Formal or semi formal attire

I consider semi-formal to be cocktail dress for women and a suit for men. Formal is an evening gown and possibly a tux. This is the google definition-

I usually don't see that on the invite. The invitation and the venue will clue me into the formality of the event, from there I can determine what to wear. The only times I have had something including on an invitation is when it is for a black tie event, recently we received one in which there was a venue information card included in the invitation packet that had a line on it about the venue having a dress code requiring a jacket for all gentleman.

Thank you!

Would this make you hesitate or stop you from coming to a wedding?

Because that's what my FMIL & mom are worried about lol.

I didn't even think it would but because my ceremony is at 5 on a Friday, they said it might.

If an invite at 5 pm on a Friday said formal* I meant to add.

For our church and ballroom wedding, our website says Formal Attire: Suit & Tie, Dresses. I would not associate Semiformal with a ballroom. Trust yourself on this one! Some weddings are Black Tie and require gowns and tuxedos, so you have nothing to feel bad about!

@FutureMrs thank you! Yeah, I'm hoping it doesn't make anyone feel as if they have to go out & buy a fancy dress or anything but... I honestly want it formal so. Lol.

Maybe Texas is different, but if I see semi-formal on an invite, I'm dressing up. Typically semi-formal means suits for guys and at least cocktail dresses for the girls. Formal would mean tuxes and long dresses.

@Sarah yeah that's exactly what I think when I see semi formal. But the weddings I have been to have said semi formal & some people have shown up in nice jeans or a very nice Sunday dress... I mean, I can't tell people what to wear and I won't be upset, but I just want them to know... "hey, dress up this is fancy!" Lol!

Honestly, one of my friends asked me about it months ago and I said that we want this to be a special event for everyone, so dust off the suit and enjoy a date night! You'll find many people enjoy having an excuse to get dressed up, and if they don't own a suit or dress you'll find that they figure something out! My friend told me they'll be buying a new suit, but they're excited to get dressed up with their wife!

I don't think it's common to say on the invitation whether it is formal or semi formal. As PPs have said, the time and location will clue people in.

@Willbewilkins is it really not common? Every invite I received I have seen it. Maybe it's just around my area!

Yeah I'm sure the location will help! I hope. Idk, it is Texas. Lol.

Definitely don't put it on the invitation. I have semi-formal on the website and even that isn't acceptable to all. If your crowd considers semi-formal to mean jeans then I would put formal.

We aren't putting dress code language on our invitation either, we just have it on the website (and everyone who got STD saw it on the website back then too) . On our reception card, it says to visit our website for hotel information, directions, and other details, so hopefully people will check it out.

Yeah I have the attire listed on the site as well. I listed our website on our STD & I don't think a lot of people have looked at it. We get tons of questions that could be answered on the website such as, "where are you having it?" -_- lol "well, if you go to the website....."

I hope they start looking soon and see!

Oh having that on the reception card is a great idea!

My cousins put "dress to impress" on their details card/website. They had a beach wedding but didn't want people wearing beachy clothes.

I know of a couple - the groom was from Texas - who put "No denim, please," in their invitation suite. They married at a private club, in the northeast U.S., and denim was not permitted.

I knew the bride's brother who said guests will show up to a black-tie wedding in Texas in jeans, cowboy boots and a tuxedo jacket/shirt/tie.

If it's a Friday evening at 5 then they will have probably already taken off work or left work early to get ready regardless of the attire. I think I would go with formal.

Thank you so much to everyone for your responses! It really helped me out.

To me formal is a cocktail dress.

Friday evenings are traditionally less formal than Saturday evenings. And long gowns are not really in fashion at all, save for the most dressy events- black or white tie.

To answer you though, do not put a dress code on your invites. You should be able discern formality of an event based on invitation type (off white or ecru heavy card stock with

Black script= formal), invitation wording, time and place of event.