How to set out your wedding dress code
If you want a dress code, put it in plain words and, better still, with an example of what it means: “black tie”, “formal” or “cocktail” aren't understood the same way everywhere. Add the practical details that affect what people wear, such as grass, heat or an outdoor ceremony, and put it on the wedding website, where there's room to explain.
Do you need one?
It isn't compulsory. It makes sense if you want a particular style (black tie, casual, a colour) or if the venue calls for it. If you say nothing, each guest will dress as they usually would for a wedding.
Explain it in plain words
Dress code names are read in different ways. Rather than a bare label, a sentence:
- “Black tie: dinner jacket or dark suit and a long dress.”
- “Smart but comfortable: suits, ties optional.”
- “Summer casual: no ties, the ceremony is on the beach.”
- “If you fancy it, a touch of green.”
The practical details
Sometimes the most useful thing isn't the style but the setting:
- Ceremony on grass or sand: best avoid stilettos.
- Midday heat: light fabrics, a hat or a fan.
- An evening in the countryside: something warm for the way home.
- Any customs to respect at a religious ceremony.
Where to put it
On the invitation a word or a line is enough. The full explanation, with examples, fits better on the wedding website, next to the schedule and the venue.