Q & Advice

Decoding the wedding dress code

In our last blog post, we discussed how to set priorities when budgeting for a wedding. We touched briefly on choosing and communicating how your guests should dress for your big day.

Alternately, you may have been invited to a wedding recently and felt unsure of what to wear. You are not alone! Many factors shape what a guest should wear to a wedding.

If the invitation doesn’t say “black tie optional” or “beach chic,” you may have to do a little sleuthing. Where is the wedding? What time of day is the ceremony? What time of year is it taking place? We encourage folks to be as explicit as possible when sending out invites. You can even have examples of proper dress on your wedding website.

If all else fails, just link your guests to this blog post! Here, are some helpful hints for wedding attire:

→ White Tie

This is the most traditional and dressy of all the attires. (Think major award shows, state dinners, and other events where people are asked, “Who are you wearing tonight?”)

He should wear: Coattails, gloves, white vest, bow tie
She should wear: Floor-length gown, glamorous jewelry and hair

→ Black Tie

This is the second-most formal attire and usually means it’s an evening affair.

He should wear: Black tuxedo and bow tie, patent leather shoes, cumberbund or vest
She should wear: Chic (fancy) cocktail dress or dark, neutral long evening gown

→ Formal or Black Tie Optional

This says it’s still a dressier affair, but a tuxedo or ball gown isn’t necessary. (They’re still completely acceptable, though!)

He should wear: A tuxedo or dark formal suit and tie
She should wear: A long dress, dressy suit, or formal cocktail-length dress in a dark or neutral color

→ Beach Formal

We know. Beach + formal = sort of an oxymoron. It can also be difficult. Here, you have to dress to impress. But you also have to dress for the weather (sun, sand, wind, etc.) Think about what you’d wear to a nice restaurant on a warm, summer day.

He should wear: Linens! Linen suit and shirt or khakis, no tie. Nice sandals are acceptable.
She should wear: Formal summer sundress or skirt. Knee-length is acceptable. Natural hair and makeup is also acceptable. And don’t forget sunscreen!

→ Dressy Casual / Semiformal

This one may be the most difficult to plan for. It will depend most on the time of day and year. In this case, colors will help. Wear darker, more formal hues for an evening affair, and go for light colors and fabrics for a daytime celebration.

He should wear: Suit and tie, and let the time of day and season dictate the colors
She should wear: A cocktail dress or dressy shirt and slacks or skirt

→ Casual

Usually “casual” means just that. Anything goes, but we don’t recommend showing up in a tank top and board shorts unless it explicitly says something like “beach casual” on the invite.

He should wear: Dress pants with khakis and a button-down or polo
She should wear: A summer sundress or a skirt or pants with a nice blouse

For more wedding fashion advice and ideas, head over to our Pinterest! We have a board for gentlemen and one for ladies, as well! As always, these aren’t strictly adhering to a gender binary. Women look great in suits, too!

5 May 2015