There are some things that you just don’t do at weddings ! For one, you shouldn’t propose to anyone. Next, keep your partying in check. And, whatever you do, try not to dress anything like the bride, so you avoid sparking spicy drama .
Sometimes, despite your best intentions, you can mess up. Internet user u/bitchybarbie82 went viral on the Wedding-Shaming online group after opening up about an incredibly stressful mistake she made. She shared how she showed up at an Indian wedding wearing a big, puffy, white dress, only to realize that the bride was wearing Western, not traditional attire.
Scroll down to read the full story and to get a heavy dose of secondhand embarrassment. Bored Panda has reached out to the author for comment, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from her.
It can be super embarrassing and uncomfortable to realize that you wore a dress that’s incredibly close to what the bride is wearing
Woman in a glittery top and flowing white skirt at a wedding, dressed like the bride, creating a horribly awkward moment.
One woman shared how she miscalculated and accidentally wore something that drew everyone’s attention at a wedding, in a bad way
Woman attending wedding accidentally dressed like the bride, creating an awkward and memorable moment.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wedding-1.png" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=““I Didn’t Know There Was More Than One Wedding Today”: Guest Realizes Her Dress Was A Huge Mistake - 3”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wedding-2.png" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=““I Didn’t Know There Was More Than One Wedding Today”: Guest Realizes Her Dress Was A Huge Mistake - 4”>
Woman at wedding accidentally dressed like the bride, creating a horribly awkward and embarrassing situation.
Woman in a wedding dress sitting on a couch with her head in her hands, looking embarrassed and awkward.
Woman at wedding accidentally dressed like the bride in a big puffy white and blush bridal looking dress.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wedding-3.png" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=““I Didn’t Know There Was More Than One Wedding Today”: Guest Realizes Her Dress Was A Huge Mistake - 8”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wedding-4.png" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=““I Didn’t Know There Was More Than One Wedding Today”: Guest Realizes Her Dress Was A Huge Mistake - 9”>
Woman wearing white dress at wedding accidentally dressed like the bride feeling awkward and embarrassed.
What you wear when attending the happy couple’s Big Day is a huge deal. There are a lot of potential pitfalls to steer clear of
If you’re ever in doubt about what (not) to wear, a good rule of thumb is to get in touch with the happy couple, their family, or the team in charge of organizing the Big Day. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to such a super sensitive question as the dress you wear.
According to bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz, there’s one fundamental rule that she goes by when it comes to picking out wedding guest clothing. “I generally feel like if you’re having to question what you’re wearing, it’s probably not appropriate. If you’re second-guessing it, it’s probably better to do something else,” she explained to Brides magazine.
Hurwitz suggests avoiding a few main things at weddings:
- White clothes
- Pieces outside the dress code
- Jeans
- Wrong shoes
- Dresses that are too revealing
For instance, unless the happy couple outright tells you to wear something white, avoid it. “White is still a no-go, unless it’s specifically requested by the couple. But I do think there’s nuance there,” Hurwitz says.
“If the bride’s a little bit more chill, a white-based print is totally fine—there are so many dresses that have colorful flowers or gingham or stripes, and it’s very obvious you won’t be mistaken for the bride. If you get the sense that the bride would be deeply offended or is very traditional, I think it’s best to avoid anything that could be mistaken as white.”
She suggests that you squint your eyes at your dress, and if it looks at least a quarter white, pick something else to wear to the wedding. Meanwhile, if you wear something light, you have to be prepared that some of the other guests might comment, gossip, and whisper about your outfit throughout the ceremony and reception.
In the meantime, you should avoid wearing jeans, even if the wedding is casual. Put some effort into your wardrobe. Elevate your attire for the night!
And make sure that the shoes you wear aren’t just good to look at—they have to be practical, too. You’ll be spending an awful lot of time wearing them. So, balance aesthetics with functionality.
Group of women dressed for a wedding, one wearing a white dress similar to a bride’s gown in a sunny outdoor setting.
Wearing anything close to white is a bad idea in Western weddings, and you should avoid picking a red dress in Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese weddings
Hurwitz also has some practical advice about dresses. For example, she told Brides magazine that if the wedding is happening in a religious institution, it’s not appropriate for your clothing to be “super revealing.”
She suggests that guests focus on outfits that show off one of their best features, instead of all of them at once. “If you’re going to do a plunging neckline, the skirt should be longer. If you’re going to do an open low back, maybe the neckline is higher. If you’re going to do something short, maybe it’s more conservative up top. Choose your moment to be revealing, rather than having everything out on display.”
Bridal brand The Own Studio co-founder Rosie Williams told Vogue that the best wedding outfits are balanced: they incorporate a polished, chic look without looking over-the-top or clashing with the dress code.
“While the dress code at weddings has definitely relaxed, making an effort is still super important—ultimately, the couple [will] see it as a sign of respect that their wedding is meaningful to you and that you appreciate the significance of the day,” she says.
You should also generally avoid wearing red at Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese wedding ceremonies, where the bride traditionally wears this color.
Williams states that you should avoid wearing white at Western weddings and skip pale colors that might look white in photos. Meanwhile, when it comes to super-short hemlines and low-cut dresses, everything depends on the context.
“A shorter hemline doesn’t have to mean less sophistication; it’s all about choosing the right fabric, fit, and overall aesthetic,” Williams told Vogue. “Low-cut necklines are generally a no-go, but it does depend on the couple, the type of wedding, and the venue.”
What are your thoughts about the entire wedding drama, dear Pandas? Have you ever been to a wedding where one of the guests had worn something similar to the bride’s dress? What would you do if you realized you were the one who made that mistake?
Guests standing in an outdoor wedding ceremony, with trees and floral decorations in the background.
Later, the author answered some of her readers’ questions and shared more context
Reddit user explains wearing a lehenga to wedding, describing it as normal attire, not bridal, in Indian weddings.
Woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding, creating a horribly awkward situation among guests.
Screenshot of a conversation about a woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding causing an awkward moment.
Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing a woman accidentally dressed like the bride at an Indian wedding.
Reddit user shares story about woman going to wedding accidentally dressed like the bride causing horribly awkward moment.
Some netizens were impressed that the woman had the courage to share her tale. Here are their reactions
Text conversation about a woman attending a wedding accidentally dressed like the bride and the awkward situation that followed.
Woman attends wedding accidentally dressed like the bride, creating a horribly awkward situation at the event.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment thread where a woman talks about going to a wedding dressed like the bride, describing the awkward moment.
Screenshot of an online comment thread discussing a woman who accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding, causing awkwardness.
Woman goes to wedding accidentally dressed like bride wearing Indian white lehenga, facing awkward embarrassment and social confusion.
Woman accidentally dressed like the bride at wedding, causing a horribly awkward and memorable moment among guests.
Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing a woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding.
Screenshot of an online discussion about a woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding, highlighting reactions.
Screenshot of a Reddit post titled woman goes to wedding accidentally dressed like the bride with 5.9k points.
Comment on a post about a woman attending a wedding accidentally dressed like the bride, highlighting the awkward dress code mix-up.
Comment about woman attending wedding accidentally dressed like bride expressing sympathy for the awkward situation.
Screenshot of a comment discussing cultural differences and wedding dress faux pas at a non-Western wedding.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment expressing sympathy for a woman who accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding.
Comment about woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding, causing an awkward situation.
Woman wearing a white dress at a wedding, accidentally dressed like the bride in a socially awkward moment.
Woman wearing white dress at wedding, accidentally dressed like the bride, creating an awkward and memorable moment.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding causing an awkward situation.
Some folks felt inspired and shared similar wedding stories of their own
Woman wears white lehenga at wedding, accidentally dressed like the bride in a highly awkward situation.
Commenters sharing stories about women accidentally dressed like the bride at weddings causing awkward moments.
Woman accidentally dressed like the bride at a wedding, creating an awkward and surprising moment for guests.
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