Bride Ignites Viral Conversation Over Renaissance-Themed Wedding Dress Code (2024)

Several people online are weighing in on whether a bride-to-be is being too strict with her wedding day dress code.

A woman shared in a post that went viral on Reddit’s popular AITA forum that she and her fiancé decided to set a renaissance fair dress code for their upcoming nuptials, which was sentimental to them since they met at a renaissance fair and are “massive fandom nerds, books, video games, movies, comics etc.”

She said she and her fiancé offered different options for people with different budgets and photo descriptions of how people could DIY their own renaissance outfit. They also told their guests to reach out if they had any trouble so they “could work something out.”

Some of the “low-budget” ideas they suggested for female guests was to wear a “normal floral spring/summer dress” with an addition of a “flower crown or belt.” For male guests, they could wear “a linen shirt” with “a piece of fabric tied” around the waist or a belt.

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The woman and her fiancé initially discussed the idea with close friends, who thought it was “great.” However, after they sent out the invitations, some of their other close friends and family did not think so.

Her close friends told her that people on both sides of the family were calling her a “bridezilla” for the dress code and said the couple was “being unreasonable” and “ridiculous.” They also said that people did not want to attend the wedding if the couple was “going to get all up in arms over clothing.”

The bride-to-be noted that her future mother-in-law and sister-in-law were “especially pissed” about the dress code.

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“I reached out to them… and they said I am ruining what is supposed to be [a] happy day by demanding people dress up like idiots,” she wrote. “They said everyone should be allowed to dress in what makes them feel comfortable and I am being very controlling.”

She said that her partner told her “not to listen to them,” but she couldn’t ignore it because “there are so many people saying it” — and she was “feeling pretty hurt” by what people were saying.

“I assumed people would react like this if I said everyone needed to go out and spend hundreds on costumes, but we went out of our way to include pictures and suggest as many very low budget options as possible,” she wrote. “I honestly didn't think it was a big deal, but now I am having second thoughts about the whole themed wedding idea.”

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Several people weighed in on the post, including one person who noted that they thought it was within the couple’s right to ask for the dress code. “I've been invited to holiday parties with color themed co*cktail attire dress codes, which I thought was completely entitled of the host. This is different, they included budget friendly options,” they wrote.

Another person shared that it was within a guest’s right not to attend if they didn’t want to follow the dress code, saying, "The average wedding attendee is not going to want to bother to dream up and gather supplies for even a cheap ren-fair costume. If I got this in the mail from a relative I’m only slightly fond of, I’m noping out.”

One commenter said that loved ones should try to follow the dress code if they can. They wrote, “I am not into dressing up or ‘nerd’ interest, but if someone I cared about wanted wedding photos to fit a theme, dang it, I'm matching the theme.”

Another shared their opinion that themed weddings are fine as long as it is optional. “Most of those people will never wear that outfit again; it's great that you're including low budget options, but thrifty and making a costume takes time, and either the time or the cost is asking a lot," they shared. "You can have the wedding themed as you want but have it optional for people to come in costume.”

Bride Ignites Viral Conversation Over Renaissance-Themed Wedding Dress Code (2024)

FAQs

What did brides wear during the Renaissance? ›

Renaissance wedding dresses often featured lavish details and tons of layers. Dresses from the Renaissance Era were typically long and fell all the way to the feet, sometimes featuring a train. Most commonly, the dresses were high up on the neckline and would extend upwards from the shoulders.

What does it mean when the bride wears a red dress? ›

Red. The colour of love, the bride who wears red is bold, passionate and full of desire. Not for the fainthearted this is a bold statement to make on your wedding day.

What is the most popular wedding dress code? ›

Semi-Formal or co*cktail

This attire is one of the most popular dress codes, and for a good reason. It fits in with almost any wedding venue and is relatively easy for guests to follow. A semi-formal dress code calls for suits for men and co*cktail dresses for ladies.

What does a purple wedding dress mean? ›

Although darker shades of purple still signify luxury and power, lighter shades of purple can provoke a sense of elegance, whimsy and magic. Its many associations make it one of the more popular wedding colour choices for modern brides.

How do you dress like a Renaissance style? ›

For women's garb, go thrift shopping for a loose long-sleeved blouse, a vest resembling a bodice, and a long skirt that reaches your ankles. For men's garb, find a baggy off-white pirate shirt, dark trousers, a vest, and boots.

What did wedding dresses look like in the Renaissance era? ›

Brides during this time period would wear blue, red, yellow, or green. The most popular color was blue because it represented purity. As the Renaissance hit burgundy became the color of choice. We also see a corseted, bell shaped, long trained dress come about.

Does a red dress at a wedding mean you've slept with the groom? ›

And while you might see rumors floating around the web that wearing red means you had a fling with the groom, ignore those. There are no hidden meanings to any colors of wedding guest attire.

Why can't I wear red to a wedding? ›

Turns out, wearing red to a wedding means to some that “you've slept with the groom.” “Old Wives' Tale, but yeah,” Mitchell explained. However, both wedding planners agreed on a more modern reason for not wearing red: It could be seen as a way to grab the attention away from the bride.

What does wearing blue to a wedding mean? ›

Traditionally, blue was a color that symbolized fidelity and loyalty, especially to one's spouse. Some say the bride needed blue to ward off the evil eye or prevent bad luck. The color doesn't have to be on your body or person to check the 'traditions' box.

What is the taboo color for wedding dress? ›

When attending a wedding, it is important to avoid wearing any color that might be too close to white or off-white. The most common shades that should be avoided are: Ivory: A pale-yellowish shade of white. Champagne: A warm beige color with a hint of gold.

How many dresses do most brides try on? ›

On average, brides try on about 4–7 dresses, but we recommend no more than 10. The more wedding gowns you try on, the more confusing things may get. When the bridal gown selection is too big, brides tend to get overwhelmed and struggle to remember what the first gown they tried on looked like.

How to communicate dress code for a wedding? ›

Here are some samples of how to disclose your wedding dress code on your invitation.
  1. White Tie. White Tie Celebration: Please join us in your most royal formalwear.
  2. Black Tie. A Formal Affair: Our venue requires Black Tie attire.
  3. Black Tie Optional. ...
  4. Creative Black Tie. ...
  5. co*cktail. ...
  6. Semi Formal. ...
  7. Festive Attire. ...
  8. Garden Party.

What does a black dress mean in a wedding? ›

Roman Catholic traditions were a custom for a Spanish bride wearing a black dress. The black gown symbolized ensured her loyalty to the bride's devotion to her husband until death. Nowadays, black wedding gowns are the first choice for women who want to wear an unusual yet intense look.

What is the most popular wedding dress color? ›

What are the Most Popular Wedding Dress Colors? The most popular wedding dress colors are shades of off-white and ivory, which are more universally flattering. However, we've also noticed that many brides opt for a gown with a lining in a shade of blush or nude to allow the details on their dresses to pop!

What is the lucky color for a wedding? ›

While you'll see different colors all around, yellow and red are considered the luckiest colors. Yellow signifies purity and red signifies fertility and prosperity.

What did medieval brides wear? ›

Instead of a white gown, medieval brides usually wore dresses in deep jewel tones. Blue was a common choice because it symbolized purity. For wealthier ladies, gowns were made of expensive, luxurious fabrics like velvet, silk, and satin, and rich hues of red and gold were popular.

What were the marriage traditions in the Renaissance? ›

Many times as in the case of nobility, marriages were arranged as a way to reach social and political gain. The family of the bride was required to present a dowry to the husband which often padded the husbands wealth. After marriage a woman's body and possessions became the property of her husband.

What did medieval people wear to weddings? ›

The dress would be form-fitting with an open neck and three-quarter length sleeves or full sleeves. Sometimes women would also wear wreaths of flowers in their hair. Grooms wore the nicest clothing they had for Court. Clothing for grooms and brides would be made out of the best fabrics like silk.

What did brides wear in the 16th century? ›

16th Century Style Wedding Dress

The corset is top-stitched to show off the bone channels and is piped at the neck and waist. It laces at the back and has a 'false' ivory silk chiffon chemise and renaissance style sleeve puffs, with velvet 'ribbon and tag' details - joining the sleeves to the bodice.

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