Wedding attire customs can be a little tricky to navigate, especially since they constantly change depending on the type of wedding. For example, a white-tie wedding will require the bride, groom and guests in full formal attire, whereas a cocktail dress code is more lenient on casual attire, but is still considered semi-formal.
The different types of dress codes can have you scratching your head, confused and trying to figure out what you could wear that adheres to the dress code. Fortunately for you, we have created this blog as an ultimate guide on what to wear for different wedding dress codes!
Let’s get right to it.
White-tie and Black-tie
These are the two most formal types of wedding dress codes that you can have; for grooms and guests, a tuxedo (one with tails for White-tie) is the minimum. The colour of the shirt, vest, bow tie, and gloves relies on whether it’s a White-tie or Black-tie event. With these types of weddings, the details are what truly matters – from cuff links to the cummerbund to other accessories. This applies for both the groom and guests.
Formal or Black-tie optional
If you’re the groom, keep the suit (or tuxedo if you prefer) dark-coloured! It doesn’t have to be black, but it shouldn’t be a light-coloured suit either – navy is a great colour for grooms, but also throw in something (lilac pocket square?) to add a little personality whilst still adhering to the colour scheme.
Guests can get away with wearing a suit instead of a tuxedo, but we recommend still opting for darker colours unless it’s a summer wedding. Or, if a specific colour is stated in the wedding invitation, make sure that you follow those instructions. Ties can replace the bow tie, but keep your shirt a crisp white.
Cocktail
You can’t go wrong with sticking with a suit as the groom with a Cocktail dress code. But you don’t have to keep it strictly formal – there’s no need for a suit vest, for instance. However, it’s recommended that everyone, including the groom and guests, wear a suit and tie. Although you want to look classy, don’t attempt to over-embellish your look!
Semi-Formal or Dressy Casual
For guests, different coloured men’s suits are acceptable, but don’t think that it requires the full suit. If you’d like to change it up, then you can always ditch the tie or suit blazer and go for a sports jacket! The same is applicable for grooms, but the colours that you wear should depend on the time of the wedding (plus your wedding’s colour scheme).
Casual
This dress code calls for more laid-back styles, but don’t forget that it’s still a wedding, after all. So, as a guest, you’ll want to avoid jeans and shorts (unless it’s stated that these are acceptable). Chinos or dress pants are great for this wedding type, paired with a collared shirt and sweater (if it’s chilly). As for the groom, a polo or turtleneck with dress pants can work as well. A pair of clean trainers may also be suitable, but we suggest that you double check this with your partner!
