Anyone else seeing a bit too much black worn at weddings?

I've noticed this quite a bit in the last year. One glaring example was a wedding I attended in Panama in which almost all the women in the groom's family wore long black dresses to a daytime wedding. My brother's fiance is trying to press for black suits for their outdoor spring wedding next year. As the best man, I'm fighting tooth and nail for charcoal suits for the groomsmen and light grey for the groom. What's going on with all the black at weddings?

No.

I don't get it either, but people seem to think a black suit is the perfect wedding suit.

Personal Example:

One of my groups of friends is pretty close-knit, and we all go way back with each other. Last year, one of the guys in the group got married. It was an evening wedding in the fall, and another friend decided to wear a tan suit. It was, apparently, the only suit he owned. This got us to talking about suits, and he and his wife started discussing about the fact that he doesn't really have one to wear to such events. They agreed he needs to pick up a black one.

I said something along the lines of "Black? I'm not really a fan of black suits. If you're gonna spend the money, navy and grey would be more versatile." I quickly gave up when they informed me that black is the most versatile color for suits (and great for weddings).

Black suits are popular...

Don't ask why but they're...

Most people not keen on suits buy a black suit for wedding and funerals..

On top of that, the infamous little black dress is now for many women a great all rounder...

Result? Black is worn everywhere...

I think Russell Smith addressed this in Men's Style. Basically, to many men, navy and gray are (as Smith put it), "banker's suit" colours. I guess a lot of men think that by going with black, they're making a safe choice along the lines of the "LBD" that women love to wear as lasbar pointed out. But the fact of the matter is that a black suit will give you a lot less mileage than the dreaded navy and gray. I'm not one of those zealots who hates black suits - I think they have a place in a wardrobe, but it should be someone's fifth or sixth suit, not their first. SFers have a public duty to warn their clued out friends from making such a blunder, and the OP deserves our appreciation for doing just that.

I see lots of black at weddings, but mostly in the form of tailcoats, with grey cashmere striped trousers.

This is good, as far as I'm concerned.

This is good. If no one wore black, I would look ridiculous when I did. Keep up the good work all black suit wearers.

Unless it's YOUR own wedding, just STFU and let others have their day.

I see lots of black at weddings, but mostly in the form of tailcoats, with grey cashmere striped trousers.

This is good, as far as I'm concerned.

One of the things that I am seeing a lot of at recent weddings are black tailcoats, with grey cashmere striped trousers. May just be me.

Originally Posted by edmorel

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One of the things that I am seeing a lot of at recent weddings are black tailcoats, with grey cashmere striped trousers. May just be me.

You mean morning coats or evening tailcoats? Sometimes the term "tailcoat" is used for both.

Originally Posted by Manton

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You mean morning coats or evening tailcoats? Sometimes the term "tailcoat" is used for both.

Morning coats, I would think, since the UK still sticks pretty closely to the 'no weddings in evening' rule.

And the people and the rental shops still have a handle on the rules of formal dress.

i don't understand why so many women wear black to a wedding.

but people are clueless today. a few years ago, i had to tactfully suggest to a friend of mine, who was serving as a maid of honor and responsible for picking out her own dress, that she not wear WHITE--especially since the bride herself wasn't planning to.