Wedding Dress Code: Wording & Rules

If you’ve already had some practice collecting wedding inspiration, you’ve probably noticed something: style shoots always present a harmonious color scheme among the guests and the bride and groom. In the photos, no one really stands out in terms of fashion—everything looks particularly cohesive. You can create this same atmosphere for your wedding, too—by choosing a dress code!

Wedding Dress Code: Restrictive or Liberating?

At first, you often feel like a dress code might restrict your guests. But many are actually very happy to have a set framework. The “Tenue de Ville” dress code, for example, encourages guests to choose clothing they’d happily wear in the city—chic, yet casual. This gives guests some leeway, while also letting them know they don’t have to show up in a tailcoat or a ball gown.

Dress Code Guide: White Tie, Cocktail, Smart Casual, or Black Tie 

If you’re at a loss when faced with a wedding invitation or want a specific dress code for your own wedding but aren’t sure where to start, there’s no need to panic. We’re here to help—in the following paragraphs, we’ll explain what the various dress code terms mean. If no dress code is specified, you’re of course free to choose whatever outfit you like, but you can still follow certain guidelines regarding color, style, and more—you can read all about it in our wedding style guide.  

"Cocktail" Dress Code for a Wedding

In Central Europe, the “cocktail” dress code is very common. This look calls for simple, chic, yet not overly formal attire. One advantage for all guests: Most already have a suitable outfit hanging in their closet. Whether it’s for a musical or a summer party, many women own at least one elegant cocktail dress or a longer summer dress. Similarly, female guests can opt for a pantsuit if the dress code is“cocktail.”

And what about colors for the cocktail dress code? This dress code doesn’t specify any particular color, so a wide variety of colors is allowed. Exception: If the invitation explicitly states a specific color code, then you should, of course, adhere to it. Tip: If your cocktail dress is on the simpler side, but the wedding’s color scheme specifies light blue, for example, find a beautiful silk scarf in the matching color and tie it in a delicate knot around your handbag. It fulfills the dress code and catches the eye all at once!

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So what's the cocktail dress code for men?

Male guests can’t go wrong with a stylish suit. A bow tie or necktie is also very welcome. For weddings during the warmer months, suits can lean more toward brown, beige, and gray instead of the classic black or dark blue shades. Even though the cocktail dress code is a bit more casual, it’s best to leave jeans and sneakers at home—this rule applies equally to all genders when it comes to “cocktail” attire. 

"Black Tie" Dress Code for a Wedding

If you see the words “Black Tie” on the wedding invitation, you’re expected to wear formal evening attire. Perhaps you, as the bride and groom, are even considering choosing this very dress code for your wedding celebration. That’s wonderful! But make sure your wedding venue also matches the theme and dress code. Ideally, a “black tie” wedding should be held in a sophisticated setting, such as a casino, a castle, or an elegant ballroom.
 

“Black Tie” or Wearing a Bow Tie

The term “black tie” comes from English and refers to a very formal dress code intended primarily for evening events—or weddings, for that matter. It is often also referred to as “cravate noire,” which means “black tie” in French. This term already points to the essential feature of this dress code: wearing a black bow tie. The “Black Tie” dress code sets forth fairly clear guidelines that ensure the overall look of the wedding is elegant and cohesive:

• Men wear a black tuxedo, preferably with a bow tie.
• Women don't wear bright, flashy colors and tend to choose floor-length, elegant dresses with timeless cuts.
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The Benefits of the “Black Tie” Dress Code

Yes, the “black tie” look is less individual than others—but it also has many advantages. After all, there aren’t that many occasions throughout the year when you can dress up this much without risking looking overdressed. What’s more, the entire wedding party will look very harmonious, and that really comes across well in the wedding photos.

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"White Tie" Dress Code for a Wedding

"Black tie" is already an elegant dress code, but there’s an even more formal option: the "white tie" dress code! Those who choose this dress code want to celebrate a very elegant wedding with guests who are all impeccably dressed. The most formal of all dress codes is also required at events such as the Academy Awards. This exceptionally stylish attire is required of both women and men alike:

• For a white-tie event, women choose a floor-length, extremely elegant dress, preferably in shades of black, nude, or gray, paired with eye-catching, high-quality jewelry. 
• Men wear tailcoats and both high-quality shoes and fine jewelry.

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Tip: With this dress code, fashion faux pas become apparent very quickly—so if you’re attending a wedding with a “White Tie” dress code, we recommend consulting your trusted fashion advisors. The men’s outfitters listed on Austria Wedding know exactly what to look for with this dress code. 

"Smart Casual" Dress Code for a Wedding

“Smart Casual” is a wonderful dress code that we’d like to recommend to you as the bride and groom. It gives your wedding guests plenty of freedom without becoming too casual. There are hardly any restrictions on color or style for these looks—the important thing is that guests feel comfortable. As a guest, however, you should always keep the “smart” part of the dress code in mind and choose your outfit carefully:

• Women can slip into a pretty summer dress, wear a skirt with a blouse, or opt for pleated pants paired with a light, airy top. When it comes to shoes, there’s plenty of flexibility: ballet flats, sandals, or moccasins are great! Endlessly high heels or boots are less suitable. 
• Men can’t go wrong with a sharp suit and tie. But they can also opt for a more casual look by wearing just suit pants with a freshly ironed shirt. This look pairs well with a sporty-chic bomber jacket or a casual blazer with elbow patches, as well as clean sneakers. 

• If the “smart casual” wedding is taking place on the beach or in a very natural setting in the middle of a meadow, the dress code can be relaxed even further—in that case, even barefoot guests with their chinos rolled up are perfectly fine. 

Appropriate phrasing for the dress code

To help you strike the right tone in your invitation and ensure your guests don't feel like they're being told what to do, we've put together some sample wording for different dress codes:

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• Please dress for the occasion.
• We want glamour! That's why we're celebrating in suits and evening gowns.
• Dress code: Smart and festive.
• Dress Code: Tenue de Ville – Let's celebrate in urban chic.
• We would love it if everyone came dressed in festive summer attire.
• Our day is going to be brilliant—thanks in part to you. Our dress code is: glitz and glamour!
• A Scottish-Style Wedding: We'd really appreciate it if you'd follow our dress code and wear outfits with a Scottish flair.
• Dress code: Pastel shades of apricot, mint, rosé, and blue-gray.
• Dress Code: No matter what the weather is like, our wedding day is sure to be cheerful and bright. We’d love it if you all wore light-colored clothing.
• You’re probably wondering what to wear,
  and we’ll tell you: whatever you want, of course;
  but we’d love it if your outfit fits the summer vibe,
  and you let your floral dresses and sandals take the dance floor.
• We're celebrating a traditional wedding in traditional attire and would love it if many of you joined us in embracing our traditional attire theme.
• Dress code for the civil ceremony: We keep it casual and laid-back.
• Pastel-colored clothes are a perfect fit for our wedding.
• Our wedding has a Rockabilly theme, and we'd love it if you could dress to match.
• Dress code: Black tie. We want to celebrate our wedding in style and would love it if you'd wear a tuxedo or evening gown.
• Feel free to dress elegantly and chic.
• We're incorporating our favorite colors into our wedding theme, so we'd love it if you'd join in and wear white or red accessories or clothing on our wedding day.
• Please wear classic evening attire.
• Dress code: Colorful! We're going to have a blast, and we want that to show in your outfits. Come dressed in bright summer colors, and we'll be happy!

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Whether you choose a “smart casual” or “white tie” dress code—or simply specify a color scheme—it’s important that your wording never comes across as too prescriptive. Your wedding color or dress code is meant to provide guidance, and you shouldn’t take it too strictly. It’s great if most of the wedding party follows it. But it’s also no big deal if your rocker uncle shows up in his leather jacket or your little niece would rather wear her Elsa dress instead of a skirt in the specified color scheme. 

Handling Questions About Tuxedos, Headwear, and More 

Be sure to include the dress code information right on the invitation card. You now have the right wording for this at your fingertips. And provide your guests with an email address or phone number so they can check in with you (or your witnesses) again about the dress code. A dress code might raise questions about whether men should wear a tie, what headwear is appropriate for women, or a specific color scheme. The important thing is that your guests have enough time to find out the details, prepare, and shop for the right wedding outfits.

Wedding Dress Code: Practical & Fun

If you’ve decided to set a dress code, include it in the invitation cards as described above and provide your guests with additional details if necessary.

You’ll see that a dress code creates a special sense of anticipation for many guests; many start thinking about what to wear long before the wedding, and as the bride and groom, you can look forward just as much to seeing how your loved ones will show up for the wedding. So a dress code is really fun for everyone!

And it offers many practical benefits: harmonious-looking wedding photos, a festive atmosphere, and guests who are certainly dressed appropriately for the venue.