These Dresses Will Upstage Every Guest At Your Next Wedding (2024)

FAQs

What does black tie optional mean? ›

Black Tie Optional:

A black-tie optional dress code gives guests a couple of formal options to choose from. Men are requested to wear a tuxedo, but can opt for a dark suit. Women can choose either a formal evening gown, a shorter co*cktail dress, or dressy separates.

Women wedding guests should wear full-length dresses, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line dress. High heels are strongly recommended. Feel free to accessorize with opulent jewelry and even elbow-length white silk gloves.

You can include your Dress Code on the lower left or right-hand corner of the invitation. Alternatively, the Dress Code can be placed at the bottom centre of the design.

Luckily, times have changed, and given the fact that wedding fashion etiquette norms have shifted over the years, we now have good news for fans of coal-colored ensembles. “It is absolutely acceptable for a female to wear a black dress to a wedding,” Swann advises.

Colors to Wear and Avoid

For black-tie optional, try dark colors such as black, navy and charcoal, and deeper jewel tones like emerald and burgundy. Avoid anything that feels a little too laid-back (for example, patterns and brightly colored fabrics) and instead opt for something more tailored and elevated.

Black tie events are formal affairs that require you to be suitably dressed. You should't wear casual clothing such as jeans, T-shirts, shorts, jumpers and trainers. It's also best to avoid suits that aren't black (or dark blue) and patterned ties or shirts.

co*cktail & Semi-Formal Summer Wedding Attire

Wear darker, more formal hues for an evening soiree; opt for light colors and fabrics for daytime nuptials. Keep in mind that semi-formal still has the word "formal" in the description, so you'll still want to look elegant and put together.

Neutral shades are timeless options that won't detract from the wedding's formal atmosphere. For a more colorful look, consider wearing shades of blue, lavender, or pink to show that you're in the celebratory spirit. If the wedding is in a tropical destination, opt for colors like yellow, orange, and green.

Unless otherwise specified on the invitation, 'black tie' in general permits any length, so midi and even shorter styles, within reason, are acceptable. But, given the formality, showing a lot of skin might draw stares from other guests. Midi-to-full hemlines are your safest (and chicest) bet.

I have advised readers that while bare legs are fine even at the most formal events, hosiery also is perfectly acceptable as long as it's skin tone and sheer. I've just returned from a wedding where I wore my new bargain ($10!) black sequined mini and consignment store jeweled black shoes (also $10).

What is after 5 attire? ›

Men's semi-formal and co*cktail dress codes, also known as party and after-five attire, are for special events. Both call for a dressier, sophisticated look, but there are some differences. Semi-formal dressing is typically more reserved, focusing on darker colours such as grey, black and blue.

Higher-denier tights (around 40-80) are perfect for formal weddings, offering a polished and elegant look. For more casual affairs, opt for lower-denier sheer tights (around 10-30) for a lighter and breathable feel.

She says many brides and grooms actually prefer it. On average the typical cash gift is around $150, she says. Still, though, Hill says there are some exceptions. “Some people don't think that's [giving money] a great idea,” Hill said.

Turns out, wearing red to a wedding means to some that “you've slept with the groom.” “Old Wives' Tale, but yeah,” Mitchell explained. However, both wedding planners agreed on a more modern reason for not wearing red: It could be seen as a way to grab the attention away from the bride.

FORMAL/ BLACK TIE OPTIONAL: The wording here indicates something slightly less formal than black-tie is acceptable. So, a tuxedo isn't required, but the event is still formal enough for one to be appropriate. The choices are the same as with black-tie: a floor-length gown, a fancy co*cktail dress, or a dressy pantsuit.

Black Tie Optional Guidelines

Suit: Even though it's optional, a black tuxedo is acceptable. For men who wish to opt for an alternative, a dark coloured suit that is either black, dark grey, and navy blue is also acceptable. A perfectly fitted suit is encouraged.

Wearing a black suit to a Black-Tie Optional event is an acceptable choice, just so long as you don't try to make it look like an imitation tuxedo by pairing it with a black bow tie. If you're not wearing a black suit then, charcoal and deep navy are also excellent choices.

Turns out that black tie invited is just a fancy way of saying: “Black Tie Optional.” Which is nothing more than another fancy way of saying: “You can wear a tux, most guys will wear a tux, but you don't have to wear a tux if you don't want to.” Make no mistake, the women will be all dolled up, and probably 80% of the ...