Wedding Wednesday: Dress Code

By Julie

As spring approaches and wedding season kicks into full gear, it naturally brings up the question of appropriate dress attire for all the upcoming events on your calendar. According to Martha Stewart Weddings, the dress code for the family of the bride and groom should typically follow that of the wedding party, but for guests the 'rules' aren't always so clear. 

After some research, I've broken it down to a little dress code cheat-sheet to calm any of your pre-wedding attendee jitters when it comes to party definitions.

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Black Tie is the most common formal dress code for weddings these days and is usually reserved for an evening affair with the ceremony starting after 6pm.

He should wear: A tuxedo. A black bow tie, cummerbund and patent leather shoes are suggested. A formal, dark suit is also appropriate. 

She should wear: Dress length varies as a long evening gown or a chic cocktail dress is appropriate. A little black dress is always acceptable as well. In general, formal accessories and shoes are encouraged.  

Black Tie Optional or Creative Black Tie leaves a bit more room for interpretation. Chic cocktail attire is encouraged.

He should wear: Tuxedos are appropriate, but certainly not mandatory; a dark suit and tie is a great option. Business formal. 

She should wear: Long dresses are appropriate, but not necessary. Dressy cocktail attire is ideal. 

Beach or destination weddings usually call for a more relaxed, festive attire to match the mood of the location. Dressy-casual is usually the safest option with fun accessories and embellishments. 

He should wear: A summer suit with a linen shirt (no ties are required, but appropriate), linen pants or khakis and sandals.

She should wear: A formal summer sundress- long or short- and colors are encouraged. Your accessories should match the whimsical or exotic setting. Since events may take part on sand or in rocky areas, wedges or formal flat sandals are appropriate for this type of occasion.

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XOX