TOP TEN FASHION NO, NO’S FOR WEDDING GUESTS

10: Black

Black is traditionally a no-go color at weddings -- especially for women.

Black dresses connote mourning and death for many people, but there's a difference between showing up to your best friend's nuptials in funeral garb and wearing a sleek, little black number to an evening wedding. As long as the dress feels fun and light, regardless of how dark it is, you should be fine. Sequins usually work, as do black cocktail dresses for formal ceremonies. However, if there's even the slightest chance it could fit into a procession for the deceased, put it back on the rack and slip into something more colorful.

9: Something Skimpy

Nothing screams "look at me" like a skimpy outfit.
There's nothing wrong with showing off a little leg or décolleté every once in a while, but there's a time and place for such things, and weddings aren't one of them.
No, you're not exactly showing up the bride, but showing off your assets is a surefire way to take away from her big day, so don't do it.
Besides a skimpy dress at a respected function as a wedding, whispers “desperately looking for a man”. And what kind of a man are you attracting in a show it all dress? Or rather what are you saying about yourself?

8: Cleavage All-Out

I must say there’s nothing attractive about a woman’s cleavage showing. It is disturbing seriously.
Women who have it think those who don’t have it are jealous. No really it communicates a bad message. It is the same as a woman wearing low cut jeans sitting down and bending and shows what I do not really have to mention.  If most of your dresses are low cut, invest in chiffon and satin scarves for spring and summer.
Ladies we do not live in a woman’s only world. Men are visually enticed so if you were not intending to do that relook your wardrobe.

7. Jeans and T-Shirt

We don't care how casual the wedding is and how laid-back the bride in question might be, attending in jeans and a T-shirt is not an option.
It doesn't matter if it's in your mom's backyard, or even if you don't know the couple very well. If you're bothering to show up, the least you can do is throw on a dress or a pair of khakis and a button-up shirt -- again, assuming it's a casual ceremony.
Also, just to be clear, don't even think about slipping on a pair of flip-flops. Pumps, heels, flats, loafers and sandals are a go, but plastic footwear is a huge wedding no-no.

6. A Tuxedo/ Shiny Suit

For the guys: Ladies please tell your dates or partners. There's only one guy in a penguin suit here today, and it's not him (unless, of course, the ceremony is a  black-tie affair, in which case your date, the  groom, and every other male in attendance is bowtied out).
However, just as it's in bad taste to upstage the bride, he shouldn't go out of his way to one-up the groom.
Ladies, please advice your male friends or companions to stay away from the Vaseline suits. They don’t just look cheap they are cheap. There are proper ones but not as shiny and creasy as the ones we see around. Rather advice them to save over a couple of months and get a proper suit or get one tailor-made with a proper fabric. That should cost between R1 200- R4 000.

5. A Tiara

You are probably thinking “What a tiara? Who wears a tiara to a wedding?”
Well there are those who’ve done it and someone might do it as well. You'd be surprised by what attention-seeking guests have tried to pull off.
Do not, under any circumstances, wear a tiara to any wedding other than your own. Not only is it disrespectful to the bride, it'll just make you look desperate and ridiculous.
This rule, of course, extends to crowns, ornamental headbands or anything else that could be mistaken for a tiara or any other headpiece the bride may choose to wear.

4. Prom Dress/ Matric Ball Dress

Prom is like a pre-wedding for teenage girls. Also like weddings, it's not out of the ordinary for a well-to-do young lady to spend R1 000 or more on a dress she'll wear only once.
So, if you still have your prom dress and it's not out of style or too juvenile, slipping it on again for a formal affair might be awfully tempting, even if you're a decade or more out of high school. But you have to be careful, as there's a fine line between donning a vibrantly colored formal evening gown and a white, champagne or blush dress that'll make you look too much like a bride. Use discretion and err on the side of caution. If you're at all unsure, leave the flashy dress for the high school kids and wear something more elegant and adult.

3. Pant Suit/ Corporate Suit

You're going to a wedding, not a meeting at the office!
Drop the business persona and show your style in a skirt or dress. This is a celebration of two people choosing to unite their lives together forever, so the least you can do is find something that isn't overly stuffy and businessy to wear. We're not just talking about your standard black or charcoal suit. This rule also applies to pretty pastel skirt-jacket combos. They might work for a dinner event, but they just set the wrong tone for weddings.
Yes, we know some very powerful women frequently wear pantsuits, but even Hillary Clinton wore a vibrant dress on her daughter, Chelsea's big day, and if she can do it, you can, too.

2. Anything Loud or Garish

People are there to look at the bride, not your obnoxious hat/dress/purse/shoes/eye shadow/hairdo. Donning loud or garish apparel and accessories is a surprisingly common method of wedding-crashing women use to upstage the bride. Your outlandish choices might not be directly comparable to the bride's traditional white garb, but everyone -- including the new Mrs. -- will likely take them as a sign of extremely poor taste or a desperate call for attention. You'll get people talking, but you probably won't like what they have to say!

1. ANYTHING WHITE

It's never a good idea to wear anything that could conceivably be mistaken for a wedding dress. But, just like the tradition against wearing black to on the big day, we think this rule can be broken -- if you go about it the right way.
A simple, off-white dress or skirt should be fine, and if you want to be absolutely sure you're not stepping on any perfectly manicured toes, make sure your white outfit of choice is dramatically different, so if she's wearing a full-skirted gown, your slender, white evening gown shouldn't pose much of a problem. If she's wearing a simple number, though, pick another color.
CLOSING

·        If you are the kind that likes to out-dress people with your style make the day special for the bride and tone down. By toning down I don’t mean dress like you are going to the shops or for a jog. Maintain the finesse and elegance in you by wearing a gorgeous dress.

·        This new punk, hair off the sides, net stockings or leggings, blood red hair, and looking like you are in a rock band is not a look for a wedding. Be a girl or lady for someone’s special day.

·        Big dramatic, Durban July Hats…NO NO NO!!! Leave that for the mother of the bride and groom.

·        If you get an outfit made, get a reputable, experienced fashion designer and don’t leave it for the last minute or else your dress will come apart (not pointing at you Zandi)

Whatever you  do always think of the scripture that says: Do not cause another to stumble in Romans 8:13 which in full says:

¹³  Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

I always say let what you are wearing not cause others to sin. If its men let it not get their minds out of focus, if it’s everyone else let not it cause them to gossip about you and for the bride and groom let it not make them regret inviting you. Remember it is their day to shine, be seen and celebrated not yours!!