What each dress code actually means
Guests want to know one thing: what do I wear. A dress code that needs interpreting produces a hundred text messages, most of them to the same person.
| Dress code | What guests should wear | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| White tie | Tailcoat and full-length gown | Almost never — this is the most formal code there is |
| Black tie | Dinner jacket and bow tie; full-length or elegant midi gown | Evening weddings at formal venues |
| Black tie optional | Dinner jacket or dark suit; cocktail or full-length | You want the look without requiring the hire |
| Formal | Dark suit and tie; cocktail dress or smart separates | Most church and country house weddings |
| Cocktail | Suit, tie optional; knee-length or midi dress | The safest default for an afternoon wedding |
| Semi-formal or smart casual | Jacket, no tie needed; day dress or smart separates | Relaxed venues, daytime, marquees |
| Garden party | Light suit; day dress and a wrap; block heels or flats | Outdoor weddings — and say block heels, because grass and stilettos do not mix |
| Festival or relaxed | Anything you can dance in | Only if you genuinely mean it |
How to word it
- On the invitation: one or two words, bottom right. "Black tie". "Cocktail attire".
- On the details card: one sentence of translation. "Cocktail attire — suits and dresses, no need for black tie."
- With a practical warning: "The ceremony and drinks are on grass, so block heels or flats will be much more comfortable."
- Colour requests: "We would love our guests in shades of green and blue." Phrase it as a wish, not a requirement, and expect roughly two-thirds to follow it.
The two rules worth stating
Asking guests not to wear white is common and rarely needs saying in print — most guests know. If you want to say it, the details card is the place, phrased as a preference.
Warn about the ground. Grass, gravel, cobbles and a long walk from the car park each deserve a sentence. This is the single most appreciated line on any details card.
Keep the wording consistent
The same phrasing on the invitation, the details card and the website.
Common questions
How do you word a wedding dress code?
One or two words on the invitation, bottom right, and one sentence of plain translation on the details card: "Cocktail attire — suits and dresses, no need for black tie."
What is the difference between black tie and formal?
Black tie means a dinner jacket and bow tie with a full-length or elegant midi gown. Formal is a step down: a dark suit and tie with a cocktail dress or smart separates.
Can you ask guests to wear certain colours?
You can, phrased as a wish rather than a rule: "we would love our guests in shades of green and blue." Expect roughly two-thirds to follow it.
What is the most useful thing to put on a dress code card?
A warning about the ground. Grass, gravel, cobbles or a long walk from the car park each deserve a sentence, and guests consistently say it is the most helpful line on the card.