decoding 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.

For men:

• Full tuxedo (non-negotiable)

• Bow tie

• Laced dress shoes

For women:

• think ‘gown’, floor length dresses or a well-cut tuxedo

• Elevated fabrics (silk, satin, sequins, lace)

• loud or multiple colours and patterns are a no

full Formal

Still elevated, just slightly less rigid than black tie. classic, refined, with soft and medium colours.

For men:

• Full suit: jacket plus either a vest or suspenders with a Tie or bow tie

• Laced dress shoes

For women:

• Midi to floor-length dresses or a well-cut suit

• 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.

For men:

• Suit with flexibility: Jacket OR vest OR suspenders (pick one or two, not all three)

• Laced or slip-on dress shoes

For women:

• midi to floor length dresses or a tailored jumpsuit or matching set

• Colours and patterns welcome (within reason)

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.

For men:

• Dress shirt + chinos (minimum)

• Loafers, boat shoes, or dress shoes

• Optional to wear one of jacket / vest / suspenders, generally no ties or bowties

For women:

• Any (classy) dress length, jumpsuit or matching set

• Heels optional (yes, really)

• 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!

For men:

• short sleeved shirts and chinos (maybe even chino shorts?)

• Loafers or boat shoes

• definitely no jacket / vest / suspenders / ties or bowties

for women:

• sundress, playsuit, casual matching set

• Sandals

• 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 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!