The wedding invitation has arrived and you are getting ready to celebrate in style, but are you sure you know what to wear to the wedding? What ever the dress code is, it's there for a reason. No-one will be impressed by your Hawaiian shirt and combats if the invitation says formal. Some venues will require a certain dress code, such as jacket and tie, and you don't want to be refused entry at the door.
Fret not! We have deciphered the code, so here's what the ‘code’ really means...
Check out a bit of mens wedding fashion:
White tie
Knowing the difference between black tie and white tie is important. White tie for men means a tailcoat, not a dinner jacket. Also, white tie definitely means a white bow tie, stiff white shirt and waistcoat. For women, white tie requires a long evening dress. This is the most formal of formal occasions, so make sure you don't let your casual look come out.
Style icons: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Black tie
Black tie is more common and more flexible. You can use a little artistic license here and show off your personal style. It means a tuxedo or dinner suit for men - and you can wear a colourful bow tie and waistcoat if you want to. For women, it's a smart dress and heels. Think sexy and glamorous.
Style icons: James Bond and pretty much any Bond girl.
Formal dress
If the invite says formal dress it usually means black tie, though you can allow for even more flexibility. Male guests can get away with a very smart suit (as long as they are not in the wedding party) and women can choose a cocktail or long dress.
Style icons: George Clooney and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Smart/casual
For men, this tends to mean a shirt and tie, usually, but not always, with a jacket. For women, it's a dress, skirt or smart pair of trousers. In fact, this is the perfect dress code for a daytime wedding. If it says "casual" on the invitation, dress casually but smarter than usual - you don't want to look like a poor relation. And no, casual does not mean you ought to show up in jeans or a t-shirt. It is still a special occasion, so dress wisely!
Style icons: The England football team and Kate Moss.
Need help finding something, then check out Girl Meets Dress for a bit of inspiration, or you can consult trusty old favourites at John Lewis and Debenhams
