Dress Code

I don’t think there’s a way to tell people to avoid loud prints and loud colors though unless you specify some theme like black and white or whatever.

It's considered rude to dictate or suggest how your guests dress unless the venue has a strict dress code for entry. That includes mentioning it on the invites. Trust the adults to dress themselves.


Weddings by default are semiformal which translates to Sunday best or dressing up for datenight. If anyone has a question, they can ask you.

View Quoted Comment Got it! Thanks for your input!

You shouldn’t put dress code on the invitations, but you can put attire requests (such as cocktail attire, semi formal, formal, black tie optional, etc) on your wedding website. You shouldn’t mention specific colors or prints, though.
I don’t understand why people think some things are wedding appropriate. Guests shouldn’t wear white, ivory, blush (or other typical bride colors), bright red, head to toe sparkle, etc. It’s annoying, but there’s nothing you can really do to prevent it. A lot of etiquette seems to have been forgotten, although I am glad that it’s no longer frowned upon to wear black in most cases!

I can understand not wanting sequins and sparkle.. but I never realised bright colours and patterns were frowned upon? When I think wedding, I gravitate to floaty floral dresses.. have I been wrong this whole time?!


I think you can only suggest a dress code but at the end of the day people will wear what they want to wear 🤷‍♀️ There will always be that one guy in jeans haha

View Quoted Comment I went to a formal wedding in the summer and nearly every female guest wore a formal print.


Echoing PP that you can't tell people not to wear prints or certain colors and you can't put it on your invites unless you are throwing a traditional black tie wedding. Put *requests* on your wedding website. If you sant to signal formality, get fancier looking invitations and have a formal venue.
Maybe you should worry less about how the party pictures will look and just be grateful that guests are spending time and money to attend. Treat them the way you want to be treated and let them dress how they think is appropriate.

View Quoted Comment The only color that is frowned on as a gust is any shade of solid white/ivory.
Florals, patterns, bright colors, even partly white with a pattern, etc are very commonly worn and do not breach etiquette. Don't stress.

People do what they want regardless when they show up.

View Quoted Comment I don’t think they are frowned upon by most. I think it is because we like the dark, moody photography style so louder prints and reds REALLY stand out. 🤷‍♀️ At the end of the day, we are happy our friends and family are attending. My fiancé was asking me and I didn’t know so now we know! Like you said... there is always one! That one is the person we have been noticing over and over again!

View Quoted Comment Got it! Thank you for your input!

View Quoted Comment Got it! Thank you for your input! At the end of the day, we are happy that guests are coming to celebrate our day! Fiancé asked... I didn’t know.... now we both know!

Your wedding invitation should dictate the formality of your wedding.

In our case, we are having a DW in the keys, our invitation doesn't really show what our dress code is, so I added it to wedding website and just noted "beach chic"

As for the one person who is going to wear "red" - It doesn't matter how you word your invitations that person will always exist.

Sounds about normal. Semi formal but some weddings do have dress codes such as Black Tie, Black Tie Optional or Creative Black Tie. We will have a Creative Black Tie event and for anyone with questions, we will have a Dress Code page on our website with photos and descriptions that they can refer to.

I know this is am old post but I wanted to comment as I came looking for helpful advice and only found rude comments. I think it is more common than people realize to ask guests to wear specific attire - take a look at any magazine or upscale wedding blog, you'll notice guests often are cohesive. That cohesiveness is not random...

So first I'd like to say, a wedding is a party that you are paying for...if you want people to dress in a way that respects that I don't think you are asking too much.

If its important to you that guests do not stick out in photos then maybe include a small card with your invitation cards explaining the dress code? Or if you have a website add a page devoted just to dress code - or address it in the FAQ section. If some guests do not have the means to buy a new dress or suit, etc. then that is a different issue.

There is no polite way to ask your guests to wear specific styles/colors. They are guests, not photo props.

You say dress will be semi formal, or formal. Semi allows in cocktail dresses, blazers with contrasting pants ( dressy, not sport coats.) And also a little louder prints. Formal wear is more subdued. Formal will rule out the little black dress and cocktail dresses, and blazers that do not match pants. Must be suit, or may be evening jacket or tux. And ladies long dresses not just maxis, must be evening gown fabrics.

View Quoted Comment

Dear Madi,

I agree. "There's no polite way to ask someone what to wear," and "they are guests, not props," is quite pointed. And it assumes that you are putting a dress code out for your own personal appeasement, rather than the comfort of your guests.

Out of the four weddings I've been to, I was given a "color code" for two of them (both in 2020, less than 50 people). The other two were Black Tie, period. One bride wanted all of the women to wear LBDs, and all of the men in black suits, with black masks to match. The other bride wanted to have her guests in neutral, earthy or gem tones and the entire ceremony and reception was outdoors. As far as I noticed, most everyone followed the dress code for both weddings and we liked being so on par with each other. As a guest, I didn't see it as an inconvenience in the slightest and enjoyed the cohesiveness.

I know that for our wedding we would like for our guests to wear neutral, earthy tones, but we will predominantly focus on the "please dress warm" aspect of things. I've already received pushback from some family members who've never spent more than 30 minutes outside when it's bellow 60 degrees because they don't understand the importance of layering ... "Why would I wear hose, socks AND leggings under my dress? I want to wear open-toed heels!" But they'll freeze!

All in all, I feel like if someone is providing you with a dress code, no matter how elaborate, they're doing so in the hopes that you'll take their advice so that you can be as comfortable as possible. Whether it's mental or physical comfort, it's under the best pretenses.

And as stated above, there will always be people who walk their own path or who don't like the limitations set; and that's fine! But as someone who, especially when you don't have a plus one, appreciates some unsaid unity, I've gotta say that I appreciate the specific dress codes!

Thanks for your post, Madi! Maybe I'm just a worker bee, but I really enjoy it!