I'm Dreaming of a White Wedding

Q: I went shopping for my wedding gown yesterday. This is my third wedding and my best friend tells me that I shouldn't wear white. I want to, but now she's made me feel self-conscious. I think she's just jealous because I've already been married twice and she hasn't been married at all. What do you say? It's my wedding and I should be able to do what I want.

Anne: I think you answered your own question in that last line—it's your wedding. Ultimately, if people think a white gown is strange, it was still what you wanted. To tell the truth, I wonder how many people care these days about who wears white at weddings. With the exception of your friend, of course.

BTW, I think your comment about her being jealous is a little snarky. She's your friend, right? Maybe she's just trying to save you from gossip.

Dee: Jeez, I want to meet you, woman. Still a virgin after two marriages!! That must be a record. Does Guinness know about you?

Anne may be right that no one cares anymore, but good Lord. You've had two bites of the apple, Eve. Wearing white is a little in your past isn't it? White gowns are supposed to represent virginity, you know? You could maybe get by with white for the second wedding, but the third?

Give it a rest. Choose a pretty dress in a pastel. The groom really only wants to get you out of the dress, so he doesn't care about style or color. Why should you? Save some money and talk behind your back--don't wear white.

When is Short Too Short?

Q: I have a bet with my mother. When is a dress too short?

Anne: It’s hard to answer such an open question. It depends a lot on where the dress is being worn. Personally, I think a dress higher than two inches above the knee is too short for the work environment, while maybe three or four inches above the knee might be fine for going out at night. Knee-length is right for church events. Does that settle the bet?

Dee: If the man you're with mentions a bush whacker, your dress might be too short, no matter where you are. If your boss suddenly says that he likes pussy cats more than puppy dogs, your dress is too short. If you’re walking down a city street, yet overhear comments about beavers, your dress is too short. And after catching a glimpse of your hemline, if a man drops his papers, loses his train of thought and stammers like a tongue-tied adolescent (which granted, isn’t all that hard to do to a guy), your dress is probably too short.

Use common sense.