If you were wearing this style of dress to a wedding....

I personally wouldn't, lovely colour :-)

If it was a warm day then no I wouldn't. What an absolutely beautiful dress!

I would, but I'm not sure what. It's a great dress but I feel like that's a lot of skin for in church - or am I being old-fashioned?...

Stunning dress! I would probably just take a cream pashmina to drape over my shoulders - or whatever colour to tie in with your shoes etc.

Lovely dress, what a great colour. I personally would put something over my shoulders in church as your not really meant to show your shoulders in church.

Hmm, maybe. I'm not sure it's entirely necessary as it's just a bit of shoulder on show.

If I did wear something, it'd just be a pashmina, probably in the same colour as whatever shoes and bag I had.

Wow, love the dress!

I would probably throw a pashmina over my shoulders for the ceremony and then take it off afterwards. Also handy to have a pashmina in case you're sat outside and it's a bit chilly. If it's lovely and warm then I would ditch it after the ceremony and show off the gorgeous dress.

I would wear something over the top for church (maybe a bit chiffony?) but think it is a lovely dress. I love the colour.

(Personally, it's bit much flesh for church, but I've seen much worse)

ID and AC I thought i should wear something over the top. Thing is I hate pashminas because they don't stay on!

AC - When you say it's too much flesh do you mean without a pashmina or cover up? So if I wore something over the top it's ok? I've never been to a church wedding before so I don't want to be inappropriate

It is a beautiful dress. I would cover my shoulders for Church but apart from that it is totally fine. There are a few chiffon cardigans around at the moment I would probably wear one of those if not wearing a pashmina. I have seen far worse in Church so you would be OK without anything but I always cover my shoulders in a Church. That's why I didn't want a strapless wedding dress although in the end I bought a strapless one which came with a jacket.

Maybe like this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flora-Chiffon-Bolero-Jacket-XSmall-Medium/dp/B008PDC5UW/ref=sr_1_6?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1402670760&sr=1-6&keywords=chiffon+shrugs

Hmm if you don't like pashminas you could look for a blazer or cropped jacket/shrug, but not sure what kind of shape would work well with the neckline/straps of the dress? Could you have a pashmina and pin it together with a nice green broach or something? *feel ancient suggesting a broach!!

Yes that's what I meant! It is a gorgeous dress - really lovely. I think (if I am being picky) it is the cut away shoulders that make me say I'd suggest something over it for church. You might feel rather exposed as it is, and no-one wants to feel uncomfortable when you should be focussing on the bride and groom and the service. But it is fine and gorgeous!

I agree with AC and ID, maybe a bit exposed for church but I love the style and colour, I would wear a little cropped cardigan or shrug with it if it's warm or a little blazer if it's a little cooler.

It also depends on the church - some are a lot more strict than others, plus it is how you feel. I've seen many a strapless dress in a church which I don't think is right - other than on the bride.

A toning bolero would go and then you could whip it off once out of the church. Or just a really light cardigan would do if you want to remove it straight after. I bought a cheap but nice cardi from Matalan for a wedding a couple of weeks ago just to keep the chill off. It was perfect. Didn't actually wear it as it was sweltering lol.

That is lovely - what a fab colour and style I think for the ceremony it would be good to wear something over it as some people might think it's a bit to much flesh on show for a church. it is was a civil do then I probably wouldn't waer anything if it was a lovely warm day. Probably a pashmina or a bolero cardi would be best. Personally I would go for the bolero as it will keep the lovely slim shape on show x

I've got a little white cardi that I could wear for the church.

What complicates the matter is that I *might* be doing a reading so I could be standing up in front of everyone so need to look presentable!

Thanks for all your help! If I'm feeling brave I might flash a pic when I'v got it

I didn't know you weren't allowed to show your shoulders in church. If there is a god, he's not happy with me at all...

A nice beaded shrug or bolero would be nice. Chiffon or lace!

I would probably just wear it as it is, nothing on top. All the vicars I've ever know or worked with (Church of Englad/Wales) would be fine with it.

Ha, that pic is hilarious Ravioli! They could all be naked from what you can see!!

I love the dress Holey but if I was wearing it I'd definitely take a small cardi or a pashmina to cover my shoulders. Our Church is always absolutely freezing so that's reason enough!

Omg that's so wrong lol. X

I guess it depends how conservative the church is, but as a regular church goer I have no problem with showing my shoulders in church. I wear strappy tops and halter tops/dresses regularly to church. I wouldnt wear a strapless top to church, but then I'm not comfortable in strapless tops full stop so don't wear them at all. Personally I think the dress is beautiful and very appropriate and the only reason I would consider a cover-up is that even on a lovely summers day old stone churches can be very cold.

If you a doing a reading you must be close to the bride or groom, could you ask them whether it's appropriate for the specific church, just to be sure.

I find it quite interesting that people feel bare shoulders/strapless dresses are wrong in church and yet about 90% of brides these days wear strapless dresses. Shouldn't the bride be the most demure, not the least? (This is not a moral judgement, I have nothing against strapless wedding dresses. It's just something that tickles me.)

She is my best friend but with a week to go until the wedding I figured she'd got more to worry about than what I'm wearing!

I tried the green dress on but didn't go for it in the end as it was a strange material, more like something I'd wear to work. But I did go for this one instead ?

http://www.debenhamsweddings.com/product/coast-debenhams-exclusive---harmon-lace-dress/58607_2224841707/?categoryId=836927

I've also bought a pashmina to try. Thanks for all your help, OT to the rescue once again!

Lovely new dress Holey!

You can tie pashminas to stop them from falling off your shoulders. There are videos on Youtube if you want some ideas.

Thanks teabag! Would never have thought to tie it (or look on youtube) so thanks for that!

Ooh love the new dress too!

I think it is more around not wanting to cause offence therefore being conservative is the key. I know that there a lot of non church going otters (myself included) so I honestly don't know if shoulders are appropriate or not- I would just stay on the side if caution to be sure as I would hate to cause offence. Even if the briefs arnt mine I still don't want to disrespect them.

Completely agree and as there can be discrepancies from church to church I'd be the same at an unknown church. Just tickles me that brides 'break the rules' (if there are really any to be broken) and no one bats an eyelid.

Massive amounts of boob cleavage is worse than displaying shoulders in a church.

Can't say I'd look twice at a set of shoulders, but I always notice the ta-tas.

good idea, a cream pashmina would be nice, oh and brooches are hot at the moment not old fashioned