decoding wedding dress codes
Wedding Dress Codes… Let’s Clear This Up! If you’ve ever stared at a wedding invite thinking:
“What does semi-formal actually mean?”
“Is cocktail dress short or long?”
“Am I about to be overdressed… or wildly underdressed?”
You’re not alone. Wedding dress codes are one of the most confusing parts of attending (or planning) a wedding. So let’s break it down properly and remove the guesswork.
Black Tie
This is the most formal option, elegant, polished, luxe, and generally leans into deep, rich colour palettes.
Full tuxedo with a bowtie
floor length gown with heels
loud or multiple colours and patterns are a no
sequins and elevated fabrics are a yes
full Formal
Still elevated, just slightly less rigid than black tie. classic, refined, with soft and medium colours.
Full suit: jacket plus either a vest or suspenders, with a Tie or bowtie and laced dress shoes
Mid to floor-length dress with heels
Polished but not over-the-top
one to two colours are fine, but nothing too chaotic
Semi-Formal
The most misunderstood of all wedding dress codes. it’s more elevated than ‘cocktail’ but not as dressed up as ‘full formal’. you want to look smart and put together but things are slightly more relaxed.
Suit with flexibility: Jacket OR vest OR suspenders (pick one or two, not all three), a tie/bowtie and Laced or slip-on dress shoes
mid to floor length dress with heels
tailored jumpsuit or elevated matching set
one or two colours or an elevated pattern is ok
Cocktail
this is the most fun and flexible option. it’s still an event, not just any old dinner or social interaction, but people can be more expressive while still being dressed up and classy.
Dress shirt + chinos plus either a jacket, vest or suspenders, no tie or bowtie, with Loafers, boat shoes, or dress shoes
Any (classy) dress length, jumpsuit or matching set, with sandals or heels
Colours and patterns fully encouraged
Casual
This one can be dangerous without clarification, so handle with care! this can be interpreted as anything i would usually wear on the weekend, dinner at a local pub or a drink at a bar. if you want boundaries you’re going to need to spell them out, otherwise you risk jeans, board shorts or thongs!
short sleeved shirts and chinos (maybe even chino shorts?), no jacket/vest/suspenders/tie/bowtie, with Loafers or boat shoes
sundress, jumpsuit/playsuit, casual matching set, with sandals or heels
all colours and patterns accepted
other aspects to consider
Dress codes aren’t just about what people wear, they shape the entire aesthetic of your wedding and Should Match Your Venue and season:
outdoor & summer weddings generally align with casual to cocktail dress codes for guest comfort, as well as suitability to the weather and likely terrain of a more rustic location
indoor & winter weddings go beautifully with semi-formal to black tie dress codes, since you don’t have to worry about the weather or the terrain and might be looking at a venue that’s a little more posh
Your dress code should support the entire wedding experience, not fight it.
for example, is your venue a glorious ballroom, Are you invitations elegantly scripted and do you dream of classic white roses? probably shouldn’t have a casual dress code.
or do you dream of getting married in the garden of a rustic winery with cobblestone paths? Black tie might not quite hit the same mark.
what if we look at this differently?
have you ever considered that you could Make Your Dress Code Fun (Seriously)? your entire wedding could have a ‘theme’ that guides everything from the venue, stationary and florals through to how everyone dresses. here’s some creative ideas to inspire some thinking:
whimsical Garden Party
bright & bold
bridgerton ball
5-Star beach Resort
Fireplace Formal
Fancy Ranch
Hamptons White
Bringing Sexy B(l)ack
all that glitters
Pro Tip: Use Your Wedding Website
you can have a whole section or page dedicated to a mood board that clearly showcases the aesthetic. colours, fabrics, outfit inspo to inspire your guests to get amongst it and make your photos & video look that much better!