Dress Code for Wedding Guests (2024)

FAQs

What is the dress code for a wedding guest? ›

1) Do Consider the Wedding Dress Code

Black Tie: floor length gowns, black ties, tuxedos. Formal: floor length gowns, tuxedos optional, black suits acceptable. Semi-Formal: below the knee dresses, dress shirts, slacks. Casual: sundresses, collared shirts, khakis.

Women should embrace wrap dresses, midi dresses or elegant jumpsuits. For men, if it's a daytime wedding, a light sport jacket, button-down shirt and relaxed chinos fit the bill. In the evening, go for darker colors, as later weddings tend to be more formal.

Traditional wording like “Black Tie” or “co*cktail Attire” is common, or you can get creative with phrases like “Dress to Impress” or “Beach Chic.” Decide where to include the dress code information: The dress code information can be included on the main invitation, on a separate insert, or on your wedding website.

Lean towards dressing up, even for "casual" weddings.

Even if the wedding has a more low-key dress code, I promise you: It is not that casual. Meaning, stay away from sweats, shorts, jeans, T-shirts.

Semi-Formal Attire

For a semi-formal affair, think classic and sophisticated. Whether it's a knee-length dress or a sleek jumpsuit, semi-formal attire is all about looking polished and put together. Feel free to wear your dancing shoes and grace the dance floor with style!

Put It on the Invitation

The simplest way to tell your guests what they're expected to wear is to put a dress code in the invitation. There is a time-honored glossary of dress-code wording short enough to include on invitations, or on a card inserted with the invitation.

Between "black-tie optional" and "semi-formal," the language can be tricky to decipher. "While many couples would like their guests to arrive in black-tie attire, the most common wedding dress code is formal attire," says Alicia Mae, CEO of the New Jersey-based wedding planning company ILÈ Events.

Business casual is the most common dress code in American workplaces, and it can vary based on each workplace. Men typically wear dress pants or khaki pants with collared button-up shirts, and they may also wear a sweater over this shirt. Women can wear business separates and blouses or shirts without collars.

How do you write a dress code rule? ›

All clothing should be clean, ironed and in good shape. Refrain from wearing clothes that have tears, rips or holes, even if it is the current fashion. All employees should maintain an acceptable level of bodily hygiene to ensure that interactions with other staff and clients remain positive and pleasant.

co*cktail attire is a typical wedding dress code choice because it offers a balance between formality and comfort. Perfect for an afternoon wedding and evening reception, the co*cktail wedding dress code indicates a semi-formal-to-formal event.

"When it says casual, men could show up in pants and a blazer with no tie—or maybe not a jacket at all—but just a nice shirt and a pair of slacks. Women can wear a nice sundress or dress, a jumpsuit or even a two-piece set," says Julie Sabatino, bridal stylist and founder of The Stylish Bride.

A wedding ceremony is a serious occasion, so you should always dress respectfully: Skip anything too casual (no jeans), too bridal (no formal, white gowns), or too short. "I think a micro mini dress is always too short when it comes to a wedding," says Hurwitz.