A Simple Guide to Wedding Guest Dress Codes
Wedding guest dress codes… How do you ensure your guests dress in your desired choice?
Real bride Chantelle wears #ZB212
Many couples decide to theme their wedding guest attire, especially if they want guests to visually match their wedding location and theme. From black tie to casual – formal attire is the most common but really, you can ask guests to dress however you wish. If you're worried about how to get the dress code across, you might want to consider paying more attention to what goes on your invitation. Not only should you state a guest dress code at the bottom of the invitation, but also consider how the invite looks aesthetically, and does it visually match your request?
If you’re unsure of what dress code to provide, one of the best ways to decide what you want your guests to wear is to base it off of the aesthetic of the venue. As a guest, I would first think of the wedding location as the background that sets the tone.
Black Tie
Traditionally black-tie weddings happen in the late evening. Suits and tuxedos are required for men with ties or bow-ties and as for the ladies, formal gowns are required and they should touch the ground or the top of your shoes.
A black-tie event is an opportunity to break out your fanciest full-length gown and accessories, so why wouldn’t you?
Real bride Cayla wears #ZB249
Formal Attire
Formal attire is slightly less formal than a black tie, however still polished and classy. If you’re confused about what to wear for a formal dress code, the truth is you can never be too overdressed.
For men, tuxedos are not required but button ups and dress pants are still preferred, and women can get away with a shorter cocktail dress.
Real bride Samantha’s Wedding
Cocktail
The cocktail dress code is a great way to let people show their personal style while staying classy and dressed up, which is why this is one of the most popular wedding themes for 2022.
When it comes time to find a cocktail dress, lean towards bold colours, patterns and fabrics, instead of the classic little black dress. Cocktail calls for a celebration, making it the perfect time to have some fun with what you wear.
Real bride Chantelle wears #ZB212
Beach Formal
Wind in your hair, salt in the air – the rules for dress attire at beach weddings tend to typically be a bit more lenient to everything above unless stated otherwise.
For warmer climates, shorter skirts and light, airy fabrics like linen and cotton will help people stay cool while keeping in line with beach formal attire.
Real Bride Amy wears #ZC293
Black, White or Both
A fun and very aesthetic trend for a wedding guest dress code is to ask your guests to wear white and black – either both or just one or the other. If you are a guest, please don’t ever wear all white or black to a wedding unless it is stated!
While white is traditionally reserved for brides, we love how bold it is to have guests wear white as well. A recent famous wedding that used this dress code was Designer Simon Porter Jacquemus and his partner Marco Maestri’s wedding, where all women were invited to wear white.
Real bride Tegan wears #WA6062
Casual
While this dress code sounds the most relaxed, it’s actually often the toughest to dress for because you’re stuck question how casual other people will dress and how nice you should present yourself in comparison. It’s the constant thought of how casual is too casual…
We’d say a casual wedding is one of the only dress codes where denim is allowed. Make sure to dress clean, but not glamorous.
Real bride Sophie’s Wedding