Formal Reception

You can put black tie on the invites.

I didn't know you couldn't put it on the invites. I am concerned about people showing up in jeans or sweats. I did put cocktail/formal attire is recommended on our website. If you are doing a website I would note it there.

Information card... we have a dress code at ours as well and we are putting the info on the information card.

I am not sure why you can not put "formal reception to follow" on the invite.

I think you should putit on the invite. As a guest I would be mortified to not get the momo on what to wear.

You can absolutely put it on the invites and on your website if you have one. It will help everyone know what to do, which is much more comfortable.

The tone and style of your wedding invite may indicate that too.

You shouldn't put it on the main invite but you can include an information card in the same envelope (or do pocket invites).

Black tie/black tie optional on the bottom corner of the invitation. thats how i've gotten invitations.

I have read that also the invitation tells a lot as to the formality of the event. But like they said, you should be able to get it in the wording.

It can go on the invite stating formal reception to follow or formal reception to be held......

I don't know why you can't put it in the invite. I have seen it listed many times. Formal, casual, or semi-formal reception to follow, whatever the case might be.

You can put it on the invitation or reception card. If you want men to wear a tux, say "Black Tie." If you are OK with men wearing a dark suit instead of a tux, then say, "Formal; Black Tie Optional." You can also put this on your wedding website and also pass the word. For an extremely formal reception, there is White Tie.

I never thought you could put it on the invite most people understand by the type of invitation they recieve!That is also what the script/font choice is for!

You are right: a truly formal invitation follows very strict form which precludes dress instructions. Use only heavy white high-quality paper for the invitation, and black engraving for the print. The card should be large and folded along the left side. Use the traditional wording for the invitation:

Mr and Mrs Firstname Hosts / request the honour of the company of / Mr and Mrs GuestLastName / to the wedding of (their daughter) / Beth / to / Mr Groom Lastname ...

Do not include extraneous additional material in the invitation envelope: no hotel brochures, maps, website cards or registry slips. Ideally do not use R.s.v.p. cards -- they are actually not rigourously proper. Hand-address the mailing envelope in black ink in your best script. (And, by the way, don't refer to your "invitation" as an "invite" -- that is considered slang).

In short, you convey that your affair is formal, by being very, very formal in the way you present it.

As a guest I always assume that all wedding reception are formal unless I'm told it's not, I think it was common sense (for me at least). For other events I've been to, the invitations usually states the type, "black tie", casual, casual chick etc...

Since my guests are not on this site, and most haven't read the etiquette books either, I'm thinking that I need to include "black tie" on there somewhere.

Is passing the word not good enough? Does anyone have experience with going that route.