Wedding 101: What Should I Wear?

Going to a wedding seems like it should be pretty straight forward. A couple is getting married, the invitation tells you the time & locations, a registry is included, and RSVP is filled out and you decide whether or not you can go. But what exactly are you supposed to wear??? Weddings are often labeled: cocktail, semiformal, formal, casual, beach, back tie, white tie, etc. Which is where things get a little confusing. You don’t want to show up over or under dressed, so I decoded wedding invitation attire and came up with a cheat sheet of what to wear when you’re a wedding guest!

What Should I Wear To A Wedding?

Picking an outfit for a wedding can be majorly stressful. If you haven’t been to a lot of weddings, you might not know a lot about “acceptable” attire. If you’ve been to a lot, the formality has likely varied at each, and even if it hasn’t, you probably don’t want to wear the exact same thing to every party. Before you start stressing, rummaging through your closet, or committing to a shopping spree, read through this handy guide. Whether you need the common dress codes decoded or just want some ideas for diversifying your look, you’ve come to the right place.

Dress: Lovers + Friends // Shoes: Amazon // Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff

White Tie Wedding

White tie is as fancy as it gets. Meaning it’s very formal. While they’re not very common, if you’re invited to a white tie wedding it’s important to dress the part.

Men should wear a black tailcoat, white vest, formal white shirt & a white bowtie. Think: what Leo wore when he got all dressed up in Titanic.

Women have a little more flexibility, but they should always stick with a long, formal dress. Heels are generally preferred, but I recommend wearing a shorter heel height so you can walk comfortably.

Formal dresses can be really expensive, so instead of spending thousands of dollars, you can opt to rent a gown! I love Rent the Runway because you can rent really amazing gowns and dresses at reasonable prices. A similar site for men is called The Black Tux. Men can rent tuxedos and have them shipped directly so that they can try them on at home for free.

Black Tie Wedding

Second to White Tie, Black Tie Weddings are the second most formal. Usually, this means the wedding is in the evening and evening wear is the most appropriate option. Think: The Oscars.

Men should wear a dark tuxedo and a white dress shirt. He should also wear a black bow tie, cummerbund and patent leather shoes.

Women should wear a long gown or dressy cocktail dress. I always recommend dressing up more, than less. When in doubt, go for a long dress. Heels are also the preferable choice.

Again, Rent the Runway has some great options for Black Tie, formal dresses. As does The Black Tux.

 

Black Tie Optional Wedding

When in doubt, stick to black tie. But, if it seems like the wedding might be more casual or in a casual environment, you can dress down slightly. This basically just means “formal”, but not as formal as black tie. Think: Prom.

Men can opt for a dark suit instead of a tux, or a tie instead of a bow tie.

Women can wear formal (still modest) cocktail dress. Just remember, it’s always best to dress fairly conservatively for weddings. So if you’re concerned, check in with the bride or bridal party.

Cocktail Attire Wedding

Cocktail attire is less formal than black tie, meaning men don’t need to wear tuxedos and women don’t need to wear a floor length gown. It basically means that the wedding is semi-formal, falling somewhere in between formal and casual. Just because it’s not formal doesn’t mean you shouldn’t “dress up” though.

Men should still wear a suit and tie. I recommend darker colored suits and the fall and winter and the optional lighter gray or blue suit in the spring or summer.

Cocktail attire is where the dress code gets more flexible for women. I recommend opting for a cocktail length dress or a dressy jumpsuit.

Beach Formal Wedding

Basically, when you see Beach Formal, its the bride & groom’s way of saying, “We’re having a wedding at the beach, but it’s still elegant. So don’t show up in shorts and flip flops.” Think: Something you would wear to a nice restaurant.

Men don’t have to wear a full suit, but can opt for a lighter, summer suit with a linen shirt or linen pants. No ties required.

Women should opt for a more formal sundress. I recommend knee or tea length, not too short. You can definitely wear flat sandals, just make sure they’re on the dressy side (not plastic flip flops).

Ok, here’s where things get a little more confusing. Just because an invitations says “casual”, it doesn’t mean you can wear jeans and a t-shirt. Normally, you can take cues from the time of day and location of the wedding. Think: Business casual.

Men should still wear a button down shirt or a polo shirt.

Ladies can wear dresses that are “less dressy”, as well as more casual shoes. Just remember, it’s always better to over dress than under dress for a wedding.

Looking for dresses to rent? Here are my favorites from Rent the Runway: