Guest Attire

When going through the invitation process with clients, In our consultation we chat about the The Who, What, When, Where, Why type of questions. Then I send a questionnaire with more specific details, and this is what I use to put together the proper wording for the invitation, response card and any additional cards. One of the topics in both of these is Attire!

It’s OKAY to put the attire on a wedding invitation! Trust me, your guests will appreciate it. They want to know that when they’re getting ready for your wedding that they aren’t going to be over or under dressed for your big day. They’ll know ahead of time and can plan accordingly and can be comfortable with their choice.
So today I figured I would explain the different types of attire that can be listed on a wedding invitation so there is no guessing game when you’re trying to figure out what you want to tell your guests.​

Casual Attire
Casual attire is just that, casual. Guests can dress informally, often suggesting dressy casual attire such as slacks and a button-down shirt for men, and a sundress or nice blouse with slacks or a skirt for women.

Semi-Formal / Cocktail Attire
\This is probably the most common type of attire.Men are expected to wear suits or sport coats and ties, while women usually wear cocktail dresses or elegant separates.

Formal or Black Tie Optional
This attire is a more formal style, but not necessarily a full black-tie wedding. While formal attire is suggested, guests have the option to wear a tuxedo or a dark suit for men and a formal gown or cocktail dress for women.

Black Tie
This would be considered the most formal style of wedding attire. Guests are expected to wear formal evening attire, typically including tuxedos for men and elegant evening gowns for women.

There are a few other styles that would be appropriate for specific occasions.  Such as a Destination/Beach Wedding, or a Cultural Wedding with specific cultural traditions.  

Beach Attire / Tropical Casual
Common for destination weddings, guests are encouraged to wear light, breezy clothing suitable for a beach or tropical setting, such as linen shirts and sundresses.

Traditional Cultural Attire
In weddings that celebrate cultural traditions, guests may be encouraged or required to wear specific traditional clothing.

Theme Attire
If the wedding has a specific theme, such as a costume party or a period theme, the invitation may indicate appropriate attire related to the theme. (White party anyone?)

​With all of these, it is also nice to let guests know if it is an outdoor wedding so they can dress accordingly as well. 
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I hope this has helped answer some questions about wedding attire for you!