What to wear to a wedding
If a wedding invite has ever left you clueless about what to wear, then fear not, with the help of "theknot.com" I have sourced the info you need to interpret the dress code wording. Whether it's black tie, white tie or something in between, here's the low down for deciding what to wear.
If the invite says "white tie"
This is the most formal of all wedding dress codes (think state dinners and the Oscars).
He should wear:
A long black jacket with tails, a white pique vest and a bow tie. Formal black shoes and even white gloves are appropriate.
She should wear:
A formal, full-length ball gown. Glamorous makeup and dramatic jewelry and hair are appropriate.
If the invite says "black tie attire"
This is the next most formal wedding dress code and usually means the wedding is an evening affair.
He should wear:
A tuxedo. A black bow tie, cummerbund and patent leather shoes are also suggested.
She should wear:
A chic cocktail dress or a long evening gown. The couple, wedding party or close friends can help answer questions about the appropriate dress length.
If the invite says "formal attire" or "black tie optional attire"
The wording here suggests something slightly less formal than black tie. This means that a tuxedo isn't required, but the event is still formal enough for one to be appropriate.
He should wear:
A tuxedo or formal dark suit and tie.
She should wear:
A long evening dress, dressy suit or formal cocktail-length dress.
If the invite says "cocktail attire"
This is slightly less formal than black tie and black tie optional, which means no tux required for men and no floor-length gown required for women (unless you'd like to wear a long dress, which is popular for winter wedding attire).
He should wear:
A suit and tie. Lean toward darker hues in chillier months, and feel free to opt for lighter greys or blues in warmer weather. You can drop the tie if the jacket and pants are really on trend. Basically, the hipper the suit, the less you need to wear a tie. But remember, its always better to look over dressed than under dressed in any situation.
She should wear:
A cocktail dress or dressy suit or jumpsuit.
If the invite says "beach formal"
This suggests an elegant beach wedding—so dress to impress, but also dress for the elements (sun, sand and water). Anything you'd wear to a nice restaurant on a summer night is appropriate.
He should wear:
A summer suit with a linen shirt (no ties required), linen pants (or khakis) and sandals.
She should wear:
A formal summer sundress at tea or knee length with flat sandals. Makeup and hair can be natural.
If the invite says "semi-formal" or "dressy casual"
Depending on the time of the event, you'll want to dress somewhere between formal and casual. Wear darker, more formal hues for an evening fete; opt for light colors and fabrics for a daytime wedding.
He should wear:
A suit and tie, dark or light depending on the season and time of day.
She should wear:
A cocktail dress or a dressy skirt and top.
If the invite says "casual" or "daytime"
Generally, casual means anything goes—but jeans, shorts and tank tops are probably not appropriate unless they're specifically noted as acceptable. For the purposes of wedding wear, assume business casual to be on the safe side.
He should wear:
Dress pants with a button-down shirt or polo.
She should wear:
A summer sundress or a skirt or pants with a nice blouse. Makeup and hair can be natural.
If you’re a guy and you want even more guidance, then check out this article from suitshop.com
Steve Mummery is a celebrant based in Perth
You can find him online at smcelebrant.com.au or facebook at smcelebrant, Instagram @smcelebrant or you can find lots of wedding inspiration on his Pinterest page @smcelebrant including wedding & engagement rings, dresses, shoes, groom's attire, flowers, arbours, the lot.
Call Steve to chat about your wedding ceremony today on 0418 897 215 or email steve@smcelebrant.com.au