April 15, 2025
How to Dress for a Wedding and Its Dress Code
Spring is a very popular wedding season, but can we blame them? It’s so beautiful outside with the blooming flowers and the birds singing. I have started to think maybe I would want my wedding in Spring. Spring is when life comes back to Earth, and it is a perfect time for new beginnings! But enough about Spring, this post is about all the different types of dress codes a wedding may have and how to dress for them to look elegant, chic and be the best dressed guest.
I have attended weddings that have a very specific color palette, so if your invitation requests for you to wear a specific color, you must abide by that! When you attend a wedding, you should be attending because you want to celebrate the two people on their special day and want to show them love, so abiding by their dress code and color palette, should be something easy.
If all they ask is for a specific color without a specific dress code, I would always go for a long formal dress. You can of course take the climate and destination of the wedding into account but even during Summer, I prefer a long dress over a short one as I just think it looks more elegant.
White-Tie
This is my favorite dress code and the one my wedding will have. This is the most formal dress code there is for a wedding. It is the dress code for royal events, and I adore that. To dress for a White-Tie wedding, a lady must wear a formal, floor length gown, jewelry, and an elegant clutch. Gentlemen must wear a tuxedo with tails, white shirt, vest, bow tie, white or gray gloves, and formal footwear.
Black-Tie
Black-tie is one step down from white-tie. Ladies should wear a floor-length gown in a luxurious fabric like silk. Ladies may also wear an elegant pantsuit if they feel more comfortable to do so. Gentlemen must wear tuxedoes with a black bow tie, black vest or cummerbund (I quite like the look of a cummerbund), and oxford shoes or tuxedo shoes.
Formal
The formal wedding attire is usually black-tie optional, meaning it is a bit less formal than the black-tie attire. However, even though a tuxedo is not required, I would still prefer men to wear a tuxedo. Afterall, how often do we get to dress up? Women can still wear a long floor-length gown, pantsuit, or fancy dress.
Cocktail
The cocktail wedding attire seems to be quite a popular one. This dress code is fancy and elegant but not as dressed up as black tie. Here, women have the option of wearing a tea-length or midi dress. While gentlemen are required to wear suit and tie.
Semi-Formal
For semi-formal, ladies may wear cocktail dresses, midi-length dresses, a dressy top and skirt, or even a pantsuit/jumpsuit. For shoes, heels or formal flats are appropriate. Gentlemen can wear dress shirt and slacks. For men, a tie is not mandatory, however, it can always add a little extra formality. We are wedding guests, dress for the occasion!
Casual
This is my least favorite kind of dress code but I suppose everyone has the right to choose the dress code they want for their own wedding. While this dress code is called “casual,” it is very important to know that jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers are not appropriate, even if the wedding is on a beach. Ladies may wear summer dresses with wedges or dressy sandals. Gentlemen may wear dress pants paired with a collared shirt and a jacket.
Don’t forget, it is really important to stick to the dress code on your invitation. If the dress code is semi-formal, it is imperative that a guest does not show up in black-tie attire.
Accessories
For accessories, it’s best to choose elegant, understated, and simple jewelry no matter the dress code. A wedding should not be where a guest goes to show off their precious jewels to everyone. For purse, a small purse or clutch would be the best option for each dress code.
Where to buy:
To shop for a wedding, I like department stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue (or Saks OFF 5th), Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, or TheRealReal because they have many brands with multiple options for all the different types of wedding dress codes. I also love specific stores such as OddMuse and Reformation for dresses.
Ethereally,
Amanda
Fashion Quote of the Day:
“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” – Coco Chanel
*Picture credits go to all owners
- First picture: Prince William and Princess Kate
- Second picture: Jazmin Grace Grimaldi
- Third picture: Gossip Girl Episode S4 E8 “Juliet Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”
- Fourth and Fifth Pictures: Aimee Smale in OddMuse via Oddmuse.co.uk
- Fifth Picture: Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City S3 E18 “Cock a Doodle Do”
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