Choosing A Dress Code For Your Wedding
Ahh, dress codes… from professional to business professional as well as school appropriate—at least one dress code has likely crossed your path at some point in time. They’re anticipated in offices and schools, but what about weddings? In my book, weddings totally merit a dress code! Your wedding day is a momentous and typically glamorous affair. A dress code may feel a little formal but it means no one sticks out like a sore thumb. There’s nothing worse than someone appearing in an outfit so bright it distracts from your carefully planned shots (there’s only so much editing can remove!). If you’re reticent to ask guests to come dressed for the occasion, I get it — most people don’t enjoy being told what to wear. But again, this day is about you! Don’t be ashamed to make your wedding look like exactly how you want it. In this post, you’ll learn how to choose a wedding dress code, as well as how to politely communicate to your guests.
And that’s for………… VIBE CARDS + MOOD BOARDS!
So how do you tell guests to adhere to a dress code? Simple! Distribute a “vibe” card along with your invites. A what?! A vibe card — basically a mood board — that guests can use as a reference point when it comes time to choose their outfits for the wedding. This card can cover it all: colors, materials, styles and details about what you do and don’t want them to wear (don’t is the key). Your expectations should be guided by the season, time of day, and wedding theme. For example, a black-tie wedding is commonly in the evening with a more glamorous vibe, whereas a casual wedding might happen during the day, and guests might wear jeans with suit jackets or cocktail dresses. You want your guests to have an enjoyable time while still keeping to a unified aesthetic.
Wedding mood boards and dress codes are taking over TikTok and social media. Keanu memes are a fantastic idea, although some feel mixed about them. Providing guidelines for your guests makes choosing an outfit easier, and helps your wedding photos to be that much more polished and put together!
formal dress code wedding
Use Your Color Palette
Where to start? Choose your wedding color palette first! You can create digital swatches of colors and textures that you upload to Canva or another design platform to create a polished graphic for your mood board. Include some additional information such as, recommended accessories, shopping suggestions and clues on what guests can expect from your wedding. This will provide them with a guideline for the colors they should be wearing while picking out their dresses.
Talk About Textures
If you want to be more precise, specify preferred fabrics. For a black tie theme, recommend satin or silk dresses and traditional tuxedos. Suggest cotton or linen for a more casual look. Consider the season and whether your wedding will be inside or outside. Will other fabrics be uncomfortable in hot or cold weather? While dress code is important for your vision is important, guest comfort matter too.
Deciphering Wedding Dress Codes
Knowing and using the correct term helps make the expectations on dress clear to your guests. Not sure what terms to use? Here’s how to decode a few common wedding dress codes:
White Tie
The most formal dress code is white tie. Formal evening dresses with elegant diamonds and heels are the attire for women. For men, a tuxedo with tails, a vest and a bow tie, and gloves.
Black Tie
Black tie is one level down from white tie: Black tie events call for formal attire. Women wear full-length gowns, men wear tuxedos.
Formal (Black Tie Optional)
Men should wear a tuxedo, or a formal dark suit and tie. Women are encouraged to wear a floor-length gown, a formal cocktail dress or a chic pantsuit.
cocktail wedding dress code
Cocktail attire is a common option for weddings, somewhere in between dressy and relaxed. Women should opt for knee-length or midi dresses, while men are required to wear a suit and tie, or at least dressy pants with a dress shirt.
Semi-Formal (Dressy Casual)
The dress code is a blend of polished and easy. Darker colors are better for evening weddings while light shades fit daytime events. Women can wear dresses that fall to knee level, skirts with nice tops or dressy pant suits. Heels, wedges or dress flats are acceptable. Men: wear a dress shirt and slacks (optional ties).
Casual wedding dress code
Formal or casual dress code suits outdoor or beach weddings. Women may wear sundresses in breathable fabrics and dressy sandals, men can wear khakis with a collared shirt.
What To Wear and What NOT To Wear
To be fair, we’ve all heard horror stories of guests arriving in completely inappropriate outfits. Whether it’s someone showing up in lounge clothes to a cocktail-attire wedding, or the mother of the groom wearing white, these incidents can be avoided with clear guidelines. You don’t have to be so restrictive, but you make it easier on yourself if you can specify colors to avoid and colors to lean toward. That way, everyone knows what’s going on and feels included.
Guests will wear what they want, at the end of the day, but it doesn’t hurt to gently request that they be in line with your theme. Also ringers, don’t have to make guests buy new clothes! Neutral tones tend to complement any wedding color palette, and most folks have something in their closet that will do the trick. You know your guests the best, so keep them in mind as you come up with your wedding dress code!
