Wedding Guest Buys Blue Dress, Horror at What She Realizes Night Before
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A Reddit user is being hailed for her quick thinking and creative wardrobe solution after narrowly avoiding a wedding guest nightmare.
In a post that has since racked up 18,000 upvotes, a woman who goes by u/GranddaughterofBeryl shared how she had second thoughts about her baby blue dress as she realized something which was a major wedding etiquette no-no.
"After staring at it long enough, I convinced myself it looked too close to white and might appear white or washed out in photos," she wrote.
The post, titled "How I saved my baby blue dress from the dreaded 'will photograph white' nightmare," struck a chord with thousands who appreciated both the ingenuity and the respect shown to traditional wedding customs.
A stock image of a woman holding a yellow and blue dress in each hand.
A stock image of a woman holding a yellow and blue dress in each hand.
SunnyVMD/iStock / Getty Images Plus
The Hack: Baby Oil and Heat
In a move praised for its daring creativity, she turned to an old memory of clothing stained by baby oil and used that logic to deepen the tone of her dress on purpose. Her step-by-step guide included:
Spraying the entire dress with baby oil using a spray bottle until it was saturated.
the entire dress with baby oil using a spray bottle until it was saturated. Ironing each section to heat-set the oil.
each section to heat-set the oil. Resting the dress for 30 minutes in front of a heater.
the dress for 30 minutes in front of a heater. Machine washing on a cool, short cycle with low spin.
on a cool, short cycle with low spin. Air drying without heat or a tumble dryer.
The result? A deeper, truer blue that no longer risked confusion at the ceremony.
"Because it's polyester jacquard, the texture helped hide any unevenness," she wrote. "The oil subtly deepened the tone just enough to take away the 'too white' look without turning it into a full stain."
The woman concluded her post with pride: "It's subtle, but it's made a big difference."
Why White (and Almost-Whi
te) is Taboo
Newsweek spoke with wedding expert Zoe Burke, who explained why this viral fix was more than just a clever DIY—it was an act of courtesy.
She said: "Wearing white to a wedding is traditionally seen as a no-no because white is strongly associated with the bride's dress," said Burke. "It's considered a sign of respect and etiquette for guests to avoid wearing white so they don't upstage or distract from the bride on her special day."
Burke, the editor of wedding planner website Hitched.co.uk, emphasized that even pale or off-white shades—like cream, ivory, and very light blue—can pose problems, particularly under flash photography or certain lighting conditions.
"They might appear too close to white in photos, especially in certain lighting," she said.
She added that it's also best to avoid wearing all-black outfits, particularly for daytime weddings. As this color is often associated with mourning.
She said: "Red is also a bridal color in some cultures, so if you're unsure, it's best to check in with the nearly-weds to get their opinion.
"Ultimately, when choosing an outfit, guests should aim to complement the couple's style and the wedding's vibe without overshadowing the happy couple. Soft pastels, jewel tones, and classic colors like navy, burgundy, or emerald tend to be safe and stylish choices that respect tradition while allowing guests to look their best."
Internet Applause: 'Wild, But You Did It'
The Reddit community quickly rallied behind the post, leaving hundreds of supportive and astonished comments.
One user wrote: "Girl this is wild but you did it."
Another chimed in: "You took a hell of a gamble, I'm so glad it worked out well! Enjoy the wedding!"
A third praised the fix for its broader usefulness: "This is absolutely brilliant! I have a shirt that I stained in a similar way. Thank you for giving me a way to fix it!"
Newsweek reached out to u/GranddaughterofBeryl for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
Has a wedding come between your relationship with a loved one? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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