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Funeral etiquette

(78 Posts)
grannyrebel7 Thu 27-Apr-23 16:27:29

I'm attending a funeral next week and the family have said not to wear black. The last funeral I went to when the family had also said no black, lots of people ignored this and only me and one other person wore a colour. I don't know what to wear for this one as I haven't really got anything suitable, but I do have lots of black. What would you do?

nanaK54 Thu 27-Apr-23 16:30:39

Wear whatever you have, but perhaps add a splash of colour with a scarf.

Calendargirl Thu 27-Apr-23 16:30:59

How about black outfit but colourful scarf, shoes, handbag?

I like black for a funeral.

A local funeral had mourners in Hawaiian shirts and shorts at the deceased’s request.

I wasn’t attending, but don’t know what I would have worn, nothing suitable.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 27-Apr-23 16:32:50

I would wear navy or grey, or maybe even a subdued patterned dress.

Beechnut Thu 27-Apr-23 16:33:56

Are they actually saying not to wear black or no need to wear black. I’d go along with their wishes but if I didn’t have anything suitable I’d wear what I had. I once went to a funeral where we were asked to wear bright colours so I did although my skirt had some black pattern parts.

eazybee Thu 27-Apr-23 16:41:57

Black with a lighter scarf, blouse, jacket? Navy blue, grey or brown? I hate being told not to wear black and or wear bright colours; I just don't feel comfortable even if the funeral is classed as a celebration of a life.

pascal30 Thu 27-Apr-23 16:43:46

wear whatever you feel comfortable in...

BlueBelle Thu 27-Apr-23 16:50:10

I ll be so unhappy if anyone wears black at my funeral ( not that I’ll know too much) I want the brightest colours possible the sun, the rainbow, the flowers in their brightest colours
So if any of you come please do that for me

PamelaJ1 Thu 27-Apr-23 16:52:42

I have been in that situation. I wore something colourful, as did close friends and family.
The message didn’t get out to everyone so quite a few people wore black.
It really didn’t matter.

paddyann54 Thu 27-Apr-23 16:57:35

Navy with a bright scarf is what I wore to my friends sons funeral,all his 20 something friends wore bright party clothes.It was lovely he would have been happy with that,23 is far too young to die .His friends queued to speak about ,so many the actual cremation was held over until the next day .How great to be so loved .
On the other hand I dont want a funeral just my family getting together .

sodapop Thu 27-Apr-23 16:58:35

That happened to me recently as well, in the end there were only about three of us wearing bright colours apart from family members. I think the idea of a bright scarf or blouse is a good compromise.

LRavenscroft Thu 27-Apr-23 17:30:07

GrannyGravy13

I would wear navy or grey, or maybe even a subdued patterned dress.

Sounds perfect.

Fleurpepper Thu 27-Apr-23 17:33:26

Nowadays, it is no longer about funeral 'etiquette' but the wishes of the family or the deceased- even if they are not what you would expect.

Foxygloves Thu 27-Apr-23 17:42:46

Don’t you have navy or grey? Lighten with a scarf in maybe pale blue, pink etc
That said, last year when I went to D’s MIL’s funeral I had been told “not black” and to be fair, the family weren’t in black (but blue, dark green, grey etc)
Everybody else WAS! It was summer and I wore a navy blazer, cream top and beige linen trousers which should have been fine but I’m so glad I didn’t risk anything brighter.

Callistemon21 Thu 27-Apr-23 17:49:10

I was going to wear a red and black scarf for a funeral the other week but thought perhaps I shouldn't.

However, the message had been to wear something bright, but most people didn't get the message.

I'd take a colourful scarf which you can swiftly remove and put in your bag if it's not appropriate. Or vice versa.
And perhaps navy blue with a cream top.

grandMattie Thu 27-Apr-23 17:51:33

At my husband’s funeral last year, I didn’t wear a hot pink dress (DH’s favourite) for fear of shocking the attendees but did wear white and turquoise.

Grey? Navy? A colourful scarf/earrings /bag/shoes?

pinkquartz Thu 27-Apr-23 18:02:57

For funeral for a young child we were asked to wear bright colours.
I decided on purple which is dark and bright to my mind

BlueBelle Thu 27-Apr-23 18:36:09

Why not do what you ve been asked ? instead of what you feel you ought to do
If it’s clearly been suggested wear bright colour's then that’s what is preferred please do what they want, it’s not your day it’s theirs

Kim19 Thu 27-Apr-23 18:59:29

Go in what feels right for you. Clothes are only outward show.

Fleurpepper Thu 27-Apr-23 19:12:23

Kim, but the wishes of the family and/or deceased should be respected, it is not about the attendees.

Hetty58 Thu 27-Apr-23 19:21:43

It would be wrong to wear black if you've been asked not to.

Yammy Thu 27-Apr-23 19:28:17

Purple, violet or lavender. Purple was a mourning colour which might make you feel better or a navy dress with lots of bright splashes of colour.

honeyrose Thu 27-Apr-23 21:26:19

I wore a black and white checked dress to a funeral last November with a bright orange cardigan and a black jacket on top. Black shoes, black tights. I wasn’t sure what the etiquette was regarding dress, but when I drove up to the crematorium car park, everyone seemed to be wearing black, so I kept the black jacket on. If bright colours were being worn, I’d have left the black jacket in the car.

NotSpaghetti Thu 27-Apr-23 21:50:05

Good point BlueBelle do it for the family.
Surely you don't only have black clothes?

biglouis Thu 27-Apr-23 21:59:32

Last time I went to a funeral (some time ago) only the immediate family were in black/dark colours and everyone else wore an assortment of outfits including patterned dresses. It was mid July so ordinary summer clothes.

Mourning is done in the heart, not in the garments.