If you’ve recently received an invitation to a wedding, you’ll probably be eagerly trying to plan what you’re going to wear. This is a very important decision and one which requires a little forward-thinking!

Whilst trying to figure out what you’re going to wear might be fun, you do need to bear in mind a few of the common rules. Wearing something you might think appropriate could actually turn out to be a massive mistake and cause the wedding photographs to go completely wrong.

Of course, you don’t want to do that to your soon-to-be-married friend or family member, so it’s important to know the must-don’ts of wedding attire!

• No crazy patterns – Small patterns are fine and encouraged but large patterns with neon or crazy colours are not a great idea. These do not photograph fantastically and will distract attention from the bride and groom on the photographs!
• Short or tight skirts are a no-no – Whether the wedding is in a religious place or not, a skirt which is too short or too tight isn’t appropriate for an occasion like this. Stick to mid-lengths and whilst fitted is fine, skin-tight or extremely body con is not!
• Avoid anything that isn’t appropriate for the venue – If the wedding is on a beach, make sure you choose something which is beach appropriate, such as a floaty beach dress, etc. Similarly, if the wedding is in a religious place, make sure that you follow guidelines, e.g. covering up arms, etc
• Never try and outdo the bride! – White is a huge no, whether you’re opting for a dress or a trouser suit. Whilst nods of which are a good option, and pastels are okay (provided you’re not clashing with the bridesmaids too much), opting for white gowns of any type are considered rude because it seems very much like you’re trying to outdo the bride – it’s her day!
• Make sure you can walk in your shoes – Weddings consist of a lot of standing and moving around, so wearing shoes that you can’t walk in isn’t the best idea. Avoid huge heels and instead, go for something which is a little more wearable and comfortable for a full day of standing, sitting, and dancing
• Sequins aren’t the best idea – Whilst a few sequins are fine, anything which is full-on sequins isn’t a great choice. The reason is because of the photographs; sequins tend to hit the flash and the light around the room and reflect back. This could cause an unwanted effect on the final photographs your friend or family member has to remember the day by
• Avoid anything you would wear to a club – We’ve already mentioned short skirts, but you need to think about the rest of your outfit too. Avoid anything that is generally too revealing and which might cause a stir! Anything that you deem a good idea for clubbing isn’t a good idea for weddings
• Avoid huge hats – Whilst you might think hats are a good idea for weddings, you’re not going to the races, so avoid huge hats. This turns into a competition and distracts attention away from the point of the day. The same goes for the photos! You’ll hide someone behind a huge hat (blocking their view), causing a problem when the photos are revealed, and it’s generally quite distracting

Whilst weddings don’t have a general dress code, they do have a few guidelines which you need to follow if you want to avoid upsetting anyone. Provided you follow the rules above, you’re good to go!