I tried on a couple of all grey and all black dresses. NOT good colors for me. I have pale skin and they accentuate the grey strands in my hair. I don't have to wear grey and I'm not in the wedding or wedding party, so I'm basically just interested in complimenting somewhat with SO's suit and shirt for the reception. Not matching but not clashing too much. And I actually have a pair of pale pink shoes that I got for another wedding. I'm thinking dress #4 might work with a pink or navy shrug?? That's one of my biggest hesitations with a sleeveless dress. SO runs hot but I run cold unless I'm having a hot flash and then all bets are off! #2 is a color called "eggplant" which will probably look good on me. I just have never worn a dress with that kind of neckline so not sure it would look good. My shoulders are not my strong suit.

Dillards.com is an easy site to search for dresses. These are 2 that came up in its floral options. Both under $200.00. (I like the 2nd one 149.00.)

Love #1 but 3 & 4 are equally lovely and wedding worthy.

I don't get the need to in any way coordinate with your SO's suit.

My shopping style for something like this would be to make the trip to a large mall and try on a bunch of things. Even if you don't find what you like, you will come away with a better idea of what you are looking for.

No fashion advice, but consider the possibility that it could be cool in the NE in June. I attended a wedding a few years ago the 2nd week of July in NY suburbs. It was breezy and cool. I was very glad to have a pashmina wrap with me. Of course it could also be 95 degrees and humid! Just be prepared for both extremes.

IMO Macy's has a huge variety of styles (mostly at a lower price point than Nordstrom) and a very good search function that allows you to select multiple search parameters, including style, color, sleeve length, hem length, size, etc. The selection can be overwhelming but by using their search tool carefully, I find that I'm often able to narrow down my choices to a very reasonable number when I have something specific in mind (and know exactly what I DON'T want as well).

I have the last one — I think it’s def wedding guest appropriate. It is a heavier fabric but very flattering and forgiving. I would give it a try — it’s a much cheaper price than I paid and easily returned if it doesn’t work out.

Showed SO my "likes" from Nordstrom. His reaction: first one - too busy, second one - liked but then when he saw it was sequined, too fussy, third one - liked style, fourth one - liked. He doesn't have to like it but it would be nice . . . That Anthropologie site was fun, but most dresses just a bit out of my price range. I had forgotten about Dillards. Used to be a brick and mortar store in the midwest I think . . . not here in MI though, only metro Toledo near me.

I’m on a train so will be short. You are looking at a wide range of styles. I would imagine that there are one or two best suited to you and your shape. What I like about Nordstrom is that you can try a variety and return what doesn’t work!

I like 4 and 3, in that order, and would order both and try them on to make your final decision. Don't even try to coordinate with SO, too much trouble!

Link goes to Lord and Taylor's home page not a specific item.

If you can wear a wrap dress I would go with either you posted. Jewelry, a clutch bag, pretty wrap and shoes will dress it up. I usually try for classic simple dress and use accessories, that way I can wear the dress in multiple situations. However, I have never been a pattern person. You have picked many lovely dresses, I am sure all of them would work. Pick the one that makes you smile the most.

Jojoco, that link doesn't work.

All of those dresses are very nice, but to me, only #1 and possibly #2 are going to look good with SO's red tie! No, no, no on #3 and #4 with red (at least on my monitor).

I don’t know anything about this website that came up while I was surfing, except for reading on their site that it was registered in the U.K. and ships internationally. I believe it, because some of the reviews weren’t in English. I think it has some pretty dresses with nice colors and prints, more varied and artsy than you’d find in one stop shopping here. Prices are too good to be true on some of these dresses. If anyone orders from them, they should go by the website’s measurements for sizes. Sometimes a dress will come in another color but it’s not indicated as such, and you only find out when you click on it. Not often, but occasionally.

https://www.floryday.com/Dresses-r9872/?l=breadcrumb

I am going through the same issue. Trying to find a dress for a June wedding. I have two coming and hope at least one works.

It is so difficult that I really don't think you should add another limitation of what will coordinate with red. get what looks good on you and you will be fine.

Don’t know why that link didn’t work. Here’s a picture of the dress.

So your SO has already purchased the dark gray suit, and it's a definite thing, right? Personally, I like dark gray suits. I'm not so crazy about the idea of a red shirt though -- seems like too much dark -- I'd go with a white shirt and a stand-out red tie. Plus, I assume he will be given a red flower for his lapel?

Your dress seems to be a harder problem -- isn't it always? Not to be unhelpful, but I don't like any of the four you brought up.

This first one I dislike 1) because it's black -- not for a wedding. 2) the nylon overlay looks too teenage-y.

Second one I like but not for a wedding -- too dark. 2) you say your shoulders aren't your strong suit, but this dress accents the shoulders.

Third and fourth -- I like them, but they do look, as you say, "LL Bean". I'm actually more of a Lands End shopper, but I think I have half a dozen dresses in that style /different colors, and I wear them to work constantly in the spring /fall ... but not for a wedding. Plus, they're still dark colors.

You said the wedding's in the East ... I've lived on the East coast my whole life, and maybe it's different in other areas, but we DO NOT wear black or other dark colors to weddings.

If you feel the need to "match" your SO, I'd try to play up his color red accent, not the dark of the suit.

I like these two dresses -- they're definitely the type of things I see people wearing to weddings in my area:

I like this dress, except that it has the same problem as the others you chose -- it's black.

Is the wedding indoors or outdoors? Outdoors complicates things. If it's outdoors, be sure you bring a wrap of some sort and a pair of flat shoes in your handbag -- in case of uneven terrain.

Do you have Belks in your area? I bought my mother-of-the-bride dress there, and I think it was $14 (on a last-chance clearance rack). When my mother-in-law bought the identical dress, I bought a second mother-of-the-bride dress -- again at Belk -- and I think it was $25. Both were short sheath-style dresses with all-over lace.

Have you considered Rent The Runway (and I think there are a couple similar places online)?

I am not pushing dress 4 at all... but it does not look llbean. There is more styling to it than your typical day dress. The waist is inset and there is a flounce. On me, it does accentuate the badonkadonk but I do have a bandonkadonk and it's not in a bad or vulgar way. The fabric is like the scuba knit you see all over but it isn't skin hugging.

You may or may not like the pattern. It isn't my typical pattern but it isn't dark and dour. The pink stands out.

I was actually considering a dress similar to 2 (but in a much lighter color) for a wedding I am attending in April but I've passed on it due to the sequins and beading. It's a day wedding and not formal so I think the sequins are too much. In this area of the east coast, black is not unusual at a wedding. In fact, it is very likely that the dress I will wear to my upcoming wedding is either black or black and white.

In my experience, where we live in the NYC metro and have relatives from Philly to Boston, there is no longer any prohibition against black at weddings.

I have lived in NYC and I often wear black to weddings along with at least half the guests. As a matter of fact the last wedding I went to the bride asked all the guest to wear only black and white with no accessories in any other color but gold or silver. Yes, I was greatly annoyed but complied as did almost everyone.

I went to a wedding in Phila. last summer and there were black dresses.

If anyone wants to look at that website I linked to, it’s best to view on pc or laptop, otherwise when you hit return after you’ve looked at a dress, you’ll be sent back to the beginning and not where you left off. Their customer service had to tell me that, but maybe the more computer literate here already know that. I asked and was told the clothes are shipped from Hong Kong

Maddielee I can't find that purple flowered flouncy dress on the Dillards Web site? What search terms did you use? They may be sold out of it. I think I am going to pass on my four choices. 1 too hot and impractical, 2 too fancy, will never wear again, 3 I'm just not in love with the pattern although I do like the dress style, and I think I will not like the fabric of #4, I tend to wear more drapey things. I think I am going to order that dress Jojoco posted. I already have a black shrug type sweater to wear with it and some shoes and I can see myself wearing it on several occasions, even if I don't wear it to the wedding reception. To me that dress does not say "black" since it is just the background color. SO will probably not like it . . . I think I will be searching for quite a while. Would be nice to have something workable so that I can not worry about it and then if I run across the perfect dress later, I could still get it.

Here you go...

This one?

https://www.dillards.com/p/donna-morgan-floral-print-ruffle-hem-midi-wrap-dress/507743237?di=05169469_zi_grey_lavender_multi&categoryId=-10005&facetCache=pageSize%3D48%26beginIndex%3D0%26orderBy%3D1%26emphasize%3D05309093

I didn’t even click on the link from chickadee but their ad appeared on the next website I visited, demonstrating the magic of the internet.

I’ve been to weddings up and down the east coast and there are always women wearing black and dark colors. It seemed like a daring choice 30+ years ago but now it’s standard. My maid of honor wore black 25 years ago at my east coast wedding.

Its the fabric weight for the men's suit that will determine how hot it is, not the relative color difference between a light grey or dark grey suit. Unless the ceremony and reception are out in direct sunlight. If he is in the party I would suggest Not a patterned or red shirt. I would also suggest no short sleeve. It's preferable to wear a long sleeved shirt and roll them up than to wear short sleeves to something semiformal. Kinda like wearing white tube socks with dress shoes.

Perhaps the bride and groom will specify what type/color suit and shirt your SO will need to wear. Groomsmen and Best Man usually wear the same suits.

ETA: I love that dress maddie linked!

The only stipulation was that members of the wedding party wear something red. I was the one who thought a red shirt and grey tie would be very cool with this dark grey suit. It is light-weight wool so not super hot but in the sun it could be quite hot. But since the wedding is going to be outside and fast, I don't think it will be a problem. But if I know SO, if he gets hot at the reception he will ditch the suit jacket and tie. Heck, he might even come back to the hotel and change for all I know. I am only going to the reception. So Pal, why no short sleeves with a suit? I'm kind of thinking that tie with short sleeves looks kind of dorky so maybe that's why? If you don't take off the jacket, seems like short sleeves with a suit would be good if you were worried about being too hot. But then if you take off the jacket, I can see that there could be issues . . .

Edited to add that seeing as how I work for an arboretum, that grey floral wrap dress would be appropriate! I actually have a pair of purple pumps! Not sure what kind of wrap would work with it though . . . I have a mauve v-neck 3/4 sleeved cardigan, or maybe a shawl, I have a royal blue one . . .

A couple years back I had a friend whose daughter had a black and white color scheme for her wedding.

Agree about no short sleeves under a jacket for men. Plus if he takes his jacket off at the reception (which he will), long sleeves look so much classier.

What about you? What are your assets? What silhouette is flattering?

I've recently discovered that a simple A line works for me and I got one for my daughters graduation off Amazon of all places...

I feel you though...dress shopping is almost as bad as swimsuit shopping...

Maybe you should go out with an opinionated friend and try on all sorts of things that you normally would NOT try on...I took my 80 something year old mom out to dress shop and I picked up a dress for her that she really pushed back on. She tried it on and looked so amazing, so young, so vibrant. And she had a shape she never knew she had.

I usually wear sheath dresses and really have to hold back not to buy yet another black and white dress. Or blue.

I find that Banana Republic, Tahari, and Theory fit me best. And Calvin Klein.

I like the 4th one of the originally posted dresses (the navy/white), but then I usually go for no ruffles, pleats, etc.

LOL Penny, I do have an opinionated shopping consultant who does go with me and makes me get out of my comfort zone, but she lives out east. Right now she and I are working on my own wedding dress . . . but meanwhile SO is not cutting it. He is so conservative, his comfort zone is extremely narrow. He dislikes almost everything and I'm not much better. That's why I often end up online since I'm fairly picky about material and quality, etc. for the money and most things in ye olde average store are below par in my book. I have to really travel a bit to find stores that carry nicer things. Too bad I don't have a hip set of daughters like some of my friend do to keep them looking good. My two friends who usually help me purge are far away . . .

Nosoccermom, that Tahari web site had a lot of dresses I liked, some maybe for my own wedding gown. This one would be fab. for the wedding reception except I think it is too long to look good on me and impossible to hem. The colors I wear often. Hard to imagine 58 year old me in the dress though . . . I actually have a aqua shawl that would match this dress . . . !

There's really no such thing as a short sleeved dress shirt, or a red dress shirt.

You can get away with wearing a short sleeved shirt with a blazer or sport jacket but not a tie and suit.

And you can get away with a red shirt with a suit if you are 20, or live in Italy and the shirt is silk and you are 6 feet tall and weight 140 lbs in either case. Otherwise, not so much.

That's pretty...I have a year on you and I would wear it. I wouldn't hem it...

Dresses should make you feel pretty...I feel as if you like this one (of course the try-on will tell).

Could you order a bunch of way different ones and return what doesn't work (my method..)

You may be shocked at what does it for you...

ETA: disclaimer...I am not good at fashion!

For your guy - grey suit, white long sleeve shirt, red tie, black shoes and socks. Men really are easier to dress.

Well Pal, he did look like a sexy Italian IMHO, (he has black full head of hair and tan skin) but in reality he is English, Czech and German . . . He has the figure for it but not the age and attitude, and it was cotton not silk, so perhaps he should tone it down a bit as he is only in the wedding party, not the star . . . However, we go out so seldom, maybe this is our last chance to be Audrey Hepburn and Andrea Dotti . . . But then we risk looking like an outtake of the Jersey Shore show.

Being part of the wedding party is a bit of a different story, men commonly wear things they wouldn’t otherwise such as coloured shirts or cumberbunds. With a dark grey suit I think a red (floral?) tie would look verrrry sharp.

To me it is not so important that dh and I coordinate especially when he’s a member of the wedding party.

I don't think men's dress and women's dress ever needs to coordinate except in the relative level of formality.

My sister was in a wedding where the bridesmaids wore pastel rainbow, and the ushers wore yellow tuxes with green shirts and the groom wore a green tux with a yellow shirt. Out there, but not that unheard of in 1975. Embarrassingly hideous soon and forever after. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Black/Navy/Grey suit white shirt and colored but subdued-patterned tie combination at any time in the 20th or 21st century for a wedding. The pictures will be there for a lifetime.

My dad who dressed well enough that it was noted in the newspaper, at one time wore a tux with short pants and had a pink tweed sport coat, and a had a pair of lavender slacks. He would not have been caught dead in any of those things at a wedding or formal dinner. (I can't remember what the short pantsed tux was worn to, some outside thing).

I am pretty dogmatic about what clothing, where, but I never end up looking inappropriately dressed, or stupid in restrospect.

Out there fashion can be fun too though! We’d be pretty boring if we just stuck to the same old same old. You’ll always remember those yellow and green wedding photos.

Sort of reminds me of that old Dave Barry column about WASPs (a group to which he and I both belong): 'Wealthy WASP's have less fun in their entire lifetimes than members of other ethnic groups have at a single wedding reception. I have been to both WASP and non-WASP weddings, and your WASP couple can get married, go on their honeymoon, come home, pursue careers, have children and get divorced in less time than it takes for a non-WASP couple to get to the part of their reception where everyone drinks champagne from the maid of honor's brassiere.'

Sure, I just wouldn't wear it as a member of a wedding party.

More random ranting: LOL Robo about the WASP weddings. There's a bit of WASP vs ethnic and also introvert vs extrovert going in my relationship with SO. I am however, half WASP, really waspy WASP, (as in Anglo Saxon protestant, not Teutonic protestant) so I am used to some of the restraint, to say the least . . . :)

I also found out that the color for the wedding is not "red" per se, rather it is crimson, so the shirt/tie combo I liked will have to go back regardless. On the plus side, with a light grey shirt, the suit and shirt will also pass for our wedding, so that will save us some money from having to buy two shirts. I only suggested the red shirt combo because it was on super sale. Here's a photo so you can see what I was envisioning with SO's dark coloring.

Surprisingly, SO liked the flouncy floral dresses, particularly the one with the grey background. He thought they would be flattering for my figure. He opined, not without merit, that an a-line dress might be too form-fitting and emphasize my less-than-perfectly-proportional hips. Possibly not, but only trying on will tell. I think I will order all three dresses.

Monitors vary....but. I don't see that tie with that shirt.

To my eyes it's a red and maroon combination.

It looks different IRL. I tried and tried with the lighting and camera but could not get it to show true to color. So just the gist with that photo. It's going back anyway, it's not "crimson" for sure. The tie is great, would go with a lot of things, but is not sold separately. I'm sure we could find something similar though. But if I know SO he will probably go with something solid in the end.

Interesting point...What is "crimson" to you vs. red?...I always thought it to be kinda similar and never thought of it...

I like red...I found an Hermes tie that was red at the thrift shop for five dollars...scooped that right up. I like all sorts of interesting ties...it's the only "fun" that men can have really...socks have caught up, but you can't see much of them.

The suit is great and doesn't look to be winter weight to me...

You two will look fab!

Apparently SO's son is sending us a crimson color swatch to be ultra clear . . . such fun!

Have yet to hit up the Goodwills. Once I have one thing that is workable I will feel a lot better and then might be able to relax and enjoy the hunt for other options, perhaps better.

Edited to add for Chickadee that the Floryday Web site had some real eye candy on it!! I may be tempted to try something out for an order . . . most clothes are made in China anyway, so why not go straight to the source. But then again, who knows how long those prices will last in the current economic/trade climate.

Maybe they want to make sure it doesn't run to an orangey red...?

That aqua dress is fabulous. Don't assume it's not hemmable - I'd take it to a seamstress if you love it and want it shorter. Perhaps it's possible to shorten it from the waist. Or the hem.

About Floryday...I wasn't going to say anything until you mentioned ordering from this company. After I looked at the gorgeous dresses and the low, low prices, I did a web search for reviews of the company. I suggest you do that too before you place an order. There are an awful lot of unhappy reviews from people who say that the clothes take way to long to arrive from China, the materials are inferior, the sizes are skimpy, and the customer service is bad. I have no direct experience, but suggest you don't pin your hopes on anything you see on their website.

I really love the colors and the wrap style of the aqua dress; however, I'm not sure about the tiers all around. What is it you like about this dress?

Can I second Pal’s call for a white shirt, picking up the required color in the tie? There is very little that is sexier than a nice white shirt. And the reason you would want a long sleeved shirt is because you need the white cuffs to show the requisite 1/4”- 1/2”