope was to make us feel less self conscious and if anyone gave birth before the wedding (I did) then any 'leakage' would be less apparent. That didn't work out too well, because milk is white :glare: Your niece is not alone :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 The first time I saw a black and white wedding I was surprised but found that I loved the way it looked. It was very, very classy. A couple years after that a dear friend asked me to be in her wedding. The bridesmaids were told to pick their own, black velvet dresses. The effect was stunning--didn't look somber or mismatched at all. Many people complimented both the look and the practicality of it. All of us were able to use our dresses again in other settings. Your niece's wedding will look just beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Well, I don't know. This: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3302959028_7b5a2b8881.jpg or this: http://tackyweddings.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/bad-dress-1.jpg :lol::lol::lol: Point well taken!!! You are absolutely right!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 It will be beautiful. Black-and-white weddings look very classy. A friend's niece had a black-and-white wedding. The bridesmaids wore black and carried red flowers. The pictures were stunning. Cat :iagree: I would think everything else would standout and be more beautiful. Classy!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 When my dd got married 5 years ago both the mother of the groom and I wore full length formal black gowns. The bridesmaids wore burgandy leaving only the bride and flower girls in white. It was a perfect combination of colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamato3 all-boy boys Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I asked my female attendant to wear black. It was an afternoon wedding in June, and she and I carried "wildflower"-ish bouquets down the aisle (outside wedding on a mountaintop). It looked amazingly wonderful. Our photographs look georgous, too. To be honest, I didn't care what my bridesmaid wore, and the black dress is what she chose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 My bridesmaid's dresses were black with fuchsia (17 years ago). They were short, our wedding was simple. They looked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I have heard that you should never wear black to a wedding, lol. I think this rule went out of fashion. I used to work at a very high end retailer over 10 years ago and bridesmaids and attendees were both wearing black to evening weddings then. I wore black to my youngest brother's wedding. I've seen wedding pictures w/black bridesmaid dresses and beautiful rose bouqets and it looks very nice. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 My sister had a black and white wedding. It was absolutely beautiful and classy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 A black and white evening wedding in January? Lovely! Is she in the north, by chance? Because if she were, it would be especially lovely with silver and icy/frosty colors, maybe a chic (fake, of course) white fur wrap...aahh! I think it'll be lovely - its not like she's wearing white shoes after Labor day or anything ;). (just kidding) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I bet those bridesmaids are thanking her! Ugh, teal, peach, sunrise yellow... need I say more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3lilreds in NC Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I think it will be fine. My SIL's wedding was black and white and they've been married for, I don't know, 18 or 19 years. It will be lovely. No worries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Sounds beautiful! We had an all-white wedding in April with shades of spring-type green and white flowers and ribbons, which raised some eyebrows, as well. (The guys wore grey morning suits.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherri in MI Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 it was very beautiful and classy. One was even black and pink! That one was a day wedding. The other was a very elegant black tie affair. I know, it was out of my experience too! When I was growing up you just didn't wear black to a wedding. Now anything goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 It's nothing new, really. I've seen many black weddings. In fact, my own SIL got married wearing a black velvet gown (I'll concede she's...unique). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 We are going to a black and white wedding on 12/27 -- I've seen the dresses -- it will be beautiful. Don't worry!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkodman Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I had black bridesmaid dresses @ my wedding & if I do say so myself it was beautiful. My wedding was @ 7:30 pm so it was formal. I used burgundy colors & it looked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks for all the encouraging replies everyone. You know, the more I think about it, the more I can imagine it being a very classy affair. All the pics have helped too. At first it seemed depressing, but now that I've seen some of the dresses and heard about all that beauty and class I'm convinced it will be an absolutely beautiful event. And it does make a lot of sense. Everyone can use a formal black dress sooner or later - not so much the puffy-sleeved pink taffeta I inflicted on my bridesmaids (although wearing them did prove their unfailing devotion to me).:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 OK, help me on this one. My niece is getting married in January - an evening wedding - and she has chosen black for her bridesmaid's dresses. I know black is a formal color, but for the bridesmaid's dresses? I'm just a bit stunned. Tell me this is going to be ok and that it will look great and everyone will be amazed at how beautiful they all end up looking.:) She is a very classy young lady when it comes to fashion so it will probably surprise me and turn out ok; it's just that I've never heard of it before. I have heard that you should never wear black to a wedding, lol. My bridesmaid's dresses were black in my wedding. We had red roses. It was elegant, I thought. Much better than getting stuck with a teal taffetta ball gown you couldn't possibly wear again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Here's a picture from my wedding. Not the best quality, but good enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 We attended one this summer where the guys wore black and the women wore orange. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 My best friend chose black for her attendants. It was absolutely beautiful, and the dresses were quite attractive on the two of us with "mommy figures," if ya' know what I mean!;) I still have the dress. Musicians can always use another black dress! I'm sure the wedding will be lovely! -Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoboys Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Our bridesmaids wore black dresses. We complemented this with red roses. It was really quite beautiful. Plus, as a bonus, they could wear the dresses for other events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 or this: http://tackyweddings.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/bad-dress-1.jpg :lol: Thanks! Now I'm going to be perusing that blog for entertainment for a while! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 My bridesmaids wore black. It was beautiful! They were all different shapes, sizes, ages, and skin-tones (I'm talking my rail-thin, 13 year-old cousin, all the way to my friend who was so big that David's Bridal didn't even carry her size) so I told them all to find a long black dress that they felt comfortable in. Because all of my bridesmaids were so different, there is no way I could have found a color and style to suit all of them. Black pretty much works on everyone. It was very elegant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 (edited) I think it would look stunning, especially with really beautiful classic jewellery, really tasteful and make the bridesmaids feel amazing too. I used to work behind the bar at weddings and saw some of the most horrendous bridesmaid dresses. Horrible colours and either super puffy mahoosive creations or that super clingy bias cut style but in cheap fabrics that show off every bump and lump and make even the skinniest girl look dreadful. Edited November 23, 2011 by lailasmum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I wore a short black dress in an evening wedding. We all had wine colored sashes and red roses. It was beautiful. And as others have said....it looked good on the 13 year old sister amd the mom who had recently had twins and pregnant me :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I was in a wedding with black dresses once. It was beautiful in person but did not look great in the formal pictures. I did ACTUALLY wear it again tough. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Black bridesmaid dresses hit the scene back in the late 80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arghmatey Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Black is very common for bridesmaid dresses these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 My best friend had us wear black, full length bridesmaid dresses. It was an evening wedding. It was beautiful. Dont worry. :iagree: This is what my cousin did. Very classy and beautiful. One of the few bridesmaids dresses I could use again.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 My cousin had her BMs in black dresses in August. It looked really great! Oh. My. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susann Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 So how do such old threads pop up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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