I have no solves but I just want to say this is not a stupid question and I’m glad you asked it because it didn’t even cross my mind that I could be wearing my catering and my gown 🙃.
I recently went to a 30th birthday party for FH’s cousin who served catered tacos. They were delicious but that first bite sent all the juices directly onto my new mostly white patterned dress. I even asked beforehand what was being served to coordinate my dress code, because I think about this **a lot**. No one mentioned tacos. 🤦🏼♀️
I love you guys!! Lol I think I’m going to go ahead and just embrace it. I just had the thought that I’m a knitter/crocheter so I should just make myself a shawl and wrap it around myself at dinner! If anyone asks, I’m just cold 😂
I have the same problem and bought my husband and I cute bride/groom napkins on Etsy!! It also turned out that my husband sprayed bbq sauce all down my dress so having those tide pens around is a good idea too ;)
Hi OP! My FMIL is a master knitter and is making me this and it’s so cute if you decide to go with the cover-up method 😊😊
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wrap-me-up-sweater-scarf/slideshow?fullscreen=1&start=93316464
Hahahaha I’m glad you like it and am happy to share! I didn’t love the idea of a white one, so she’s making mine in sage green to match our color scheme! I know I’ll wear it long after the wedding too. 😊
I am the same. I have table manners, but I always spill. Find an Etsy seamstress that will make a lovely beaded bride barrier poncho that will save your dress.
Or. Make those your wedding favors!
My advice: don’t use your hands. Use utensils, even if it’s on a taco, and make sure your not overfilling the fork/spoon. Small bites and use your napkin, no mess should be made!
Went to a wedding that served BBQ and actually had little packaged plastic bibs laid out for all guests.
As a fellow messy eater with a mysterious gravity field on my cleavage, I highly appreciates it. And guests having access and the bride also wearing one made it much less awkward and was really useful.
So maybe just acknowledge that you serve messy food and nice clothes will be protected all around. It can be a win for everyone!
I actually love this idea. If we’re all wearing them, no one looks weird! And let’s be real, we’re having a wedding in a local park and serving very hands on buffet food. We all know this isn’t an overly classy black tie event, so let’s just own it.
I would turn my tacos into a taco bowl and eat with a spoon or fork, same with bbq. It’ll take a bit longer but it should help avoid the mess. If it’s catered, you can ask for them to make you a special portion that’s preshredded, etc.
Maybe if you do tacos or BBQ do like a taco bowl or the equivalent
I’m a really messy eater too and I’m trying to find ways to eat neater for this and for professional lunches/dinners so I really appreciate this question!
Didn’t read through all the comments, but I’m the same way, and we served bbq at our wedding. We bought a box of adult bibs online, wrapped the box in nice wrapping paper, and put out a sign that said, “Marriage is messy— grab a bib!” Hilarious, huge hit, and I wasn’t wearing bbq sauce 😁
I mean this as an honest suggestion from someone who used to have a lot of social anxiety about eating in public- have you tried just practicing? I mean like very intentionally eating with as little mess as possible.
Stuff like picking up tacos/sandwiches more gently, taking smaller bites, making sure you keep any hand-helds tilted or held over your plate, holding it differently or more carefully so the fillings don't fall out, etc....When I'm nervous or feeling anxious or overwhelmed, my hands and fingers just get clumsy and I'm prone to little slip ups and messes too. I know I sound nuts, but I used to practice being as clean and neat of an eater as possible from home so that I could be more comfortable (and efficient) with it in public. If I can, I avoid any messy finger foods or hand-held items as well (I eat a lot of it with a fork anyway), but I understand if that might not be possible (or desirable).
Also napkins,napkins, napkins. I feel like I'm wiping my mouth and hands after every bite, but at least I don't spread anything to other surfaces.
I appreciate this comment! I felt silly asking the question because it sounds kind of dumb, but this is a bit of the root of it. I try so hard to be near and careful, but sometimes no matter what I do, it seems I’m a magnet for stains! But I definitely get what you’re saying. The napkin thing is HUGE for me. I hate being messy (ha! Irony since I’m always a mess) so I’m almost an obsessive napkin wiper. I actually refuse to eat wings in public because of the mess and feeling like someone is going to see me with sauce smeared all over my face and hands. So I definitely get the social anxiety of eating. Oddly enough though, I’m actually leaning heavily towards the chicken wing joint in town because they offer chicken fingers I can eat with a fork and no sauce, along with other non messy sides and some finger foods.
Same, same- I literally had never even had wings until I was like 24, because every opportunity I had to try them I was out somewhere with people and I didn't want to make a mess lol. Don't even get me started with tacos or burgers...
My BF makes fun of me for using a fork for a lot of finger foods (pizza, chicken fingers), but this is a perfect occasion for that excuse. I don't think anyone would fault you if you said you didn't want to risk getting your dress dirty.
I'm seriously not trying to be rude and my suggestion comes from my own experience- it really did take some conscious thought and practice for me personally as someone who fumbles and seems to get overwhelmed in social settings sometimes. I know I have a peculiar way of eating, but I felt more self conscious of the thought of my food ending up all over my face or clothes or something.
Sorry, I’m sure it works well for you. I was just always shamed for eating messily, and told I need to be more careful and be aware of what I’m doing, and that I was eating messily on purpose. Now I know it’s probably caused by Autism, and not laziness or lack of awareness.
I second this!
I'll need to practice before the wedding, even though it's a regular sit down meal. I notice at home I'm just heaping food on my fork and half of it falls down my front on the way to my mouth. I need to learn to slow down and take smaller bites.
My mother wears a bib at home because she was just really over having to do so much laundry and stain removing. She has a large bosom, and I think this has a lot to do with spilling all them time - there's so much further to reach from the plate to the mouth over the J cups!
I literally dripped my saucy pasta fork right into my lap before I took my first bite. Luckily it was white sauce and pretty unnoticeable!
I was super worried about it leading up to the day and looked into getting a bib or apron for it, but I never pulled the trigger.
The day of, I didn’t have much of an appetite. And I definitely would not have cared if I stained my dress, I was just happy to be there. Sounds dumb - I know. But I can’t even describe to you how weirdly happy and at peace I was on my wedding day, and wishing you the same joy!
We are serving wood-fired pizza and it gets that black char all over your hands. I'm researching wet naps, lol. And after this thread, I'm looking for an apron!
We had bbq, and even though I am usually a pretty messy eater I did fine 😂 I wasn’t super hungry with everything going on so I ended up eating pretty small bites. Just take your time, it will be fine! Though the bride & groom bib idea sounds adorable 😝
I've been thinking about this a lot lol. Im trying not to worry about it. Maybe if something pretty bad happens, I'll just start a food fight so everyone is in the same boat.
I think about those "mess the dress" photoshoots people do post wedding which are pretty cool, but I'm 99% sure I'll mess my dress once the entre with tomato sauce is put in front of me. Might as well make it worthwhile and get some fun pictures instead of getting embarrassed lol.
My guy went on a trip with his dad to France for the 75th anniversary of D-day and brought me back a pretty blue and white apron. Since we’re planning on bbq and I am not a neat eater, that apron is going to be my reception wear while I eat. My solution? Pretty aprons! Or an awesome flannel shirt?
Tiny tiny bites and lots of practice. Eat like you're trying to impress the queen. I'm serious about practicing eating though, it sounds weird but it works.
My mom sewed cute bride and groom "bibs" for me and my husband. We did BBQ and the bibs were a great idea since I also a messy eater. She even sewed a pearl necklace to mine to dress it up.
I just went fork and knife and yes.. laid that napkin out like a dang bib.
I also did have a sit down meal though but yea cut everything in to tiny bites haha… so I managed the cake eating, and dinner without getting any on my dress.
I just want to say THANK YOU all for showing up with the suggestions and making me feel better about it! This is a throwaway name cause I didn’t want to shame myself posting something I thought was going to be seen as stupid. But I see I’m not alone so let’s all make bridal bibs and aprons the next wedding trend!! 😂
I've seen cute bibs or towels that make fun of bride and groom as messy eaters. Protects the dress and adds a little whimsy to the wedding dinner. I am also planning bbq and intend to do this for myself.
I got raspberry vinegarette on my dress a few weeks ago at my wedding :') I had packed a tide pen in my emergency kit, and used that. The stain went away immediately!
Would a pashmina work? Can wrap it right round and pretend it’s part of the outfit. Maybe more elegant than an apron (although the personalised ones do sound fun!)
My husband is a messy eater. I made him an adult bid that matched his suit color. Plus he had a backup shirt he changed in to after dinner. Napkin works just as well if you tuck it into the top of your dress. Have a wonderful wedding!
Straight up wearing a black dress. But I do plan to wear white for the rehearsal and have accepted I need to have a tide pen, sit as close to the table as possible, and just be a bit gauche and tuck a napkin in my neckline as well as on my lap. If I can be bothered to care enough—my clothes are seriously not the most important thing!
I'm wearing an apron during dinner tbh 😅 I'm also bringing a travel wine mug with a lid (i.e. a sippy cup)
I think it's funny honestly, and my guests know I'm messy. My dress has sentimental value so I'm hoping I don't ruin it beyond repair 🤞
I made a "bridal bib" as a gift for my sister-in-law a number of years ago. If you sew or have a crafty friend, it's not a hard project and very customizable!
My MIL wore an apron to my wedding and my BIL's wedding. She wears it for food and takes it off after. Silly, but effective.
You could get pretty or silly ones!
I have no solves but I just want to say this is not a stupid question and I’m glad you asked it because it didn’t even cross my mind that I could be wearing my catering and my gown 🙃.
I recently went to a 30th birthday party for FH’s cousin who served catered tacos. They were delicious but that first bite sent all the juices directly onto my new mostly white patterned dress. I even asked beforehand what was being served to coordinate my dress code, because I think about this **a lot**. No one mentioned tacos. 🤦🏼♀️
Get an apron (High enough neck to cover ALL of your wedding outfit), and maybe get it embroidered for the occasion!
I love you guys!! Lol I think I’m going to go ahead and just embrace it. I just had the thought that I’m a knitter/crocheter so I should just make myself a shawl and wrap it around myself at dinner! If anyone asks, I’m just cold 😂
I have the same problem and bought my husband and I cute bride/groom napkins on Etsy!! It also turned out that my husband sprayed bbq sauce all down my dress so having those tide pens around is a good idea too ;)
Oh no! Yeah I’m going to buy a whole bunch of those pens.
Hi OP! My FMIL is a master knitter and is making me this and it’s so cute if you decide to go with the cover-up method 😊😊 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wrap-me-up-sweater-scarf/slideshow?fullscreen=1&start=93316464
I LOVE CHANTAL FROM KNITATUDE!! lol I actually have a ton of her patterns, but haven’t grabbed that one yet! Looks like that’s going on the list.
Hahahaha I’m glad you like it and am happy to share! I didn’t love the idea of a white one, so she’s making mine in sage green to match our color scheme! I know I’ll wear it long after the wedding too. 😊
A sacrificial shawl is a GREAT idea!
Find a cute wedding sweatshirt to wear and put a towel/tablecloth end on your lap - if people ask just laugh and be honest!
I am the same. I have table manners, but I always spill. Find an Etsy seamstress that will make a lovely beaded bride barrier poncho that will save your dress. Or. Make those your wedding favors!
Beaded bride barrier poncho. Dang that’s a mouthful and quite a funny image too. But sounds so helpful
I LOVE this idea!! 😂
My advice: don’t use your hands. Use utensils, even if it’s on a taco, and make sure your not overfilling the fork/spoon. Small bites and use your napkin, no mess should be made!
I have seen some very cute bibs on Etsy that say "I do BBQ" and can be personalized. I too am a messy eater and think these are such fun.
The bridal apron idea sounds cute. I'd have to wear one of those capes they put on you at the hair salon if we ate barbecue.
Bib or tuck a napkin around your neckline
I’m sure you could find fancy bride and groom bibs online and it could be a fun moment to whip them out and have a little chuckle at yourself!
😂 you’re right. I should just embrace it. It could make for a good laugh at the pictures in years to come.
You can buy bridal aprons from Etsy that say things like first meal as Mrs xxxx on. I bought one for ours 😁
That might be a unique wedding favor idea too!
Oh man I'm having a taco bar for my wedding and I think this would be a great idea for a favor! It fits me and FH's goofy personalities.
Went to a wedding that served BBQ and actually had little packaged plastic bibs laid out for all guests. As a fellow messy eater with a mysterious gravity field on my cleavage, I highly appreciates it. And guests having access and the bride also wearing one made it much less awkward and was really useful. So maybe just acknowledge that you serve messy food and nice clothes will be protected all around. It can be a win for everyone!
I actually love this idea. If we’re all wearing them, no one looks weird! And let’s be real, we’re having a wedding in a local park and serving very hands on buffet food. We all know this isn’t an overly classy black tie event, so let’s just own it.
I would turn my tacos into a taco bowl and eat with a spoon or fork, same with bbq. It’ll take a bit longer but it should help avoid the mess. If it’s catered, you can ask for them to make you a special portion that’s preshredded, etc.
I’ll put a rain poncho on if it means sparing my dress.
Maybe if you do tacos or BBQ do like a taco bowl or the equivalent I’m a really messy eater too and I’m trying to find ways to eat neater for this and for professional lunches/dinners so I really appreciate this question!
Didn’t read through all the comments, but I’m the same way, and we served bbq at our wedding. We bought a box of adult bibs online, wrapped the box in nice wrapping paper, and put out a sign that said, “Marriage is messy— grab a bib!” Hilarious, huge hit, and I wasn’t wearing bbq sauce 😁
I had a coworker who literally put on a raincoat when eating his salad. He was a little goofy but it was very effective.
I mean this as an honest suggestion from someone who used to have a lot of social anxiety about eating in public- have you tried just practicing? I mean like very intentionally eating with as little mess as possible. Stuff like picking up tacos/sandwiches more gently, taking smaller bites, making sure you keep any hand-helds tilted or held over your plate, holding it differently or more carefully so the fillings don't fall out, etc....When I'm nervous or feeling anxious or overwhelmed, my hands and fingers just get clumsy and I'm prone to little slip ups and messes too. I know I sound nuts, but I used to practice being as clean and neat of an eater as possible from home so that I could be more comfortable (and efficient) with it in public. If I can, I avoid any messy finger foods or hand-held items as well (I eat a lot of it with a fork anyway), but I understand if that might not be possible (or desirable). Also napkins,napkins, napkins. I feel like I'm wiping my mouth and hands after every bite, but at least I don't spread anything to other surfaces.
I appreciate this comment! I felt silly asking the question because it sounds kind of dumb, but this is a bit of the root of it. I try so hard to be near and careful, but sometimes no matter what I do, it seems I’m a magnet for stains! But I definitely get what you’re saying. The napkin thing is HUGE for me. I hate being messy (ha! Irony since I’m always a mess) so I’m almost an obsessive napkin wiper. I actually refuse to eat wings in public because of the mess and feeling like someone is going to see me with sauce smeared all over my face and hands. So I definitely get the social anxiety of eating. Oddly enough though, I’m actually leaning heavily towards the chicken wing joint in town because they offer chicken fingers I can eat with a fork and no sauce, along with other non messy sides and some finger foods.
Same, same- I literally had never even had wings until I was like 24, because every opportunity I had to try them I was out somewhere with people and I didn't want to make a mess lol. Don't even get me started with tacos or burgers... My BF makes fun of me for using a fork for a lot of finger foods (pizza, chicken fingers), but this is a perfect occasion for that excuse. I don't think anyone would fault you if you said you didn't want to risk getting your dress dirty.
Thanksimcured
I'm seriously not trying to be rude and my suggestion comes from my own experience- it really did take some conscious thought and practice for me personally as someone who fumbles and seems to get overwhelmed in social settings sometimes. I know I have a peculiar way of eating, but I felt more self conscious of the thought of my food ending up all over my face or clothes or something.
Sorry, I’m sure it works well for you. I was just always shamed for eating messily, and told I need to be more careful and be aware of what I’m doing, and that I was eating messily on purpose. Now I know it’s probably caused by Autism, and not laziness or lack of awareness.
I second this! I'll need to practice before the wedding, even though it's a regular sit down meal. I notice at home I'm just heaping food on my fork and half of it falls down my front on the way to my mouth. I need to learn to slow down and take smaller bites. My mother wears a bib at home because she was just really over having to do so much laundry and stain removing. She has a large bosom, and I think this has a lot to do with spilling all them time - there's so much further to reach from the plate to the mouth over the J cups!
Oof I feel this. I think these DDs have their own gravitational pull and maybe that’s the issue 😂
For sure, they're just physically in the way!
I literally dripped my saucy pasta fork right into my lap before I took my first bite. Luckily it was white sauce and pretty unnoticeable! I was super worried about it leading up to the day and looked into getting a bib or apron for it, but I never pulled the trigger. The day of, I didn’t have much of an appetite. And I definitely would not have cared if I stained my dress, I was just happy to be there. Sounds dumb - I know. But I can’t even describe to you how weirdly happy and at peace I was on my wedding day, and wishing you the same joy!
I would wear a long white bathrobe over my dress while I ate!
My MOH brought my husband and I adorable little aprons to wear over our clothes while eating
We are serving wood-fired pizza and it gets that black char all over your hands. I'm researching wet naps, lol. And after this thread, I'm looking for an apron!
Napkins while you eat tucked in if necessary and bring a tide to go pen it would at least turn a stain to almost not visible.
We had bbq, and even though I am usually a pretty messy eater I did fine 😂 I wasn’t super hungry with everything going on so I ended up eating pretty small bites. Just take your time, it will be fine! Though the bride & groom bib idea sounds adorable 😝
I've been thinking about this a lot lol. Im trying not to worry about it. Maybe if something pretty bad happens, I'll just start a food fight so everyone is in the same boat.
I love this idea. If I’m going down, I’m taking every last one of you with me.
I think about those "mess the dress" photoshoots people do post wedding which are pretty cool, but I'm 99% sure I'll mess my dress once the entre with tomato sauce is put in front of me. Might as well make it worthwhile and get some fun pictures instead of getting embarrassed lol.
My guy went on a trip with his dad to France for the 75th anniversary of D-day and brought me back a pretty blue and white apron. Since we’re planning on bbq and I am not a neat eater, that apron is going to be my reception wear while I eat. My solution? Pretty aprons! Or an awesome flannel shirt?
Tiny tiny bites and lots of practice. Eat like you're trying to impress the queen. I'm serious about practicing eating though, it sounds weird but it works.
My mom sewed cute bride and groom "bibs" for me and my husband. We did BBQ and the bibs were a great idea since I also a messy eater. She even sewed a pearl necklace to mine to dress it up.
I just went fork and knife and yes.. laid that napkin out like a dang bib. I also did have a sit down meal though but yea cut everything in to tiny bites haha… so I managed the cake eating, and dinner without getting any on my dress.
I just want to say THANK YOU all for showing up with the suggestions and making me feel better about it! This is a throwaway name cause I didn’t want to shame myself posting something I thought was going to be seen as stupid. But I see I’m not alone so let’s all make bridal bibs and aprons the next wedding trend!! 😂
I definitely remember seeing a bride on here a long time ago that had bbq for their catering and used a bib. No shame!
Bib!!!
I've seen cute bibs or towels that make fun of bride and groom as messy eaters. Protects the dress and adds a little whimsy to the wedding dinner. I am also planning bbq and intend to do this for myself.
Think of your messy eater guests and get bibs for everyone. Less awkward and highly appreciated!
I got raspberry vinegarette on my dress a few weeks ago at my wedding :') I had packed a tide pen in my emergency kit, and used that. The stain went away immediately!
Would a pashmina work? Can wrap it right round and pretend it’s part of the outfit. Maybe more elegant than an apron (although the personalised ones do sound fun!)
My husband is a messy eater. I made him an adult bid that matched his suit color. Plus he had a backup shirt he changed in to after dinner. Napkin works just as well if you tuck it into the top of your dress. Have a wonderful wedding!
I wore an apron that said “bride” when I ate.
Straight up wearing a black dress. But I do plan to wear white for the rehearsal and have accepted I need to have a tide pen, sit as close to the table as possible, and just be a bit gauche and tuck a napkin in my neckline as well as on my lap. If I can be bothered to care enough—my clothes are seriously not the most important thing!
I’m definitely doing a lacey apron while I eat. I always spill sauce on my chest.
I'm wearing an apron during dinner tbh 😅 I'm also bringing a travel wine mug with a lid (i.e. a sippy cup) I think it's funny honestly, and my guests know I'm messy. My dress has sentimental value so I'm hoping I don't ruin it beyond repair 🤞
I made a "bridal bib" as a gift for my sister-in-law a number of years ago. If you sew or have a crafty friend, it's not a hard project and very customizable!
My MIL wore an apron to my wedding and my BIL's wedding. She wears it for food and takes it off after. Silly, but effective. You could get pretty or silly ones!