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31 May 2022

Regardless of whether you’ve been invited to a wedding as a bridesmaid, toastmaster, parent, childhood friend or plus one, the invitation will often include a dress code. There are just as many do’s and don’ts as there are opportunities when it comes to choosing wedding outfits for women and wedding outfits for men, so to make the decision a little easier, we’ve gathered together some tips on how to stick to (or break) a wedding dress code.

 

WHAT COLOURS CAN I WEAR TO A WEDDING WITH A DRESS CODE?

 

Unsurprisingly, there a whole range of options for women’s wedding outfits, from elegant dresses to romantic skirts or stylish jumpsuits. Whilst the colour your opt to wear is of course up to you, according to tradition there are a few colours you ought to avoid. Although the most common colour for a wedding dress is white, there are a whole range of other great options for wedding dresses. However, if a bride is wearing a white dress, tradition decrees that white is reserved exclusively for the bride. Other pale colours, such as champagne, pink and beige in shades light enough to be mistaken for white should probably also be avoided for more formal weddings and if the bride is wearing white. Instead, go for a darker shade of one of these colours to stay on the safe side. Another colour that was a rare sight at weddings in the past was black, a colour traditionally associated with mourning. Today, black is the most common colour in many wardrobes, and it is becoming more and more normal to see black clothing, even at weddings.

THE MOST COMMON WEDDING DRESS CODES

 

At weddings, formal dress codes are just as common as less formal dress codes, with some couples opting for new versions, such as vintage themes or white parties. In an ideal world, the happy couple will provide a clear explanation so that everyone knows how to dress, but here we’ll go through what the most common dress codes entail when it comes to weddings.

 

FORMAL WEAR OR WHITE TIE

 

The most formal dress code normally used at weddings is called either formal wear or white tie. Quite simply, this means full evening dress, such as a national costume, or a classic dress suit, and there’s very little room for personal interpretation if you choose to stick to the dress code. For women, this means a long dress, long skirt or trouser suit.

 

BLACK TIE

 

Black tie is not uncommon as a wedding dress code, and if you see this on the invitation you’re free to dust off your best party look, with glitzy shoes to match! According to tradition, this dress code means a dinner jacket for men, paired with the classic accessories, such as a white dress suit and a black bow tie. For women, this can be a long or short dress or skirt, smart trousers or a jumpsuit. The key thing here is that you’re properly dressed up – read more about the black tie dress code.

COCKTAIL ATTIRE

 

If you’re attending a wedding with a cocktail dress code mentioned on the invitation, this quite straightforwardly means a dark suit for men. The most common options are a dark blue or dark grey suit, paired with a white shirt and tie or bow tie. For women, there are a few more options – as with other dress codes, you can choose from a dress, skirt, trousers or a jumpsuit. In contrast to black tie, it’s best to leave that miniskirt in the wardrobe here, as tradition states that the skirt should be no shorter than the knee for cocktail attire events. Learn more about the cocktail attire dress code.

 

JACKET

 

If you’re invited to a wedding with a jacket dress code, it might sound like all you have to do is pair whatever outfit you want with a jacket, but there’s a little more to it than that. Whilst this is the least formal of the most common wedding dress codes, “jacket” in fact refers to an entire suit. However, unlike cocktail attire, you can opt for a lighter shade, as long as the jacket and trousers are the same colour and material. For women, jacket means a look that is casual but still fancy – sound a bit tricky? Read more about the jacket dress code.

 

INSPIRATION FOR BRIDESMAIDS

 

Have you been given the honour of being a bridesmaid? Having an important role on a day like this is a memory that will stay with you for life, and naturally you should make it that bit more special with a fantastic outfit. For summer weddings, pastel colours are always a good choice, going particularly well with the beautiful flowers and blue skies of the season. If you’re part of a group of bridesmaids, it can be fun to wear different styles but in similar colours, to create a sense of uniformity whilst retaining a personal look. A multi-way dress is a smart choice, as it can be tied in a number of different ways to create different styles with the same dress. For a romantic wedding why not opt for a dress with several layers of sheer material for a soft look, perfected with a floral crown for that bohemian touch? Or perhaps a shimmering, luxurious dress made of silk is the perfect choice for glamorous nuptials? Regardless of which bridesmaid dress you choose, the main thing is that you feel comfortable and ready to face a long day and night of celebrations head on!

 

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