Guide To Requesting Formal Attire For Your Wedding

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to convey the right tone and set the right expectations for your guests. Including a dress code is a great way to ensure your guests know what to expect and feel confident in their attire choices. Here are some tips and examples to help you effectively communicate the formal attire request on your wedding invitations:

Location on the Invitation:

The dress code can be included in the lower left or right corner of the invitation or centered at the bottom. Alternatively, you can include it on a separate information card or your wedding website.

Wording Suggestions:

- White Tie Celebration: Please join us in your most royal formalwear.

- A Formal Affair: Our venue requires Black Tie attire.

- Black Tie Optional: Formal attire is suggested.

- Cocktail Attire: We suggest that men wear a suit or dress shirt with a tie and women wear a midi or knee-length dress or dressy separates.

- Semi-Formal Attire: We suggest that men wear a suit and tie and women wear a cocktail-length dress or dressy separates.

Remember to be consistent with the style and tone of the rest of your invitation. Clear communication is key, so feel free to add details or examples, especially for less conventional dress codes.

White tie

For men, white tie attire consists of a black tailcoat, a waistcoat (always in white), and traditional tuxedo pieces, including a tuxedo shirt and a bow tie. The trousers should match the jacket, and the outfit should be paired with tuxedo shoes. The waistcoat and bow tie can be white, or you can add a touch of personality with a coloured or patterned bow tie. The shirt should be a stiff, white evening shirt with a high collar, and cufflinks are a must. The shoes should be black patent leather with black laces, or highly polished, laced-up shoes. The outfit can be accessorised with a top hat and white gloves, and a boutonniere and pocket square can add a more formal feel.

For women, white tie means a full-length ball gown or floor-length evening dress. The dress can be paired with a fur mantle, pashmina, or bolero vest. Any silhouette is acceptable as long as the hem touches the ground and the shape flatters the body. The hair should be styled, and an updo is preferable to loose hair. Makeup should be alluring, and striking jewellery should be worn. High stiletto heels and a small, elegant clutch complete the outfit. White gloves that go past the elbows and a tiara can also be added, especially if you are a married woman or the bride.

Black tie

When it comes to wedding invitations, mentioning a dress code is a great way to ensure your event stays as formal or as casual as you want it to be. It also helps your guests know what is expected of them in terms of attire.

If you want to specify a dress code, there are a few places you can include this information:

• On the wedding invitation itself, in the lower left or right-hand corner, or at the bottom centre of the design.
• On a separate information or details card, along with other important information for your guests.
• On your wedding website, on the homepage along with the welcome message, wedding date, venue, and time.

Now, onto the specifics of "Black Tie".

For women, black-tie dress codes mean a full-length, floor-sweeping evening gown or a women's tuxedo. Formal jumpsuits are also an option. Short and mid-length dresses are not ideal for this dress code. Pair your outfit with heels, dressy flats, or loafers. When it comes to colours, black is a safe choice, but it is not mandatory. All colours are acceptable except for white or anything else that's even close to white. It's also a good idea to avoid the colour the bride has chosen for her bridesmaid dresses. Jewel tones are excellent options, especially for autumn weddings, and pastel hues are perfect for summer weddings.

When styling your black-tie wedding guest look, opt for sleek heels, gorgeous jewellery, and an elegant clutch to keep the overall ensemble formal. Diamonds or pearls are always a good choice, especially if your dress is more muted. For your beauty look, you can go for chignons, updos, or cascading curls. Choose one feature to highlight, like your eyes or lips, and go for a smokey eye with a nude lip or dewy, highlighted cheeks with a red lip.

For men, a black-tie dress code means a tuxedo. This means the full look: a proper dinner jacket, tuxedo pants, appropriate shoes, and the necessary accessories. No standard suits are allowed, even very fancy ones. Guests are expected to stick with darker colours, like navy, grey, emerald, sapphire, or burgundy.

As for shoes, these should reflect the formality of the attire. Loafers, derbies, and monk straps can work, depending on the suiting, but be discerning of styles with laces. Black is the obvious choice unless your attire's colour dictates differently. Accessories-wise, black socks and a bow tie are the only appropriate options. A vest or cummerbund (never to be worn together), as well as snazzy cufflinks, can also elevate your look.

If you don't want to buy a tuxedo, there are plenty of options to rent one for the occasion.

Black tie optional

When it comes to wedding invitations, it can be tricky to know how to convey the dress code to your guests. If you're hoping for a formal affair, you might want to consider including "Black Tie Optional" on your invitations. This gives your guests the option to dress up without the pressure of having to buy or rent a tuxedo. Here are some things to consider when explaining the "Black Tie Optional" dress code to your invitees:

For the Ladies:

Attire for women depends on the season and venue of the event. Black-tie-optional weddings usually take place in the evening, so guests should opt for more formal attire. Floor-length gowns are ideal, but a fancy cocktail dress or a dressy pantsuit is also acceptable. It's best to avoid short or mini dresses, as well as anything too revealing or overly sequined. As for colours, any hue is appropriate, except for whites, pastels, and neon shades. Lighter shades, such as champagne, should also be avoided as they may photograph as white. If you're attending a summer wedding, look for blue, pink, orange, or yellow gowns. For a winter wedding, black, navy, and jewel tones are perfect.

For the Gentlemen:

For men, a tuxedo is not required but is a plus. The main options are a suit or a tuxedo; anything else would be too informal. It's best to stick with black, navy, or dark-coloured suits, regardless of the season. Wool or velvet suits are excellent choices, and for a summer evening event, an ivory jacket with black trousers is a stylish option. It's important to avoid white, ivory, or cream colours, unless it's just an accent, such as on a jacket.

Additional Tips:

Black-tie-optional weddings are a great opportunity for guests to experiment with hair, makeup, and jewellery to elevate their look. It's also worth noting that you can never be overdressed for this type of wedding, so feel free to go all out!

Creative black tie

For women, creative black tie means you can experiment with different patterns, prints, colours, and textures. You can stand out by wearing a long dress with sparkly sequins and patterns, or opt for a cocktail-length dress styled with a blazer and bold accessories. You can also wear separate pieces like tuxedo pants, blouses, and pantsuits, accented with fun jewellery and handbags. Remember, you don't have to wear a floor-length gown, and you don't have to stick to classic black. Darker colours and jewel tones, such as burgundy, plum, grey, and navy, are recommended.

For men, creative black tie is about adding pops of texture and colour to your formal wear. This can include richly coloured velvet jackets, burgundy suits, and textured or colourful vests. Accessories like silk or satin lapels, bright-coloured socks, vibrant cufflinks, and pocket squares can add a less traditional feel to your outfit. You can also be more liberal with your choice of fragrance or cologne.

When it comes to grooming, creative black tie allows for a bit more flexibility. Stylish stubble and less conservative hairstyles are generally acceptable.

However, it's important to remember that while you can be creative, you don't want to go overboard. Avoid crazy colours, neckties with tuxedos, and poor-fitting outfits. The foundation of your outfit should still be black tie, with modifications to add a creative twist.

Cocktail attire

When it comes to wedding invitations, mentioning a dress code is a great way to ensure your event stays as formal or casual as you want it to be. It also helps your guests know what is expected of them in terms of attire. If you're opting for a cocktail attire dress code, here are some suggestions on how to communicate this effectively in your wedding invitations:

Wording and Placement:

• You can include "Cocktail Attire" in the lower left or right corner of the invitation or at the bottom centre of the design.
• Alternatively, include a separate information or details card along with your invitation. This card can mention the dress code and provide other important information for your guests, keeping the invitation simple and elegant.
• If you have a wedding website, you can also include the dress code there, along with other details such as directions to the venue.

Explaining Cocktail Attire:

• For women, a cocktail dress that is above the knee or any length above floor-length is appropriate. Dressy separates or a pantsuit are also great options.
• For men, a suit with or without a tie is perfect. A sports jacket or blazer with dress pants or chinos can also be worn.

Sample Wording:

"Cocktail Attire. We suggest that men wear a suit or dress shirt with a tie, and women wear a midi or knee-length dress, or dressy separates."

Remember, it's essential to provide clear instructions and suggestions to help your guests feel confident in their attire choices and ensure they align with your wedding's style and theme.

Frequently asked questions