If you’re not saying ‘I do’, don’t wear white to a wedding

How do I stand out at a wedding without upstaging the bride?

A focus on florals, as shown by Roame at the 2025 Melbourne Fashion Festival, will leave both you and the bride happy on her special day.Credit: Getty Images

Unless you have permission from the bride, step away from white. Immediately. Wearing a white dress when you’re only required to say “I do” to the chicken or beef main course is justifiable grounds for being sentenced to the children’s table at the reception – and, while we’re on the subject, so, too, are excessive cleavage, generous cut-outs and a skyrocketing hemline.

Instead of looking to the bride for inspiration, focus on her bouquet. Flowers are the ultimate inspiration for any wedding guest’s wardrobe, even at this time of year. This season’s florals are big and bold, which will satisfy any cravings for the spotlight (washed-out abstract prints have been well and truly consigned to the fashion compost bin). Red roses are always romantic, while camellia, daisy and orchid prints give you greater opportunity to find a flattering colour while exhibiting horticultural sophistication.

Print dresses are the simplest solution, although floral separates might be more suitable if you’re going to be attempting high kicks on the dance-floor later on – in which case, consider a matching set (save the cross-pollination of mismatched florals for the garden). Floral-inspired accessories are another opportunity to sow the seeds of good taste: a statement clutch with appliqué is sure to be a compliment magnet, especially since the bride is unlikely to be carrying one. Just don’t forget to pack a floral-scented hankie; I suspect there’ll be tears.

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