Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, so you deserve to have it look exactly the way you want. Your guests will also like to know how you would like them to dress to make sure they feel comfortable and wear clothes that are appropriate to the occasion and theme.
No bride and groom wants to see anyone wear singlets, shorts and thongs to their special wedding event, and having a guest turn up casually dressed to a formal wedding for example could make them feel very uncomfortable and out of place, and may ruin the event for them entirely, and your photos!
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Pictured above are DreamDay Invitations in ‘Enchanted Wave’, ‘Semtimental Moment’, and ‘Frangipani Dream’.
Your dress code is usually included as part of the body of your wedding invitation wording and is generally placed along with the R.S.V.P. information at the bottom of the invitation. Dreamday Invitations has made allowances for dress code to be added easily to the wording of each invitation.You may wish to choose that your guests dress in certain modes for your wedding and reception and this very much depends on where you’re wedding or reception will be held.
For example, for beach or garden weddings, you may allow your guests to be a little less formal in their attire than if you are holding your wedding in a church, or your reception at an expensive restaurant or function room at a stylish hotel.
It will also depend on the time of day you will have your wedding. Usually late afternoon or evening weddings require a more formal dress code than weddings held in the morning or at luncheon receptions.
For a very informal event, engagement parties and parties post wedding when you have been married earlier overseas while on holiday for example, you could even ask your guests to dress in a particular theme. This can be a lot of fun and create a party type atmosphere for a more casual event, maybe on a beach where everyone dresses with a Hawaiian theme, a home or garden party in fancy dress, or at themed restaurant.
Following is a glossary of codes used regularly on wedding invitations.
White Tie or Ultra Formal – This is the ultimate in formal attire and usually only used for after 6pm weddings. Think ballroom or royal wedding. Black only Tuxedo’s or tails, cufflinks, waistbands and white shirts with white ties with Black Shiny shoes and black socks for Men. Women wear long ballgowns, high hairstyles, high heels, and lots of sparkle.
Black Tie or Formal – Worn after 5 pm for a very formal wedding and must include ties for men, can include tails, tuxedo’s with cufflinks. Suits should be black with dinner shirts and black shoes and socks. Women wear long or short formal dinner dresses or evening gowns, glamorous jewellery and shoes with heels are a must.
Morning Suit- Worn for a formal day wedding before 5pm. Usually black or grey suit, may be pin striped, worn with a white shirt and tie, matching dress shoes. Women wear formal dresses.
Lounge Suit or Semi Formal – Popular choice for less formal wedding held day or night. Men wear dark business suits with matching shirts and ties, dress shoes and socks . Women wear knee length cocktail dresses or elegant pants suits and shoes with heels with day time jewelry. Think Melbourne Cup.
Cocktail Attire – Worn after 5pm. Men wear a suit, usually dark, with a tie, or trousers with a tailored dark Sports jacket or blazer, black shoes. Women wear knee length cocktail dresses or Black pants with pretty tops, and sparkly jewellery and accessories.
Smart Casual – Men wear tailored trousers with a nice shirt and dress shoes, ties are optional. Women wear good pretty dresses, skirts or pants and blouse and day time jewellery. Think dinner at a top restaurant. Definitely no jeans or shorts.
Informal – Men dress in neat tidy gear, collared shirt and tailored trousers or separates, with jackets or blazers a popular addition. Ties not necessary but will be an option for older guests . Definately no jeans or shorts. Women dress as if going out to dinner, pretty dresses, skirts or tailored pants and tops.
Casual – Guests will think it may mean ‘Anything goes’ and you probably get a mix of all sorts of fashion across the age groups, but keep in mind, this will show evident in your wedding photo’s for years to come. You may have some younger guests that will wear jeans to a casual wedding however, in my view, even ‘casual’ does not mean shorts, jeans, t shirts or thongs.
Beach theme or Barefoot beach – Men wear casual long linen style pants with colourful open neck shirts, casual shoes, no thongs or shorts. Women wear pretty sun dresses, flowing skirts or cocktail length day dresses, and pretty flat shoes or strappy sandals that can be removed easily. Wraps or summer cardigans and hats are handy for weddings near the water. No thongs or shorts.
Jeans, tee shirts, shorts, singlets or thongs are deemed inappropriate for any style wedding, unless stated otherwise on the invitation.
Have a think about the style of wedding you are hoping for and decide what type of dress is appropriate for your choice of venue. Nominating a dress code on your wedding invitations will not only help put your guests at ease with their wedding attire, but also to ensure your wedding looks a stylish and co-ordinated celebration.
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Tags: wedding dress codes, wedding ideas, wedding invitation wording, Wedding Planning Ideas
You have the wisdom of the aged and the relevance of youth. What a great combination. It allows you to be sensitive and strong.
thumbs up! i linked to this post
Good stuff. I’m going to e-mail this to that coworker of mine who thinks she knows it all.
Good stuff here, as always.