So you want to give your guests a little guidance on how to dress for your wedding? You don’t want to be bossy, but you also want to make sure they’re not uncomfortable? Well, Offbeat Bride is here to help. We asked our readers for wedding dress code wording examples, and they came through. Here are approximately one bazillionty samples of wedding dress code wording — everything from short and sweet, to elaborate and nerdy. We’re covering everything from casual outdoor weddings to costume weddings and everything in between.
Wedding dress code wording samples for wedding invitations
Of course one quick way to let folks know about dress code is to include it with your wedding invitations, either in fine print on the back, or on an insert with additional information. The key is to keep it short and sweet. Here are some wedding invitation wording examples:
Outdoor wedding / no heels:
- Wedding and reception to be held in the grass, so dress for comfort and for class.
- No stiletto heels unless you want to sink in the grass and fall down. If you really wanna wear stilettos, then bring it on — more entertainment for us!
- Heels not advised unless you like being stuck in dirt
Casual attire:
- Our wedding is an outdoor event, and your comfort is important to us. Please dress accordingly.
- Wear your finest picnic attire and some comfy shoes.
- Casual dress and bare feet encouraged!
…But not too casual:
- We gotta dress up…you gotta dress up! (No jeans, please.)
- What to wear: Shirt and Tie for the Gentlemen, Hats or Fascinators for the Ladies
In keeping with a theme:
- Our wedding theme is polka dots — so if you have ’em, ‘wear ’em!
- We would love it if you could join in with our theme: please wear red and/or black
Wedding dress code wording ideas if you’re doing a FAQ on your wedding website
Many couples give additional information about dress code on their wedding website, often using the FAQ section to give a bit more information. Here are some real wording examples from what Offbeat Brides have used that you can remix to fit with your own wedding theme, style, or venue!
- What should I wear?
We are not terribly fancy people, and are therefore not having a “formal” affair. That being said, our venue is a nice restaurant, so please don’t come naked. - What should I wear? Are they doing one of those fancy theme weddings where I have to come in costume?
The wedding does not have a particular theme, other than “An Eclectic Hodge Podge of Happiness,” and you are welcome to wear whatever you would like. It is being held in a backyard in August, so it is suggested you dress comfortably, and avoid spiky high heels. If you really want to wear a costume, by all means go ahead! - Is there a dress code?
We are calling our dress code ‘wedding flexible’. This means you should come in whatever makes you feel comfortable and fabulous. You may want to wear shoes that are easy to walk in, as the ranch has a mixture of paved floors, gravel and dirt paths…and we expect everyone to dance! - Do I need to wear something special?
Too often, shopping for wedding clothes is a stressful and expensive affair. We don’t want a single one of you to have to worry about that! So the dress code is as follows: Wear whatever you feel the most beautiful and comfortable in. Is that a tuxedo? A prom dress? Linen slacks? Excessive amounts of glitter? A plaid shirt and jeans? Drag? There is NO wrong way to dress. Our loved ones are a diverse, creative, gorgeous bunch of people, and we want you to be your diverse, creative, gorgeous selves! And yes – you can absolutely wear white. The bride won’t be! - Where is the wedding?
Our venue is a Napoleonic fort. It has uneven floors and an incline from the entrance to the bar, ceremony and reception area. Flat shoes are the best and safest option. Although we are having fires and additional heating, due to being November, you may want a jacket, wrap or sweater to keep warm when you aren’t dancing. - What to wear?
The dress code for our wedding will be “Funky Formal”. This means wear something you feel fabulous in! No jeans or sweats but the rest is up to you. The most important thing to us is that you feel comfortable and like yourself! Hate dresses? Don’t wear one. Hate ties? Don’t wear one of those either. Love tutus, bows, sequins, neon, lace, velour, ruffles, or powder blue tuxes? Be our guest. If you can find a way to wear all those things at once, we will have to award you some kind of prize. (Maybe a really great hug.) - What should I wear???
We would like you to be comfortable. If weather permits, most activities will take place outside so please be aware of the weather conditions and dress appropriately. We suggest that you bring a layer or two in case it gets cool in the evening. We also want you to feel pretty. - What should I wear?
Casual/cocktail wear. What’s that? That’s like… a cute dress, slacks and a nice button-down shirt or blouse, a skirt and top. Basically not too fancy, but not jeans. Since it’s a Hallowedding (Halloween wedding) guests are also welcome to come in costume or bring one with to put on during the party. We would LOVE for people to participate in making this a Hallowedding!
Long-winded hilarious wedding dress code example that references dinosaurs
Ok fine, this is a very specific kind of wording, but maybe it’s perfect for your geeky dinosaur-themed wedding
Grass
The wedding will happen on a grass field.
High grass is known to attract velociraptors.Avoiding the velociraptors
Velociraptors have no manners and are known party bullies.
It should be every guest’s mission to avoid them at all costs.
For instance it is not beyond them to raid a party, drink all the beer, eat all the food, the guests and puke everywhere. All that without using a single napkin.No high heels
Velociraptors have very large toeclaws.
It is very likely for them to mistake high heels for a competitor toeclaw.No ties
Velociraptors, or Nature’s Bolsheviks as they are also known, have an intrinsic hate against the capitalist oppressors. Wearing a tie might mark you as one of the enemy of the proletariat.
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If you are newly engaged and beginning your research on wedding dresses, don’t be surprised if you are confused by terms like “fit and flare”, trumpet style, mermaid, etc. These are all words that commonly float around in bridal boutiques, those that you will hear during wedding dress shows and even see on blog pages like ours.
To be honest, this industry has its own language! Unless you’ve been following it closely, it can sound confusing and you may have no idea what the terms mean. But, as a soon-to-be bride, we think it is essential that you familiarize yourself with some of the most commonly used wedding terms before you go shopping. This will make you more comfortable and also allow you to understand what your bridal consultant means when she uses technical terms to define a dress. Trust us, it will save you from feeling overwhelmed at your dress appointment.
To save you the trouble of finding all these out by yourself, we have compiled the commonly used words from the wedding world here. This will allow you to describe the dress in your vision in crisp terms to your shop assistant, without having to just search through hundreds of dresses to find what you think you want.
Wedding Dress Silhouettes
A silhouette basically refers to the way the dress drapes around your body. It is important to choose a silhouette that flatters your figure. When you choose the right one, you can highlight your best features and camouflage the less desirable features.
In the wedding world, the following are the most popular silhouettes that are used in dresses.
A-line: Also called princess-line, this dress resembles the letter “A.” It closely follows the body in the bodice and then flows outwards from the waist without looking too bulky.
Ball gown: This dress usually features a fitted bodice and a full skirt that is usually poufy with several layers of fabric. This is the silhouette commonly associated with fairy tales and princesses and is great for rectangular and pear-shaped brides.
Mermaid: Also known as fit and flare, it fits closely all the way down the bodice and waist, till the knees. From here, it flares out into a layered skirt. Since it fits snugly, it is suitable for hourglass figures.
Trumpet: The trumpet is similar to the mermaid and is another fit and flare style, with a fitted bodice and body. But here, the dress flairs at mid-thigh instead of at the knee. Thus, it hides the hips and legs and is good for hourglass and rectangle-shaped brides as it emphasizes the curves.
Sheath: A straight-cut dress that falls over the body frame naturally and loosely drapes the actual curves of the bride. Suitable for slim figures and hourglass brides.
To learn more about choosing a dress that suits your body shape, check out our previous post HERE.
Wedding Dress Necklines
As the name suggests, this is how the neck of the dress is designed. Popularly seen styles are listed below.
V-neckline: Seen on dresses with straps or sleeves, the neckline resembles a V that dips down in the front. It can either be deep, high, wide or small.
Strapless: As the name suggests, there are no straps and the neckline cuts straight across the bust.
Sweetheart: A romantic version of the strapless style, this neckline gently follows the natural curves of the bust, and resembles the top of a heart. It is usually seen on dresses without sleeves, but may also be combined with sheer necklines.
Illusion: One of the most popular styles today, the illusion features a thin layer of sheer fabric over the actual bodice. This may be embellished with beads, rhinestones or lace to create beautiful details. It offers a covering to the bust area and usually ends higher up in a round, halter or bateau style neckline.
Bateau or boat: A wide neckline that extends from one shoulder to the other, and follows the curve of the collarbone without revealing much of the decolletage.
Scoop: It is U-shaped, and the depth may vary from design to design. It looks great on most brides but is particularly favourable for women with angular features.
Halter: The neckline wraps around the neck like a collar using straps that either go around the neck or are locked at the back with buttons.
Off-the-shoulder: This neckline gently skims the shoulder on the edges, leaving the neckline and top of the shoulders exposed. It is stylish and sexy and great for showing off well-toned shoulders and necks.
Find out more about choosing the right neckline that is best for your shape and structure, in this previous article of ours.
Wedding Dress Lengths And Train
Wedding gowns come in various lengths, varying from long and dramatic to short and stylish. There are also different train lengths to consider if you choose a traditional wedding gown. Let us look at the various options here.
Royal: Here, the length of the dress extends to 6 feet or more, from the waist. It is a very traditional style, and very dramatic.
Watteau: Here the train attaches to the dress at either the shoulders or the waist, and flows separately from the hemline.
Sweep: Can barely be considered a train at all, as it just sweeps the floor, and extends to a few inches beyond the skirt.
Chapel: Slightly longer than the sweep train, it is a train that is more obvious. Typically between 12 and 18 inches long from the hemline.
Cathedral: This is a formal train, and extends to over 20 inches along the floor. These gowns usually have to be bustled following the ceremony, or in some cases, the train may be detachable.
Ankle-length: Suitable for outdoor and casual ceremonies, the gown ends at the ankles and does not really feature a train.
Floor-length: The gown just skims the ground on all sides, and doesn’t have a train, so to say.
Ballerina: The hemline of a ballerina ends just above the ankles, and the skirt is usually very poufy and fun.
Tea-length or cocktail length: Here the gown ends near the calf, somewhat midway between knee and ankle.
Knee-length: The dress ends just below the knee and is commonly seen at casual outdoor events or those with vintage style.
Wedding Dress Fabric
The choice of fabric is important, as it makes the dress suitable for the weather at the time you are getting married, the venue and also the look you wish to portray. While some fabrics are crisp and stiff, others may be soft, flowy and breathable. These are the most popularly seen fabric choices in wedding gowns.
Tulle: Sheer fabric with a net-like appearance. Used for skirts, is rather stiff and has an open weave. This is what veils are usually made from.
Taffeta: Crisp-like tulle, but it is smooth and has a softer drape.
Satin: Soft and silky to the touch, satin is characterized by a glossy look and a very soft feel. It is heavy and has a highly reflective look.
Chiffon: Soft, semi-transparent and delicate. It drapes well and falls gently. Chiffon has a light feel and is popularly used in skirts that flow softly to the ground.
Organza: Similar to tulle, but stronger and softer. It is slightly rougher than chiffon but is crisp and sheer.
We have a detailed post on the different fabrics that are used in wedding gowns. You may like to check it out here.
Wedding Gown Waistlines
The waistline of the dress is another important element, similar to the silhouette, that can greatly alter the overall look. There are options that highlight slender waists, and also those that hide unseemly bumps in the waist area. Here are the different types available.
Natural Waistline: Here the skirt begins at the natural waist, which falls between the ribcage and the hips. It is not suitable for brides who are bulky in the stomach area. In certain dress styles, the natural waistline may be highlighted with the use of a separating element such as a sash or belt. It basically sits at the slimmest part of the torso, between the bust and the hips.
No waistline: In dresses with fit and flare styles, the waistline may not be defined at all. The dress simply follows the natural curves of the wearer all the way from the bust to the hips or knees, and that is where the skirt begins. This is usually suitable for brides with hourglass figures or those who are slender with a well-toned figure, free from unsightly bumps anywhere on the torso.
Empire Waistline: This is an elevated waistline, that begins just beneath the bust. The skirt usually flares out from just below the bust, hiding the real waistline. It is a good style for brides who wish to hide their midsection and draw attention to the bust.
Basque: This waistline is a dropped waistline in the shape of a V. The dropped style looks good on brides who are short as it creates the illusion of length.
Dropped Waistline: In this style, the waistline ends several inches below the original waist. The skirt starts below this point and it may either be seen towards the center or else draping outwards towards the side in asymmetrical style wedding dresses. It elongates the torso, and so is suitable for short brides who want to create the illusion of height and a fuller figure.
Asymmetrical Waistline: In this dress, the waistline drapes towards the side instead of the center. It can start high up, at the empire waistline height and end low in a dropped waistline fashion.
Wedding Dress Sleeves
Wedding dresses may come with sleeves or without. While the sleeveless and strapless style is quite popular among brides, Traditional brides may also choose to go with wedding dresses that usually feature sleeves. There are again several options in wedding dress sleeves, and let us look at what they are.
Sleeveless: The arms are exposed but the dress is held in place with the help of straps that go over the shoulder. The width of the straps may vary according to the design, and this will determine the support it offers the bodice.
Spaghetti straps: Very thin straps frame the shoulders of the dress, and these are usually embellished with scintillating elements to add more drama. The dress resembles a strapless style, with the exception of the thin spaghetti straps on it.
Cap Sleeves: The shortest style of sleeves, these sleeves just cover the uppermost part of the shoulder. It is stylish and modest, without looking too traditional.
Butterfly sleeves: Short sleeves that flail and flutter beyond the shoulder and end a few inches below. It has a romantic and whimsical effect, suitable for vintage-style wedding themes.
T-shirt sleeves: As the name suggests, the sleeve ends anywhere between the shoulder and the elbow and is usually fits the circumference of the arm.
Three-fourth length sleeves: The sleeves often end below the elbow and above the wrist. It is slimming, and the sleeves are usually done in lace or illusion style to form an attractive feature on the dress.
Long sleeves: The sleeves reach or extend below the wrist of the arm.
Juliet sleeves: A distinct style that is popular on the runways, these sleeves are puffed at the shoulder and then continue into a slender arm that closely fits the entire length of the bride’s arms all the way to the wrist.
Choosing the right sleeve length is imperative to determine your overall look. Many dress designers offer the option of adding custom sleeves, if the dress you choose doesn’t have the sleeve you desire. You can also consider using accessories like jackets or boleros to add the effect of sleeves if you aren’t happy with the original sleeve length of the dress.
We suggest that you take a look at this previous article to read more about selecting the right sleeve length for your wedding dress to look your best on your wedding day.
It may seem like a lot to take in initially. You needn’t study all of them, but just use this as a reference to guide you towards the dress features that you would like to look at. Browse through our online bridal gallery at Best for Bride, and you will not take too long to recognize the various terms used here. It can become interesting and fun, so do try it. For wedding dresses of all styles and sizes, visit us at Best for Bride today, and make your dream vision of being a beautiful bride come true.
The idea for the Describing Words engine came when I was building the engine for Related Words (it’s like a thesaurus, but gives you a much broader set of related words, rather than just synonyms). While playing around with word vectors and the «HasProperty» API of conceptnet, I had a bit of fun trying to get the adjectives which commonly describe a word. Eventually I realised that there’s a much better way of doing this: parse books!
Project Gutenberg was the initial corpus, but the parser got greedier and greedier and I ended up feeding it somewhere around 100 gigabytes of text files — mostly fiction, including many contemporary works. The parser simply looks through each book and pulls out the various descriptions of nouns.
Hopefully it’s more than just a novelty and some people will actually find it useful for their writing and brainstorming, but one neat little thing to try is to compare two nouns which are similar, but different in some significant way — for example, gender is interesting: «woman» versus «man» and «boy» versus «girl». On an inital quick analysis it seems that authors of fiction are at least 4x more likely to describe women (as opposed to men) with beauty-related terms (regarding their weight, features and general attractiveness). In fact, «beautiful» is possibly the most widely used adjective for women in all of the world’s literature, which is quite in line with the general unidimensional representation of women in many other media forms. If anyone wants to do further research into this, let me know and I can give you a lot more data (for example, there are about 25000 different entries for «woman» — too many to show here).
The blueness of the results represents their relative frequency. You can hover over an item for a second and the frequency score should pop up. The «uniqueness» sorting is default, and thanks to my Complicated Algorithm™, it orders them by the adjectives’ uniqueness to that particular noun relative to other nouns (it’s actually pretty simple). As you’d expect, you can click the «Sort By Usage Frequency» button to adjectives by their usage frequency for that noun.
Special thanks to the contributors of the open-source mongodb which was used in this project.
Please note that Describing Words uses third party scripts (such as Google Analytics and advertisements) which use cookies. To learn more, see the privacy policy.
Wedding Dresses Slogan Ideas
Wedding dress slogans are often used to create a memorable and unique phrase associated with a particular bridal gown. These slogans can be used to promote a specific design or designer, to emphasize the beauty of the dress, or to give a bride-to-be an extra-special feeling when she finds the perfect dress. Slogans can range from the humorous to the romantic, and they can be used to make a statement or to simply make a bride feel special. Popular slogans often include phrases such as «Once in a Lifetime,» «Your Dream Dress,» and «The Perfect Fit.» A wedding dress slogan can be a great way to make a bride feel special and to help her remember her special day for years to come.
1. Make Your Special Day Shine with Our Wedding Dresses
2. Feel Like a Princess in Our Wedding Dresses
3. Let Our Wedding Dresses Make You Sparkle
4. Find Your Perfect Wedding Dress with Us
5. Celebrate Your Big Day with Our Wedding Dresses
6. Find Your Dream Dress with Our Wedding Dresses
7. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Amazing
8. Look Fabulous on Your Big Day with Our Wedding Dresses
9. Look and Feel Beautiful in Our Wedding Dresses
10. Get Ready to Shine on Your Special Day with Our Wedding Dresses
11. Create a Look of Elegance with Our Wedding Dresses
12. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make Your Day Special
13. Make Your Wedding Day Extra Special with Our Wedding Dresses
14. Look Stunning on Your Big Day with Our Wedding Dresses
15. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Star
16. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Queen
17. Create a Look of Luxury with Our Wedding Dresses
18. Feel Confident and Beautiful in Our Wedding Dresses
19. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Extra Special
20. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Princess
21. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make Your Day Magical
22. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make Your Day Unforgettable
23. Look Radiant in Our Wedding Dresses
24. Look Perfect on Your Big Day with Our Wedding Dresses
25. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like an Angel
26. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Goddess
27. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Special
28. Look and Feel Elegant in Our Wedding Dresses
29. Our Wedding Dresses Will Help You Look Your Best
30. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look Amazing
31. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look and Feel Fabulous
32. Feel Like the Star of the Show in Our Wedding Dresses
33. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Million Dollars
34. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Vision
35. Find the Dress of Your Dreams with Our Wedding Dresses
36. Our Wedding Dresses Will Help You Shine on Your Big Day
37. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look and Feel Radiant
38. Find the Perfect Dress for Your Special Day with Our Wedding Dresses
39. Look and Feel Like a Dream in Our Wedding Dresses
40. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Fairytale
41. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Dream Come True
42. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look and Feel Gorgeous
43. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look and Feel Stunning
44. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Star
45. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look and Feel Like Royalty
46. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like the Belle of the Ball
47. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Vision of Beauty
48. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a True Princess
49. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Feel Like a Vision of Perfection
50. Our Wedding Dresses Will Make You Look and Feel Absolutely Perfect
Coming up with slogans for wedding dresses can be a fun and creative process. Start by brainstorming words and phrases that evoke the beauty, romance, and timelessness of wedding dresses. Consider words such as «love,» «timeless,» «romance,» «elegant,» and «bride.» Then, think of ways to combine these words into catchy and memorable phrases. You can also draw inspiration from popular wedding dress designers and their signature styles. Additionally, consider the unique features of your wedding dresses, such as the fabric, color, or silhouette, and use those to create slogans that stand out. Finally, keep your slogan short and sweet, as it should be easy to remember and understand.
Wedding Dresses Nouns
Gather ideas using wedding dresses nouns to create a more catchy and original slogan.
Wedding nouns: ceremonial, wedding ceremony, nuptials, observance, rite, wedding party, ceremonial occasion, marriage ceremony, hymeneals, ceremony, ritual, party, marriage
Wedding Dresses Rhymes
Slogans that rhyme with wedding dresses are easier to remember and grabs the attention of users. Challenge yourself to create your own rhyming slogan.
Words that rhyme with Wedding: bed hung, head hung, spearheading, retreading, redding, overhead hung, spread dung, spreading, featherbedding, dread hung, treading, teaching reading, sledding, instead hung, play reading, heading, meter reading, beheading, bedding, read ing, fred hung, first reading, breading, thread hung, ed ing, second reading, lead ing, threading, spread ing, dreading, hedding, tedding, shedding, reading, steading, kaeding, shredding
Words that rhyme with Dresses: mess is, presses, inverness is, cbs is, possesses, abs is, obsesses, largesse is, messes, impress his, dress is, impress is, ccs is, chess is, nevertheless is, esse is, nonetheless his, dispossess his, coalesce is, caress is, lcs is, bless his, excesses, possess his, address is, letterpress is, express his, kress is, bless is, distresses, distress his, successes, less is, finesse his, les is, progresses, less his, confess is, oas is, access his, empresas, dress his, assess is, impresses, headdresses, guess his, hesse is, excess is, oppress his, nevertheless his, jess is, cress is, headdress is, yeses, possess is, depresses, ess is, depress his, nonetheless is, tresses, outguesses, addresses, assess his, blesses, compresses, professes, odessa is, dss is, caress his, access is, confesses, guess is, caresses, expresses, es his, hess is, guesses, abscess is, es is, ls is, confess his, express is, distress is, ls his, digresses, bess is, ness is, finesse is, oppresses, chesses, egress is, assesses, cresses, mess his, nes is, coalesces, address his, jesses, stresses, suppresses
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From black-tie to casual, we break down what each wedding dress code means.
Shortly after you RSVP to attend a wedding, you’ll likely start thinking about what to wear. While most wedding invitations include the preferred wedding dress code, it might be hard to decipher exactly what the to-be-weds envision when it comes to the attire. Plus, with the rise of creative wedding guest attire suggestions (like «whimsical garden party» or «tropical formal») amid the wedding boom, you might be stumped when it comes to interpreting what they mean. And while more wedding dress code clues can often be found on the couple’s wedding website, choosing what to wear isn’t always easy—but that’s where we come in.
To help you find the best wedding guest outfit, we’re breaking down exactly what wedding attire wording means. We tapped industry experts to define the most common wedding dress codes, from black-tie to cocktail and casual wedding attire. In this fashion cheat sheet, you’ll also find tried-and-true styling hacks that’ll help you decode the invitation if you’re not sure what certain terms look like. Brush up on the basics of wedding dress codes below, and use this guide to find an outfit that’s perfect for celebrating the couple on their big day.
In this article:
- White-Tie Attire
- Black-Tie Attire
- Black-Tie Optional Attire
- Formal Attire
- Cocktail Attire
- Beach Formal Attire
- Semi-Formal or Dressy Casual Attire
- Daytime or Casual Attire
White-Tie Attire
White-tie wedding attire is the most formal of all dress codes. Also called full dress, white tie attire is often reserved for elegant events like state dinners, royal banquets and very formal weddings. While white-tie weddings aren’t as common today, it is important to dress appropriately if you’re invited to one. White-tie wedding attire for men includes a long and dark tuxedo tailcoat with fabric extensions that reach to the back of the knee. A white piqué button-down shirt should be worn under a white vest with a bow tie and a cummerbund. Pants should match the color and fabric of the jacket, and white-tie trousers often include a satin or grosgrain stripe along the outer seams.
As for women, a formal dress is a must for this attire suggestion. An evening gown with a full-length A-line or sheath silhouette is appropriate, though you could also consider a floor-length ball gown depending on the formality of the venue. If you are attending a white-tie wedding, this is your chance to accessorize with glittering jewels, sleek dress shoes and elbow-length white silk gloves.
Black-Tie Attire
Following white-tie, black-tie is the next most formal wedding dress code. Black-tie weddings often take place later in the day, and they require formal outfits. «Traditionally, black-tie weddings happen after 5:30 or 6:00 pm,» explains Virginia-based wedding style expert Monte Durham. «Black-tie means just that: Expect to see tuxedos with black bow ties, a simple long black tie or even a long string tie. Formal gowns are also expected, and they should touch the ground or the top of the shoes.» It’s important to note that black-tie wedding attire is one of the stricter dress codes with little room for interpretation. «Black-tie requires a tuxedo—not a black suit, and definitely not suit separates,» explains Jian DeLeon, Men’s Fashion & Editorial Director at Nordstrom. «You don’t have to wear full tails and cummerbund, but today there are plenty of great formal options at any budget.»
Attending a wedding with a black-tie dress code is a great opportunity to dress up your outfit with accessories too. «Cufflinks on French cuffs are a great way to enhance any tuxedo,» explains Andrew Roberts, CEO of luxury formalwear brand Del Toro. And, for women, you can’t go wrong with pieces that sparkle to your outfit, «Refined jewelry like pearls or diamonds are the best options to dress up an evening gown,» explains Ranu Coleman, CMO of wedding fashion brand Azazie.
Black-Tie Optional Attire
If your wedding invitation says «black-tie optional» for the dress code, you might be confused as to whether or not you actually need to wear a black-tie wedding outfit. Think of black-tie optional guest attire as a fusion between black-tie and formal fashion. You can wear a tuxedo or a floor-length evening gown if you want, but a dark suit with dress pants and nice loafers would be acceptable too. Similarly, a midi or knee-length cocktail dress would also be appropriate instead of a floor-length gown.
The time of day the event is taking place can also be a helpful indicator of what the wedding dress code means. Evening weddings often indicate a more formal wedding style. In that case, you might consider an outfit that feels a little more upscale. Or, for a black-tie optional wedding in the early afternoon, it’s perfectly appropriate to trade the tuxedo or evening gown for something on the less-formal end of the black-tie spectrum.
Formal Attire
One of the most popular wedding dress codes is formal attire. And, while you might see this wedding attire wording on a lot of invitations that land in your mailbox, that doesn’t make it any easier to decide what to wear to a formal wedding. «A formal wedding dress code is slightly less formal than a black-tie event, and in general it tends to have fewer specifications,» says Coleman. «Women can get away with a nicer cocktail dress and, for men, tuxedos are not required.»
So, with less guidance, what should you wear for a formal dress code? Durham, who also appears on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, encourages guests to start with the basics. «A formal wedding might include a jacket and tie or a traditional suit,» he suggests. «An elegant dress or a nice pantsuit would also be appropriate.»
If you’re confused about what’s appropriate when it comes to formal wedding attire, you can never be too overdressed. When in doubt, a dark, well-tailored suit or a floor-length dress are safe choices. But, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can experiment with trendy jumpsuits or a suit with a colorful jacket or bold accessories. As you’re choosing what to wear to a formal wedding, remember that erring on the side of caution with a more formal look is always a safe choice.
Cocktail Attire
When it comes to cocktail wedding attire, guests have more flexibility with hemlines, colors and patterns. «The phrase ‘cocktail’ comes from the 1950s,» Durham explains. «This style requires a formal dress with a shorter hemline. It might also be accented with jewelry or a nicer pair of shoes—embellishment is key for a cocktail dress code.»
Since cocktail wedding attire is slightly less formal than black-tie and black-tie optional, tuxes and floor-length gowns are not required. (However, you can always opt for longer skirts or formal jackets if you’d like, which are popular choices for winter wedding attire). When it comes to deciding what to wear to a cocktail wedding, a suit and tie with a crisp black or white shirt with dress pants is a no-fail choice. You can also wear a short formal dress or an elegant jumpsuit with jewelry.
Beach Formal Attire
Fashion rules tend to be a bit more lenient for beach weddings. Whether you’ll be heading to the tropics for a destination celebration or a classic summer wedding, it’s important to prepare for the elements when deciding what to wear to a beach wedding. «If you’re going to a wedding on the beach, opt for a linen dress shirt and slacks with a blazer, or a sundress with a straw hat or bag since that fits the aesthetic,» explains Durham.
As with most outdoor weddings, consider your shoe choice wisely. You might want to swap stiletto heels for wedges or thick sandals, especially if you’ll be walking on sand. And for nuptials that’ll take place in warmer climates, shorter skirts and light, airy fabrics like linen and cotton will help you stay cool while keeping in line with the preferred wedding dress code.
Semi-Formal Attire or Dressy Casual Attire
Semi-formal wedding attire may seem like one of the tricker dress codes to nail. And, since cocktail and semi-formal wedding attire can sometimes be used interchangeably, you might feel confused when it’s time to pick an outfit. «Semi-formal falls in the grey area between casual and formal,» says Coleman. «However, cocktail attire tends to be a little more dressy than semi-formal.» So, what do you wear to a semi-formal wedding? «Some ideas include a midi dress, a chic jumpsuit or a wrap dress,» Coleman continues. «For cocktail attire, stick to a structured dress or a sleek black dress—you can never go wrong with an LBD.»
Embellishments and additional features on an outfit can also help differentiate cocktail attire from semi-formal wedding attire. «A dress for a semi-formal wedding might not include any sort of beading or statement accessories,» says Durham. «A suit and tie are also appropriate.»
In recent years, the phrase «dressy casual» has risen in popularity for wedding dress codes. Think of dressy casual wedding attire wording as a spin on business casual. Dressy casual wedding attire is most closely related to semi-formal attire, and should be interpreted appropriately. Depending on the time of the event, choose an outfit that falls in between formal and casual. It’s encouraged to wear darker, more formal hues for an evening fete, while light colors and fabrics would be appropriate for a daytime wedding.
Daytime Attire or Casual Attire
You might be tempted to think that a casual dress code means anything goes—but that’s not necessarily the case. Casual wedding attire is the most relaxed out of all the dress code wording examples on this list, but it’s important to remember that a wedding is still a formal event, after all, so there are some rules to keep in mind. «With the rise of backyard weddings, casual dress codes are common,» Durham says. «But it’s important to remember that you are attending a wedding, after all, and this kind of event requires a certain kind of outfit.»
When you’re choosing what to wear to a casual wedding as a guest, use business casual outfit ideas as a guide. «You can never go wrong with a navy blazer, a blue button-down shirt or khaki pants,» Durham adds. «This will take you a long way. The minute you put on a tie and a pocket square, you will look fully dressed. Similarly, you can always opt for a dress with a nice neckline and simple accessories. Consider swapping sandals for a pump heel to dress it up more.» Adds Coleman: «For women, I recommend wearing a sundress, a high/low dress or a jumpsuit.»
A casual wedding dress code also comes with more flexibility in terms of experimenting with trendy colors, patterns and fabrics. So, if you’re feeling up for it, you can opt for a wedding guest outfit that you wouldn’t normally wear. «Semi-formal and casual occasions come with a little more freedom in what you wear,» explains DeLeon. «Avoid pinstripes in favor of a solid color or a less business-oriented pattern like glen plaid, houndstooth, or windowpane. And, while a classic navy or dark charcoal gray suit will suffice, consider switching up the shirt and tie for a floral camp shirt or knit polo instead.» Even with more flexibility, though, Durham notes that there are a few wedding dress code rules to abide by. «Shorts, running gear and tennis shoes should be off-limits for a casual wedding.»
Ultimately, what matters most is that you feel confident in whatever outfit you choose to wear. As long as your attire abides by the preferred wedding dress code, you’ll look (and feel) your best as you celebrate the happy couple.