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Weddings are a time for love and celebration with family, but they can also be a bit of an ordeal to dress for. When you’re attending a wedding, it’s important to find the right balance between respecting the occasion, fitting in with the crowd, and maintaining your own sense of style. Interested in learning how to do that? Read on for our tips!
Wedding attire isn’t always clearly spelled out in the invites, so deciding what to wear is a case of taking a few cues.
Wedding attire isn’t always clearly spelled out in the invites, so deciding what to wear is a case of taking a few cues.
Start by thinking about the time of day, location and venue. Is it formal or informal? City or country? Outside or inside?
City: If it’s in town, you can be more adventurous than if you’re heading down to the countryside. A tailored suit will work well, while still allowing you to add some personality with your accessories.
Country: You’ll want something that’s smart but not overly formal. A tweed suit works well for a rustic, outdoorsy wedding in spring or summer and the autumn months too, especially if it’s wool blended with linen or mohair. The right pair of suede shoes will finish it off nicely.>>
Next up use your smarts and consider the season and time of year.>>
Spring/summer: Swap your dark suit for a lighter colour as well as a lighter fabric like cotton or seersucker.>>
Autumn/winter: Go for darker colours like navy blue and charcoal grey which have an added benefit—they don’t show up dirt so easily! Invest in an overcoat so you can stay warm when outside if needed.>>
Finally don’t forget about the dress code and check this on your invite, but always err on the side of being overdressed if unsure.>>It’s also worth checking out any other weddings that people attending may have been to recently as friends can be great sources of information — just try not to let them bias your decision!>>Still unsure? Ask them directly; after all they invited you along because they trust your judgement!
“Evening” means black tie – so a tuxedo, with a black bow tie and shiny black shoes.
So you’ve got an invitation to a wedding, but don’t know what to wear? It can be tough to know whether to go for a suit and tie or something shinier. Here are some tips so you’ll fit right in and look sharp.
If the invitation says “Evening,” that means black tie – so a tuxedo, with a black bow tie and shiny black shoes. Don’t wear sneakers or sandals. And if it doesn’t say “black-tie optional,” skip the hat or headdress (unless you’re part of the wedding party).
“Black tie optional” means you can wear either a tuxedo or a suit, but if you go for the latter, make sure it’s smart.
To begin, what exactly is “black tie optional?” Most people assume that anything less than black tie formal means it’s okay to show up in a suit. While technically true, this approach ignores the option of wearing a tuxedo—which should always be your first choice. It’s not only more elegant than a suit, but is also appropriate for any wedding. In other words, if you get invited to a black tie or white tie wedding and all you own is a tuxedo, you won’t be one of the guests showing up underdressed.
That being said, if you do decide to go for the suit option instead of renting or buying a tuxedo, make sure your suit is smart enough to qualify as formalwear. To help you with this step, we’ve got some guidelines for what separates business-casual from formal:
- A dark blazer and pants made from heavier fabrics are best. Steer clear of lighter-hued suits (navy blue and charcoal are ideal) made from lightweight materials like linen—they look too summery and relaxed.
- Wear simple cufflinks and studs with your French cuffs instead of buttons; they’ll add an instant touch of classiness to your outfit.
- Switch out sneakers or loafers for dress shoes like oxfords or wingtips (lace-ups tend to be more elegant than slip-ons).
“Semi-formal” means you should wear a suit and tie, but if it’s not too dressy – then swap in chinos and a shirt with some suede loafers instead.
While semi-formal has become synonymous with black tie optional and means you can technically wear a tux, but you don’t have to, it’s usually still pretty formal.
When it comes to what to wear for a semi-formal wedding, think about the event in question. If it’s an afternoon affair that isn’t too dressy and is more low-key – then swap in chinos and a shirt with some suede loafers instead. In the evening, when things tend to get more formal, try switching out your chinos for dark jeans or a suit.
As for men’s semi-formal wedding attire – while there are no hard rules here as long as everything looks clean and pressed, most weddings will fall into one of two categories: very dressy or not so much. For the former, start with a basic suit in navy or charcoal that fits perfectly (tailored if necessary), adds a crisp white shirt with French cuffs (a luxury fabric like linen will look great) and top off with a skinny silk tie. If everything else is classic enough you can opt for something printed or colored.
On the less dressy end of things – where dark jeans are acceptable – wear your best denim alongside either your go-to jacket (leather is always cool) or sports coat and finish off the look with sharp shoes like gilded brogues or mixed material sneakers such as patent leather mixed with suede etc.
For women going to this type of wedding, remember that even though it’s not black tie there’s no reason why you can’t go elegant if you want to – especially around this time of year when getting dressed up feels particularly special at events like Christmas parties. Think ruffled hems on satin midi dresses so they feel fancy without being over the top – add heels if it suits!
“Cocktail attire” is interchangeable with smart casual or evening casual. It usually means something like dress pants and dress shoes for men or dress pants/skirt/dress and heels for women.
Cocktail attire does not mean tuxedo and gown. However, it’s also not as casual as business casual or khakis and a polo. Cocktail attire is interchangeable with smart casual or evening casual. It usually means something like dress pants and dress shoes for men or dress pants/skirt/dress and heels for women.
More formal daytime weddings often require morning suits – these feature tails and top hats, which are quite rare these days, but can be hired at some tailors. Black morning suits aren’t as formal as grey ones, which aren’t as formal as white ones.
For those invitations that call for formal daywear, the dress code cannot be underestimated. In these cases, you’ll need to consider morning suits – these feature tails and top hats, which are quite rare these days but can be hired at some tailors. Black morning suits aren’t as formal as grey ones and grey isn’t as formal as white.
In short: ask the couple if they have anything specific in mind. If they don’t happen to specify (or if you’re looking to be super suave) keep it classic. Something like an unstructured navy two-piece suit and smart loafers will cover most bases unless there’s some kind of dress code on that invite we don’t know about.
Let’s make one thing clear: you’re going to have a great time at this wedding. You’ve been invited, which means you’re in the good books of either the bride or groom. And that means you’re probably going to be fed pretty well and get an open bar for at least an hour or two.
However, there’s still a lot of potential for things to go wrong—and a lot of that comes down to what you choose to wear. Weddings are notoriously formal events, and even getting dressed up can feel like playing a game of sartorial Jenga when there’s no dress code in sight.You want to look your best, fit in with all the other guests—and possibly catch the eye of someone special—but there are so many factors to take into account that it can make choosing something simple seem impossibly complicated.
In fact, it doesn’t have to be this way at all—especially if you pay attention to our handy guide on what suits (and shoes) will work for any wedding situation (because yes, we know there will be dancing).
FAQ
- When can I wear a black dress to a wedding?
Black is rarely appropriate for weddings. If it’s an evening wedding and the invitation says “black tie,” however, it’s acceptable to wear your finest formalwear.
- Can I wear white or cream-colored dresses to a wedding?
Both white and cream-colored dresses in general are fine for guests to wear, as long as they are not overly bridal-looking. However, if the bride plans on wearing a white or cream-colored dress, it may be best to steer clear of those colors.
- Is red appropriate to wear as a guest at a wedding?
It is totally okay! You’re not going to be mistaken for the bride in a bright red sheath dress or floral tea-length frock. It’s perfectly acceptable for guests—and even the bridal party—to wear red at weddings.
