Black Tie Wording

If you are throwing a true black tie event - which is a level of event not just formal wear - then you should put that on the invitation so people know. Rent the Runway allows for women to get fairly reasonably priced gowns if they don't own one and renting a tuxedo isn't too expensive for men. If you just want people to wear formal wear (black suits acceptable for men) then just list the dress code as 'formal dress' and that should get most people. You can also make sure that your bridesmaids and parents know the dress code and when people ask them they can pass along the correct information. A few people will likely dress more casual that you would like, but unless you plan on telling those people they can't enter, there really isn't much you can do.

Agreed with the first responder here. If you can't overly force it then Formal Dress is the way to go. If you want to go into more detail maybe you could put Black Tie, Formal Dress accepted?

I am not sure if that is nice to say or not! Beats me with a lot of this etiquette stuff. I think we overthink things and most people do not care as much as we think they would.

I am ensuring guests wear formal attire for mine and might very well say no jeans because sorry it's my wedding! Just because we are having a country, rustic wedding does not mean people can't dress up for one day!

If you're having a black tie wedding, simply put "Black Tie" in the bottom corner of the invitation. Make sure you have all the hosting standards of a black tie wedding though. Black tie is not so much about how guests treats, but how you host them.

You don't necessarily want to give them the "Black Tie Optional" opportunity because you will then have more causal guests there than you'd prefer and like you said they also may feel out of place amongst more formally dressed guests..

If you're having a black tie wedding then that is the wording you use. It's nice that you want to accommodate your guests and not make them spend money on a new dress but that is ultimately up to them if they want to spend the money or not.

I'd just put "Black Tie" on the bottom. Rent the Runway has codes to give brides, to save money for people having to rent formal attire. I also would assume the formality of the invitations (very fancy envelopes & paper, multiple insert cards, etc.) would help people realize it's very formal. I'd include your wedding website too, with a FAQ section on attire & the event. A black tie wedding is the most formal of dress codes, with valet parking, a several course plated meal, full open bar, etc. so I'd like it to be on the invitation so I wasn't under dressed.