{"id":4450,"date":"2015-05-22T17:20:54","date_gmt":"2015-05-22T07:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paperlust.co\/blog\/?p=4450"},"modified":"2024-11-12T18:57:16","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T07:57:16","slug":"your-easy-guide-to-decoding-the-dress-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paperlust.co\/blog\/your-easy-guide-to-decoding-the-dress-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Easy Guide to Decoding the Dress Code"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s nothing quite like the dread of opening a wedding invite<\/a>\u00a0and trying to make sense of the cryptic attire instructions. Dress codes can seem like a relic of time-gone-by, but when used properly they\u2019re a handy way to avoid anybody worrying about what to wear.<\/p>\n

As the host of a wedding, having a dress code is an important way of communicating to your guests what they can wear without being out of place or drawing attention to themselves. This doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be written on the invitation<\/a>, but should at least be firmly decided so that it can be communicated through word of mouth.<\/p>\n

So what are the main dress codes\u00a0you will come across?<\/p>\n

\"wedding<\/p>\n

The Usual Suspects<\/h2>\n

White Tie<\/span> \u2013 <\/strong>Okay, so you probably won\u2019t be coming across this anytime soon, but if you do, we\u2019d hate for you to be unprepared. This is where you really <\/em>don\u2019t want to mess up the dress code, as it\u2019s the most fancy and traditional. Showing up in a cocktail dress would be quite the faux pas! White tie events are usually held after dark in expensive locations like ballrooms or high-class restaurants. The dress code should be very<\/em> clear if this is expected, as most people will not show up to a wedding in tails or a full-length ball gown.<\/p>\n

Black Tie<\/span>(formal)<\/em>\u2013 <\/strong>A step down from royalty, but still very<\/em> formal. Black tie events are the dressiest affairs most of us will ever attend, if we attend one at all. They are much like white tie events, but full ball gowns and tails are not required. Instead, tuxedos and evening gowns are expected. Some events are specifically creative black tie<\/em><\/strong>. This gives guests more opportunity for some creative stylistic choices, such as less traditional suits or bright colours. Specifying this in the dress code indicates that the event is very formal, but not necessarily traditional.<\/p>\n

Cocktail<\/span>(semi-formal, lounge suit)<\/em>\u2013 <\/strong>This is what most of us would typically wear to a wedding if given no guidance on the matter. For women, this usually means a short dress (not floor-length) and heels. For men, anything from a nice shirt with suit pants, to a full suit. The cocktail dress code is much more flexible than white or black tie.\u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Casual<\/span><\/strong>(informal, smart casual, business casual)<\/strong><\/em>\u2013 Most commonly found at beach or backyard weddings, although a casual wedding is anyone\u2019s game so long as the chosen venues don\u2019t enforce a strict dress code. While \u2018casual\u2019 does mean that you can dress comfortably, it is usually expected that guests do dress up a little. Avoid denim jeans, flip-flops (especially for men), and any sort of exercise-wear (track pants, hoodies etc.)<\/p>\n

Some general rules<\/a><\/h2>\n