What Is Appropriate for a Man to Wear to a Semiformal Evening Wedding?

If you're still unsure, call to find out what you're expected to wear.

Weddings are supposed to be fun, but they can also be stressful social occasions. Knowing what to wear to any wedding can be a little tricky, you don't want to wear the wrong thing or you might look out of place. Fortunately, finding clothes for a man for a semiformal evening wedding is pretty easy since it doesn't require an expensive tux. You also have more color options, and will probably be able to wear items you own, rather than seeking out specialty items.

Suit

Wearing a suit is perhaps a little more formal than is actually required. If you're not sure, though, you'll want to hedge your bets on the semiformal aspect. It's a wedding, so overdoing it is preferred to being underdressed. You'll need to wear suit pants with a matching jacket, a collared button-up shirt, and a tie. You'll want to wear nice shoes and give them a polish. You can dress up a little with plain tie tacks and cuff links, but you don't want to wear anything too ostentatious.

Sports Coat and Pants

A dressy pair of pants and a sports coat will also suit many semiformal weddings. Wear dress slacks -- no denim -- and a sports jacket. Once again, you'll want to wear a collared button-up shirt and a tie. This is slightly less formal and, while it will generally fit the occasion, there may be a wedding that may make you feel like you are underdressed. This is a good option for someone who is more certain about the formality level that's going to be expected.

Colors

You'll want to stick to dark colors for an evening wedding. Lighter colors are more suitable for daytime weddings. Your shirt doesn't necessarily need to be dark, however. A white or a pastel-colored shirt is best for a wedding of this nature. You'll want to wear a dark suit and dark shoes, but you can play with your tie color and your shirt color can vary a little in the pastel range, if you like.

Weather

While an evening wedding is not as likely to be outdoors, the ceremony could be held at sunset during the summer or fall seasons and the reception moved indoors. In this case, take into account the temperature when you dress. Even in the autumn it can still be warm out, which means you can get away with a short-sleeved, collared, button-up shirt under a sports jacket that you can remove to cool off. Take the sports jacket with you but, if it's too warm, you don't have to wear it and you'll be able to put it on later.

References

• The Knot: What to Wear to a Wedding? Semiformal Wedding Invitation