You’re free to wear any modest, appropriate dress you like. The primary rule etiquette enjoins about color is that women should not wear black to a wedding because black signifies mourning. A secondary rule is that female guests should not wear white because that is considered the bride’s color. But, from a practical standpoint, there is something else you may want to keep in mind. You will probably find yourself explaining to relatives and friends disappointed at not being invited to your wedding that you are having a “very small” – not “private,” which sounds exclusionary – ceremony out of consideration for the constrained circumstances you and your fiance currently face. That’s fine, but when you later share pictures of your ceremony, your relatives and friends may wonder just how financially strapped you really were if you’re wearing an obviously expensive gown. They may even wonder if fancy clothing was more important to you than their presence on your wedding day. If that’s the case, it may be more prudent and considerate to choose a wedding dress that is modest not only from a fashion standpoint but also from a financial standpoint.
