Formal or not

View Quoted Comment Yes! I mean who wouldn’t

It sounds like you want more so cocktail attire or semi-formal.

I'm doing formal with a buffet as well! This is definitely a know your audience type of situation IMO!

View Quoted Comment That is cocktail.

Not at all. I prefer buffet guests dont have to be seated for all of dinner service.

We’re going formal. Lots of our friends and family seemed excited to shop and get dressed up, so we thought we’d go for it! But if some women don’t wasn’t to buy a formal gown we’re totally fine with a cocktail dress. As long as they made an effort to look nice. It on them if they want to underdress and stand out, lol. We’ll have a great time no matter what

I say you can still have a "formal" wedding with a buffet style. In the end who really cares as long as you get fed! I'd eat the food even if it wasn't plated or served to me. I'm sure your guests will be happy just to be invited, have a lot of yummy options, and leave with full tummies no matter how the food gets to them. There are so many small details that we as brides make a big deal out of and no one really cares about. I think that would probably one of them. Lol

So I google searched and made sure I had the appropriate wording for the level of dress we anticipated for our wedding. We came up with "Beach formal" since our venue is a big beach house on the water where we will celebrate outside, but will of course expect people to move in and out. We are planning an easy going cocktail party style reception, but shorts and flip flops are out. I got so many questions about what that meant and I knew semi-formal may freak some people out and finally had to settle on "dressy but not overly formal". Good thing we never put any of this one the invites, just the website but good grief people! What would you expect to wear to a cocktail party on the water?

We had ours semiformal.
We had a couple guys (GPA and brother) change from their shirt and jackets into a polo and slacks for the reception which was fine. They still looked nice!

But we totally had a buffet because I'm a firm believer in letting people change their minds or pick what looks good!