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Wedding Guest Attire Advice: Decoding the Dress Code

Wedding guest attire advice

What to Wear?

Since including dress code information on wedding invitations is restricted to formal affairs, guests are often left wondering what to wear. 　This is where using clues available to us is key. 　

A formal invitation typically implies a formal wedding, as does the time of day.  For example, evening weddings are usually more formal, except Catholic weddings, which are held mid-day and are formal. 　　

If the venue or location appears to be formal, the wedding may be as well, with outdoor weddings tending to be less formal.

That said, bridal couples often mix formality elements into a cocktail of confusion: formal attire, informal setting with a barbecue reception. 　So, we may not know exactly what the correct attire preference is until we arrive. 　In these cases, we can only hope all eyes are on the bride.

Cheers!

May I wear velvet in Late February?

Dear Polite One,

I love velvet and wonder if I can wear it to an evening wedding/reception in late February.  The dress is formal, black, and tea length.  I have another 2-piece dress that may work though.  It is less formal in a sheer brownish rust-colored material.  There are sequins around the neckline, which dress it up. 

Loves Velvet

Dear Loves Velvet,

I'm sorry, but velvet may seem too heavy for this time of year unless you live in a very cold climate.  Take clues from the invitation and the stated venue to determine the formality of the event. If the wedding is formal, then your first dress could be fine if the weather is icy cold.  If the wedding appears to be less formal, then the second dress should be fine since it is in the same formality as the "little black dress". 

Sincerely, 
The Polite One

Afternoon Wedding In Alberta, Canada

Dear Polite One,

I am a bit confused as to what to wear to an outdoor wedding in the early afternoon in October, in Alberta. The groom is wearing a kilt and the best man is wearing a suit. I think the matron of honor will be wearing a silk dress but am not sure of the length of it. There will be a piper, but no minister. It is a very small wedding and I think it is casual. Thanks for any advice you can give. 

Guest of a Small Alberta Wedding

Dear Guest of a Small Alberta Wedding,

Dress as if attending a nice country club for lunch and you should be fine.  Most probably a nice high-quality dress or pantsuit is fine for you and a suit for your husband. 

Sincerely, 

The Polite One

What is Semi-Formal?

Dear Polite One,

My nephew apparently says that his wedding is "semi-formal."  But I don't think that is what he means.  Can you help?

Confused

Dear Confused,

Semi-formal is the most confusing dress code because it can mean different things depending on the occasion.  Semi-formal for a ball may mean party dresses with lots of material.  But mostly, it means a suit for men and a cocktail dress for women.  ‘Cocktail attire’ is a much better dress code for weddings, although this can never be written on wedding invitations.  Only ‘formal’ or ‘black tie’ is written on invitations that are wedding and reception combination invitations. 

The meaning of ‘business casual’ is also elusive.  It means high-quality clothing that is more casual and yet suitable for work settings.  Typically, this is slacks such as Dockers with polos and shoes that require polishing for men.  Women may wear nice slacks, a skirt, appropriate blouses, a sweater set, or polo—nothing too tight, too revealing, or too short. 

Please Read

Nix Embarrassing Speeches & Rings All Around

Wedding Correspondence Q & A: Including Registry Info?

4 of the Most Asked Wedding Etiquette Questions Answered 

 

 

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