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Red is usually fine at a Western wedding, but at many Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese weddings it's the bride's colour. How to decide, plus white and black.
Yes, at most Western weddings you can wear red, as long as the outfit suits the dress code and doesn't pull attention from the couple. The big exception is a wedding where red is the bridal colour. In Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese traditions, brides often wear red, so a guest in red can look like they're competing with the bride. If the couple's families follow one of these traditions, or you simply don't know, choose another colour. When in doubt, ask.
Wedding colours carry very different meanings around the world. In much of Europe and North America the bride traditionally wears white, a fashion that became popular after Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840. In many Asian traditions, red is the colour of good fortune and celebration, and it's the bride who wears it.
Red is widely associated with luck and happiness in Chinese culture, and it runs through Chinese weddings: in decorations, in the red envelopes used for cash gifts, and very often in the bride's clothing. Many brides wear a red qipao or an embroidered red outfit for part of the day, even if they also wear a white gown. Encyclopedic accounts of red in culture describe it as the traditional colour for Chinese brides. Because of that, guests generally pick another colour.
Many Indian brides, particularly at Hindu weddings, wear red, often with gold, because red is associated with marriage and auspicious occasions. The wedding dress article notes that Hindu bridal saris are usually red with gold brocade, red being the colour associated with married women. Customs vary a great deal across India's regions and communities, and many brides now wear pink, gold, ivory or pastels instead. Guests at Indian weddings are often encouraged to wear bright colours, just nothing that could be mistaken for the bridal look.
At Vietnamese weddings, brides traditionally wear an ao dai, a long tunic worn over trousers, and red is a popular bridal choice because it's associated with luck and happiness. Other bright colours are a safer choice for guests. As with every tradition here, couples differ, so check if you can.
At a typical Western wedding, red is a perfectly acceptable guest colour. A few things to consider:
At Western weddings, white is still the colour guests most often avoid, because it's usually the bride's. The Emily Post Institute's guide to wedding guest attire points guests to the invitation, the time of day and local custom rather than a list of banned colours. In practice, most guests still skip white, ivory and cream to be safe, unless the couple has asked everyone to wear white.
Black was once considered too sombre for weddings in Western etiquette, but that view has largely relaxed, and black is now a normal choice for evening and formal weddings. Cultural context still matters: in some traditions black is associated with mourning, so at weddings following those traditions it may be better to choose something brighter. If you're not sure, ask.
Read the invitation. Is there a dress code, a colour theme, or a request? Consider the couple's traditions. If the wedding follows Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese customs, skip red unless told otherwise. Ask if you're unsure. A quick message to the couple, a family member or someone in the wedding party beats guessing. Judge the outfit, not just the colour. If it could be mistaken for a bridal or bridesmaid look, pick something else.
It can be seen as competing with the bride, because red is traditionally the bride's colour at many Chinese weddings. Most guests choose another colour.
Many Indian brides wear red, so a full red outfit is best avoided unless the couple says otherwise. Bright colours in general are welcome.
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