PHOTOS BY KRISTI TELNOV PHOTOGRAPHY

Wedding guests often have a hard time deciding what to wear in an effort to look their best without outshining the couple getting married. An all-black dress code is one way to alleviate their stress and ensure stunning photographs at the end of the day.

Ali Simcho, co-founder and event producer for Wanderlust Weddings and Events, has noticed that many of her clients are younger and prefer more modern trends such as neutral colors, white flowers and greenery. “That’s about what 90% of my couples probably say on one of our first design calls,” she says.

She’s had many clients dabble in the idea of an all-black dress code for their wedding guests, but not many have actually followed through with it, perhaps due to its perceived impractical or strict nature.

Yet she feels that all-white or all-black dress codes are fun and approachable for guests.

“I think that it will definitely be a hot take on a lot of weddings coming up here,” says Simcho. “I think overall just remember that it’s your day.”

Emilie Davis, who married David Zubasic on Aug. 18, 2023, stumbled upon the idea for a pastel dress code and later an all-black dress code, which she found to be elegant, clean and crisp.

“From that moment on, I was like, this is what I’m doing,” she says. “Everybody’s gonna think I’m absolutely nuts, but I don’t care.”

While an all-black dress code may seem like a bold expectation for guests, many appreciate having guidance when deciding what to wear. And lots of people already have black attire in their closet.

“A lot of my girlfriends were like, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you so much, you just made my life so much easier,’” says Emilie.

“When we had came out and we were announced, looking down [from the balcony], I think that’s when we really saw everybody in one area all in black and in that space,” she says. “It just looks so, so classy.”

Morgan Durkacz, who married Raymond Rose on Aug. 19, 2023, has always loved bright colors, yet gravitates toward neutrals for more serious events.

“I wear black to most weddings anyways, because it’s just the safest way as a wedding guest,” says Morgan, who initially wanted her bridesmaids to be in all black before asking all of her guests to dress in black to go in a slightly different direction.

“I love that with Morgan’s wedding, I think everybody just kind of felt the same,” says Simcho, who is Morgan’s cousin along with her wedding planner.

“They became a part of the aesthetic of the wedding,” says Morgan.

Like Emilie, she envisioned a more traditional style wedding, with a touch of elegance, old glam and royalty.

“I just wanted it to feel like how my parents’ wedding felt, with a little more modern touch,” says Morgan.

While these brides wanted everyone to wear black, they encouraged creativity and individuality and didn’t want guests going out of their way to rent a new tux or buy a new high-end dress. They even included specific inspiration and examples of outfits and accessories on their wedding websites and save-the-dates.

Whether it’s a short dress, long dress, jumpsuit, or whether there’s a pop of color in the shoes, tie, or jewelry, they left a lot of room for people to express themselves. One of Emilie’s guests wore hot pink heels.

Some of the guests at these two weddings weren’t as initially fond of the trend, some of Emilie’s family calling it “bougie.”

“Some of the older people were like, ‘Why do we have to wear black? Is it a funeral?’” says Morgan.

So, advice for brides-to-be? Morgan believes it’s best to present the dress code in a clear and approachable way.

“It’s definitely different, but it was honestly worth it,” she says. “If you’re gonna do it, I would say go all in.”