Your invitations are one of the most valuable resources for guests. They are going to need a lot of information about the big day from this small envelope…better make it count!

Many hosts choose to advise guests on the dress code for the event. There is a dress code option no matter what your wedding vibe, even if the vibe is we don’t really care what you wear! Being specific about your preferred dress code upfront by printing it on your invitation actually is HELPFUL. The most common reason hosts and attendees alike get confused is because they aren’t sure what different dress codes mean; let us help with that:

Women: Formal floor-length ball gowns, Evening dresses, jewelry, heels

Men: Tuxedo, Long Tails, white vest, White bow tie, gloves and formal footwear

White Tie

The most formal attire possible, think Royal Ball or White House gala, not common for weddings

Women: Floor-length gowns, sophisticated cocktail dresses, elegant pantsuits

Men: Tuxedo (black or white jacket). black bow tie, black vest or cummerbund, leather shoes

Black Tie

Usually for evening events, the more common form of wedding formal attire

Women: Mid or Floor-length gowns, sophisticated cocktail dresses, elegant pantsuits; all of which may more acceptably show the ankle

Men: Option of wearing a tuxedo, or they can wear a formal (preferably dark) suit, white shirt, and conservative tie

Formal or Black-Tie Optional

A bit more flexible regarding clothing rules, yet indicates you’d like the event to be elegant

Women: Cocktail dresses with a mid-thigh to mid-calf hemline, Floor-length gowns would be inappropriate; formal flats would be appropriate footwear

Men: Dress shirt and slacks, suit and tie, or a sport coat and dress pants. Dark or light depending on the time of day, with the option to wear a tie

Cocktail/semi-formal/
dressy casual

Common for outdoor weddings. Consider wearing darker/more formal colors for an evening event vs. light colors/fabrics for a daytime event

Women: Sundress and nice sandals or wedges or flats, elegant sunhat

Men: Summer suit, or linen pants and a light shirt with flats or sandals

Beach/destination

Indicates a casual vibe, while likely still expecting guests to dress up a bit

Women: Take advantage of not only on-theme attire, but accessories like jewelry, purses and hats to complete the look

Men: Play up a theme with socks, pocket squares, and sunglasses. If you’re worried about taking the theme too far, take a risk on the shirt or bottoms or accessories (not everything)

Themed/festive

It’s likely to be spelled out pretty clearly for this type of wedding; the important thing here is to have fun and play along with whatever the theme dictates

Women: Try to make sure the fabric of your dress or jumpsuit isn't overly formal. And tank tops, flip flops and tennis shoes are usually a no too

Men: A collared shirt without a tie or even a polo can still show elegance without being too fancy. No tennis shoes or flip flops usually apply for the men as well

Casual

Even if the attire states “Come as you are'' they usually don’t mean jeans, shorts, or tennis shoes unless it’s specifically noted as acceptable. And remember there is such a thing as being overdressed.

Lastly, here are a few of our favorite tips to ensure guests understand exactly what you’re looking for regarding dress code…

Avoid ambiguous terms like “preppy” or “elegant” or “chic” because they can mean different things to different people. Stick to the defined terms above whenever possible
Include resources on your wedding website: a picture, a “wear this, not that” visual example, links to this resource or others that define the difference between dress codes
Talk to your guests about it ahead of time! If you care enough about the dress code that it could ruin your big day, then care enough to make the effort to communicate clearly to guests ahead of time
A reminder text or post to your personal social media accounts can get the attention of those who might have otherwise overlooked the dress code on the invite or wedding website

Dress Code