black tie, white tie, what tie?
Do you know what each dress code actually means? Before sending out those invitations read this!
White Tie / Full Dress
Most formal
Women: Full-length ball gown, elegant updo, fine jewellery, gloves optional
Men: Black tailcoat, white bow tie, formal white shirt, white waistcoat, patent shoes
Black Tie
Traditional formal evening wear
Women: Full-length gown (can be midi if refined), evening clutch, statement jewellery
Men: Tuxedo, black bow tie, white dress shirt, black patent shoes
Black Tie Optional
Formal
Women: Long dress, formal cocktail dress, or dressy separates
Men: Tuxedo preferred; dark suit acceptable, conservative tie
Cocktail Attire
Chic, dressy, often the most common wedding style
Women: Cocktail dress, midi dress, elegant jumpsuit, heels or dressy flats
Men: Suit and tie (can be navy, black, grey), dress shoes
Semi-Formal
Slightly less dressy than cocktail
Women: Dress (knee/midi), dressy separates, jumpsuit
Men: Suit and tie encouraged, smart shoes; colours can be lighter for daytime
Festive Attire
Playful & stylish — express personality
Women: Statement dress, bold colours, fun accessories, elevated textures
Men: Suit with personality (patterned jacket/tie), loafers, pocket square
Smart Casual
Clean, polished, modern — not business casual
Women: Dress, skirt & blouse, tailored pants, modern jumpsuit
Men: Dress pants & shirt, blazer optional, loafers (no tie required)
Block Colour
All the guests are invited to wear your chosen colour or an outfit containing one or some of your wedding colour palette.
While this also needs to be attached to a dress code, having the whole guests list in a single colour can certainly make for impactful photos.
Garden Party / Outdoor / Summer Vibes
Dressy but practical for outdoor settings
Women: Floral or light-coloured midi dress, block heels or dressy sandals, hat optional
Men: Light suit or blazer with chinos, loafers or dress shoes, optional tie
Beach Formal
Elegant but heat-friendly
Women: Flowy maxi/midi dress, dressy sandals (no stilettos in sand)
Men: Linen suit or lightweight suit, loafers or dress sandals, no tie needed
Resort Chic / Tropical Formal
Elevated holiday style
Women: Breezy dress, elegant separates, refined resort-wear fabrics
Men: Linen trousers & shirt, blazer optional, loafers or leather sandals
Casual Attire
Neat but relaxed
Women: Summer dress, skirt & top, jumpsuit, dressy sandals
Men: Chinos or dress shorts (if specified), button shirt or polo, loafers or clean sneakers
(Casual doesn’t mean denim, sports shoes, or t-shirts — unless the invite says so!)
Less Common / Modern Dress Codes
Creative Formal
Editorial vibe — think fashion-forward
Women: Statement gown/jumpsuit, bold fashion accessories
Men: Unique styling with a suit/tux, fashion accents (silk shirt, tailored cuts)
Dress to Impress / Red Carpet
Glamour + elevated fashion moments
Women: High-fashion gown, dramatic details, glam hair & makeup
Men: Bold tux/suit, luxe fabrics (velvet, satin), designer vibes
Cultural Attire
Guests may wear formal traditional clothing
e.g: Saree, Hanbok, Barong Tagalog, Kilt, Sari, Kimono formalwear
Theme/Attire Specific
E.g., “1920s glam” / “Old Hollywood” / “Pastel palette”
Providing your guests with a guide for what to wear to your event is very well received but don't forget to explain your attire with examples on your wedding website or on an additional note in your invitations as this avoids confusion - better still, send them this BLOG post link!
