Wedding dress codes can be a minefield of confusion, frantic googling, and last minute shopping trips. How casual is Dressy Casual? How optional is the black tie in Black Tie Optional? All pressing and important questions that we’ve gathered the answers to.
Below we’ve compiled all the most popular wedding dress codes and how to achieve them. Of course, these just our recommendations and you should wear whatever you want, but we may be able to save you a few awkward glances.
White Tie
White Tie weddings are the fanciest of all traditional weddings. Think Royal Wedding meets an elegant charity ball. Although white tie weddings aren’t super common if you’re invited to one it’s an excellent opportunity to above and beyond typical wedding wear.
Standard White Tie Attire:
Floor-length gown, with fancy footwear and jewelry (and throw on a fascinator if you’re wanna get wild!)
Tuxedos with tails are customary menswear, along with white vests and bow ties.
Photo Credit | Jeremy Russell
Black Tie
Black Tie weddings are more common and give you room to play with your style. Black tie weddings are usually formal evening occasions with a distinct, extravagant style.
Standard Black Tie Attire:
Floor-length gown, but you can get away with a formal cocktail dress.
Tailless Tuxedos with a bow tie and a cummerbund or vest.
Photo Credit | Jessica Burke
Black Tie Optional or Formal
Black Tie Optional aka Formal weddings are similar to Black Tie weddings but are a little less hoity-toity. You’ll still be dressed to the nines, but you aren’t confined to gowns and tuxedos. You can infuse more color and pattern into your look.
Standard Black Tie Optional or Formal Attire:
Formal dressy dress with no specific color or length.
Dark suit or tuxedo with a tie or bow tie.
Photo Credit | Jacque Manaugh Photography
Cocktail Attire or Semi-Formal
Cocktail or semi-formal attire can be anything you’d wear on a night out on the town. Fun, flirty, but still done up enough to fit in with the party.
Standard Cocktail Attire or Semi-Formal Attire:
Nice dress of any length, but steer clear of fabrics that are a little too casual like jersey.
Any color suit, but you can ditch the tie or bow tie for a more laid back feel.
Photo Credit | Wale Ariztos Photography
Dressy Casual
Dressy Casual wedding attire is what I like to call “Put One Thing On. “Find your cutest casual outfit (something you’d wear going out to a nice brunch with friends or to your local Red Lobster), then add one thing. A pair of cute shoes, a piece of jewelry, a fun cardigan, or cute belt and wallah you’re casually dressy.
Standard Cocktail Attire or Semi-Formal Attire:
A dress or a dressy skirt and blouse.
Slacks and a button-down or polo. If you’re feelin’ a suit coat, throw on a suit coat, but no pressure!
Photo Credit | Ashley Rhian Photography
Casual or Daytime
Perfect for a rustic or backyard wedding, Casual or Daytime wedding attire is an easy-going as you can get.
Standard Casual or Daytime Attire:
Break out your maxi’s and sundresses. Sandals are also appropriate if the weather permits.
Jeans, knee-length shorts, or linen suits.
Photo Credit | Helen Byrd Photography
Calling An Audible
For when you’ve been thrown an out-of-the-box dress code or worse, one you’ve never even heard of.
Themed Wedding Attire
Beach or Tropical Attire
Wear comfortable and breathable fabrics because more than likely it’s going to be hot or humid. If you’re planning on wearing heels, you may want to reconsider. As cute as they might be, sinking during the ceremony (or even all night) won’t be fun.
Photo Credit | Suburban Faux Pas
Festive Attire
Maybe one of the most confusing dress codes on paper, but the most fun in practice, “Festive” attire is your opportunity to wear any of all of the things. Sequins? Break ‘em out! Patterns? Wear a couple! Ruffles? The bigger, the better!
Photo Credit | Millie Pilkington
If you’re attending a themed wedding where guests are expected to dress up, pick a few details to play into the theme like a mask or jewelry or lean in and go all out with a one of a kind outfit and headpiece.
Photo Credit | Mecca Gamble
No Dress Code
Sometimes things are going to be left up to your interpretation. In these cases, your best bet is to reach out to the couple for clarification. If you’d rather not, you’ll be safe defaulting to a semi-formal dress code.
Photo Credit | Mary Summers Hafner
Definite No’s, No Matter the Dress Code
Never ever ever wear white to a wedding unless explicitly being told to do so.
If you’re still unsure of what to wear, err on the side of caution and go a little fancier than you think you need to be. Worst case scenario, you’ll look (and feel) extra lovely in all your wedding day selfies.
Steer clear of wearing your club clothes, not because you won’t look like a smoke show (because you absolutely will), but because you’ll be more comfortable getting out on the dance floor without any fear of wardrobe malfunctions and the couple will too.