Wedding Wear Etiquette

Always consult your invitation.

You have received an invitation from the happy couple and now you are wondering what you can and cannot wear to the nuptials. While there is no clear-cut answer that covers all scenarios, reading the invitation is the easiest way to point yourself in the right direction when selecting your watch-them-tie-the-knot outfit. The invitation typically lists any specific requests that the bride and groom may have for their guests' attire.

Black Tie

Don your tux for a black tie wedding.

Formal evening weddings may request their guests to wear black tie attire. According to TheKnot.com, If the invitation calls for black tie, men must wear a tuxedo, either owned or rented. Women should wear a long gown and appropriate accessories and hair styles for the occasion. Don't hold back on the makeup and jewelry. It's a formal affair and both men and women should feel free to be as festive as possible in their clothing choices.

This is not to be confused with "black tie suggested." If black tie is only suggested and not required, men can choose to wear a dark suit instead of a tuxedo, and women can wear an extremely dressy suit or a cocktail dress as opposed to a formal gown.

Beach Formal

For beach formal weddings, you should dress nicely, but also be mindful of the beach weather and the sand. For men, a summer suit with a light fabric, such as linen, is appropriate to wear along with sandals. Women should wear an elegant sun dress, or similar attire, along with flat sandals; it can be difficult to maneuver on the sand with stilettos. For women, it may also be a good idea to bring along a light wrap or shawl, in case of cool or breezy weather. The need for a cover-up intensifies if the wedding is at sunset or after.

Semi-Formal

This dress code specification has a lot of room for interpretation and flexibility. The best way to determine wedding-wear etiquette in this case is to pay attention to the time of the wedding. As a general rule, the later the wedding, the dressier the attire. Men should wear a suit and base the color and fabric on the weather, season and time of day. Women can wear a cocktail or dressy dress for evening weddings and a nice dress or skirt and top for weddings that occur in the day time.

Casual

Don't mistake casual for sloppy. Be mindful that you are still attending a wedding and typically this means leave the jeans and tees at home. However, there is some room for your personal choice. A good guideline for a casual wedding is to favor the business casual side versus the casual you may wear to a game or a picnic.

Women are still fine wearing sun dresses or nice pant suits, and the makeup and hair can be natural. Men should at least wear a button-down shit with khakis. If you opt for jeans, be sure to dress up the look with a nice blouse or shirt.

Shoes Optional

An invitation marked "shoes optional" should not be confused with "casual." Though you are likely to feel a bit more casual without shoes, unless the invitation says so, the dress code would lean toward business casual and unless you'd rather wear shoes, the guests are barefoot. This type of invitation is usually for backyard and beach weddings. If you choose to wear shoes anyway, it is wise to avoid high heels since the turf or walkway may not be suitable for such. For example, in a grassy backyard, high heels tend to sink into the dirt, making it difficult to walk.

Women can once again wear a nice dress or pantsuit and men should opt for khakis with either a button-down or polo shirt.

References

• The Knot: What To Wear? Black Tie
• The Knot: What to Wear to a Wedding? Semi Formal Wedding Invitation
• The Knot: What to Wear? Shoes Optional