Deciphering The Dress Code

No matter how many weddings you’ve been to, there’s always a question that weighs on everyone's mind: what am I going to wear? And while we’ve all had the pre-wedding panic of looking at a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear, don’t worry. Most wedding invites or wedding websites will give you a dress code, or phrase, that will help you figure out what you’re expected to wear. While these terms may sound like a secret code only spies can understand, once you know what they mean, picking out an outfit will be easy! 

Casual or daytime

In the regular world, casual usually means you can wear whatever you want, but in wedding lingo, it’s not quite the same. Unless the invitation specifically says to wear jeans or shorts, it’s best to choose clothing that is appropriate for a nice dinner or outing.

For him: dress pants and either a button down or short-sleeve polo.

For her: a sundress or skirt/pants and a nice blouse. 

Semi-formal

This one can be a little tricky, but think business attire or something you’d wear to an interview. You want to look nice, but don’t necessarily need to pull out all the stops. The time of day of the wedding will be especially helpful for this dress code. Think lighter colors for daytime and darker hues for evening

For him: a suit and tie (tie is optional).

For her: a cocktail dress, nice skirt and blouse, or dress pants and blouse.

Cocktail

A bit of a step up from semi-formal, cocktail is something you’d wear to a night out at an upscale restaurant or bar. Cocktail attire is usually for evening weddings, so try sticking to darker colors, if that is the case.

For him: a suit and tie.

For her: a cocktail dress, skirt and blouse, or dress pants and blouse.

Formal or black tie optional

Here’s where we start to get fancy. Formal and black tie optional basically mean the same thing and are usually reserved for evening weddings.

For him: dark colored formal suit and tie or tuxedo (definitely optional).

For her: a nice cocktail dress, floor-length dress (like a maxi), or a pantsuit. Accessorizing is definitely your friend with this dress code! A piece of statement jewelry like sparkly earrings or a necklace is a great way to dress up a more casual piece of clothing. 

Black tie

Break out your evening wear, it’s time for black tie. This dress code is for the ultra formal wedding and you won’t want to skimp on your attire.

For him: a tuxedo or black suit. Period. Rent, borrow, beg, steal, whatever it takes.

For her: a floor length dress or gown is definitely recommended, but you can also wear a very nice cocktail dress or a suit.

And there you have it! Not so difficult once it’s all broken down, right? A good rule of thumb when deciding what to wear to a wedding is to always err on the dressy side. You won’t regret being the most dressed up, but definitely don’t want to be the most casual person there.