Decoding those wedding dress codes.
Wedding season is upon us, but if youare confused by the dress code( yes, there still is one) for your particular event, we can decode it. We’ve called in the experts to help you avoid any wedding day blunders and to offer a few ways to save money on your wedding attire.
White tie
This is what you’d wear if youwere going to a Hollywood awards show. (Unless you’re Lady Gaga and you’re wearing ameat dress.) It’s the fanciest thing you could wear to a wedding, said Shelley Brown, associate fashion editor at The Knot, an online wedding planning resource that has helped more than 25 million couples plan their weddings.
Black tie
For men, this means a tuxedo. “But for women, the rules are a little more lenient,” said Stephanie Weers, editor at Style Me Pretty, a wedding fashion website. “Blacktie for women can range from an evening gown to a tea-length dress if the fabric is formal enough.” Weers said that the color women choose to wear for a black tie event matters too. She said to plan on wearing a more neutral hue like black, navy or champagne.
Black tie optional
This is a little less strict than black tie, Weers said. A cocktail dress is appropriate if it doesn’t bare too much skin, but it should still be in a neutral hue. Men can wear a dark suit andwhite shirt, or a tuxedo. “When it comes to black tie or black tie optional, think classic and timeless, and dress it upwith accessories such as a piece of statement jewelry for women or a fun pocket square for men.”
Cocktail attire or semiformal
Wear a fun, festive partyworthy look, said Los Angelesbased style expert Lindsay Albanese, who is the resident style expert for the E! Style Collective. “It’s a time when you can add a little trend and flash if that’s what you’re drawnto,” Albanese said. “Alittle metallic or a sparkle is always well suited for the occasion.”
Decoding tricks
Even if the invitation doesn’t specifically tell you what to wear, you can figure it out by paying attention to the time of day the wedding will be held. Weddings that are earlier in the day tend to be less formal, so you can wear cocktail-length dresses or even sundresses, Brown said. Men can wear a nice suit or sometimes even a button-down shirt and dress pants for a daytime reception. Venue location can also tell you a lot about the expected attire. “If the ceremony is being held in a church or in another religious site, make sure to dress appropriately — nothing too short or revealing,” Brown said.
Wearing white
Unless requested by the couple, you should never wear white to a wedding. According to The Knot’s 2015 Bridal Trends Report, 60 percent of brides are now wearing ivory dresses, up from 50 percent in 2011 — so consider all shades of white to be off-limits, Brown said.
Open toe shoes
This is the area where rules don’t apply. While, typically, spring and summer are months reserved for open-toe shoes, that’s not to say you can’t wear your favorite peep-toe heels for a winter ballroom wedding, Weers said. “Make sure you understand the location of both the ceremony and the reception before deciding on shoes,” she said. They work for black tie and cocktail weddings.
Renting the tuxedo
If you fore see having to wear a tux more than twice and are fairly certain that yourweight won’t change drastically, it’s smart to buy, instead of renting a tuxedo each time. A groom should always buy the tux, so that he gets one that is customfit, Albanese said.