Black Tie Optional: Placement On Wedding Invitations

When it comes to wedding invitations, it can be tricky to know where to put the dress code, especially when it's black tie optional. While some etiquette experts advise against including any dress code other than black tie on an invitation, others suggest a few options for specifying the optional nature of the black-tie dress code. One suggestion is to include the dress code in the lower left or right-hand corner of the invitation or at the bottom centre of the design. Alternatively, it can be included on a separate information or details card provided to the guests, or on the wedding website, along with other important information.

Where to include the dress code on the invitation

Including a dress code on your wedding invitation is a great way to ensure your event stays as formal or as casual as you want. It also helps your guests know what is expected of them when it comes to attire. Here are some tips on where to include the dress code on your wedding invitation:

The Wedding Invitation

You can include the dress code in the lower left or right-hand corner of the invitation. Alternatively, you can place it at the bottom centre of the design. This is a great option if you want to keep your invitation simple and don't want to include an additional information card.

A Separate Information/Details Card

If you are including a separate details or information card with other important information for your guests, you can use this space to list your dress code as well. This option keeps your invitation uncluttered and ensures your guests have all the information they need in one place.

Your Wedding Website

If you are providing a wedding website for your guests, you can use this space to list your dress code along with other important information. This option is especially useful if you want to provide more detailed information about the dress code or if you have a lot of out-of-town guests who may not have easy access to your invitation.

Formatting Tips

When formatting your dress code, you can use a colon or other appropriate mark (such as a bullet or vertical bar) to separate it from the rest of the text. The style should be consistent with the rest of your wording. For example, you can write "Dress Code: Formal" or "Formal Attire (Black Tie Optional)".

What to wear to a black-tie wedding

When it comes to black-tie weddings, the dress code is fairly straightforward. Guests are expected to wear either a tuxedo or an evening dress. This means a floor-length dress or a women's tuxedo, with heels, dressy flats, or loafers. For men, it means a tuxedo with a proper dinner jacket, tuxedo pants, appropriate shoes, and accessories.

If you're unsure about what to wear, it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. You can never really go wrong with a long formal gown or a tuxedo. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an outfit for a black-tie wedding.

First, avoid anything that might be seen as too casual. For women, this includes short or mini dresses, summery sundresses, flats, or sneakers. For men, it's best to avoid khaki slacks, polos, t-shirts, and sneakers.

Second, pay attention to the season and venue of the event. Black-tie weddings typically take place in the evening, so anything you'd wear during the day might not be appropriate. For a summer wedding, look for blue, pink, orange, or yellow gowns, while for a winter wedding, black, navy, and jewel tones are perfect.

Third, while you want to look your best, don't try to outshine the bride and groom. Avoid anything that is too flashy or over-the-top, and stay away from white, ivory, or cream colours, as these are typically worn by the bride.

Finally, have fun with your hair, makeup, and accessories! Black-tie weddings are a great opportunity to experiment with more elegant and glamorous looks. Go bold with your makeup, add some statement jewellery, and try out a new hairstyle.

For women:

• Floor-length black gown
• Fancy little black dress
• Jumpsuit (avoid casual fabrics like linen or flowery patterns)
• Tea-length dress with elegant embellishments
• Blue floral silk dress for daytime events

For men:

• Traditional tuxedo with a satin-lapel dinner jacket and patent leather shoes
• Dark navy or midnight blue suit
• Burgundy tuxedo
• Velvet tuxedo jacket

Remember, black-tie weddings are a chance to dress up and have fun with your style. So, go ahead and "be the most elevated version of yourself"!

What not to wear to a black-tie wedding

When it comes to black-tie weddings, it's important to remember that the couple wants their wedding to be a formal affair. While they understand that this implies fancier and more expensive attire for guests, they don't want to pressure their guests to dress in a way that causes undue stress or financial burden. With that in mind, here are some tips on what not to wear to a black-tie wedding:

For Women:

• Day dresses and sandals are not appropriate. Instead, opt for formal fabrics such as silks, chiffons, or taffeta.
• Avoid casual footwear like day sandals and raffia wedges. Choose dressy shoes instead, such as heels, dressy flats, or loafers.
• Short and mini dresses are too casual for a black-tie wedding. Go for a floor-length dress or a midi-length cocktail dress. If you want to wear a jumpsuit, choose a formal style in a luxurious fabric.
• Stay away from anything too revealing or that might take attention away from the bride. This includes overly sequined looks and dramatic ball gown silhouettes.
• Avoid light colours such as white, off-white, cream, ivory, and pastels, as these are too close to white.
• For an evening black-tie wedding, opt for darker colours or jewel tones. For a summer black-tie wedding, choose lighter colours like blue, pink, orange, or yellow.

For Men:

• A tuxedo is the preferred option for a black-tie wedding. If you don't have a tuxedo, wear a black or navy suit with a tie.
• Avoid khaki slacks and casual footwear.
• White, ivory, or cream colours are not appropriate.
• Stick to dark-coloured suits, such as black, navy, or charcoal, no matter the season.
• Avoid anything too bold or flashy.

Black-tie optional wedding attire for women

When it comes to black-tie optional attire for women, guests should pay attention to the season and venue of the event. Black-tie-optional weddings typically take place in the evening, so anything you'd wear for a daytime celebration probably won't work.

When deciding what to wear, consider the colour and style of your outfit. Any hue is appropriate, except whites, pastels, and neon. Embrace luxe-looking fabrics, patterns, and textures that can be dressed up or down with accessories, but keep patterns more muted to adhere to the formal vibes. When in doubt, stick with hues that pair well with the season. For a summer wedding, look for blue, pink, orange, and yellow gowns. For a winter wedding, black, navy, and jewel-tone looks would be perfect.

While floor-length gowns should be prioritised, women can also opt for a fancy cocktail dress or a dressy pantsuit. Short and mini dresses, however, are not allowed, as these styles lean more towards casual than formal. Also, stay away from anything too revealing, and avoid ensembles that might take attention away from the bride, like overly sequined looks and dramatic ball gown silhouettes. If you're worried about looking swamped by fabric, look for something with a slit. This can help elongate a short frame and make getting down on the dance floor easier.

As for shoes, formal leather shoes in black or dark brown are a good choice, as are heels and flats that are dressy and match your outfit. For accessories, break out your favourite pieces, as long as they are formal. Statement-making hair accessories, especially if they have some sparkle, are also a good choice.

Black-tie optional wedding attire for men

When it comes to black-tie-optional wedding attire for men, you have the option to go with traditional black-tie menswear, or you can opt for a formal-appropriate suit. This typically means that the bridal party will be in full black tie, but the couple is giving their guests some flexibility. It's a way of saying that they would like everyone to be in black tie, but they understand that some people won't be able to, so they would like their guests to wear their most formal dress possible.

If you do want to go for the traditional black-tie look, you can't go wrong with a black tuxedo, a white pleated-front shirt (or "bib front"), shirt studs or cufflinks, black formal shoes (Oxfords or patent leather shoes), and a black bow tie. An alternate black-tie standard that is acceptable for men is the "tropical black tie", which includes an ivory dinner jacket, a crisp white dress shirt, subtle cufflinks, black tuxedo trousers, and the same black bow tie and accessories that you'd use with a tuxedo.

If you don't want to wear a tuxedo, you can opt for a dark and smart suit in a colour such as navy or dark charcoal. This should be worn with a white dress shirt and cufflinks, a conservative tie, black leather formal shoes (Oxfords are always a good choice), and dark socks.

When it comes to colours, it's best to stick to dark, somber colours, although a stately maroon or forest green can also work, especially for events earlier in the day. You could also wear a charcoal or navy tux, which is perfectly acceptable.

As for shoes, black leather dress shoes are the way to go. Think Oxfords, monk-strap or Derby styles.

Frequently asked questions