Help me describe dress code!

I'd just say semi-formal and call it a day. If they press you for more, then give examples.

None of those suggestions you listed are real dress codes so that won't help anyone. What you described would traditionally be called cocktail or semi-formal.

You're describing cocktail attire.

What Jeanne said. Put on your website that it's semiformal and outdoors.

Ugh, I hate it when people make up names for made-up dress codes. I don't think you need to tell people what to wear, TBH. Set the tone of formality with your invite. I didn't put any sort of dress code on my invites and everyone showed up looking presentable.

Just don't say anything. Answer with your suggestions if anyone asks you.

Thank you all! I get that made up names are annoying and nobody agrees on them, but none of the traditional ones seem to fit... which is why I didn't pick one at all, but then a bunch of people had been asking. It's definitely dressier than casual, but I tend to think of "semi-formal / cocktail" as requiring dark suits for men, which would be overkill since it's outdoors and in hot weather.

The invitation is sort of middle-of-the-road with respect to formality, maybe more on the casual side.

None of them seem to fit because what you described is based on personal style, not dress code. Think broader, that makes it more obvious.

Edit: Adult men know to wear lighter (both in weight and color) suits if you're having a wedding outdoors in Mexico before 6pm.

I second Mrs. Lav

I think you're right that typically semi-formal means dark suits for men, so I would include that it's outdoors.

Cocktail attire!

Right, but when people ask, you can just provide the examples you gave in the third paragraph of your OP. You're having a DW-- there can't be that many people, and some people can spread the word. Not necessary to put on an invite.

Semi-formal means that men have to wear dark suits, cocktail attire leaves it open for sports jackets and colored pants (of which my FH owns every color of the rainbow)

Colored pants would fall under casual, maybe that's more of what you're looking for?

I say delete the dress code off your website. You will continue to confuse everyone by adding something. Adults don't need to be told how to dress. If I get a wedding invite, I always google the venue and base my attire on the style of the venue.

Just let them wear whatever they want. If someone asks let them know in real actual words "oh a cocktail dress is fine" "my cousin is wearing slacks and a blazer", but most adults can dress themselves. Also random strings of words aren't dress codes.

I'd suggest comfortable footwear, though. I attended an outdoor wedding wearing sandals, and twisted my ankle, walking down a grassy slope.

I'd just tell them whatever they need to know to dress comfortably;

"We will be hiking a half mile to the ceremony, so wear your walking shoes!"

"We'll be outside for the ceremony, and it might be chilly."

"Beach! Sand! Barefoot!"

If it isn't black tie or casual, people should know it's "wedding attire" and dress nicely. I'm not putting it on mine in the hopes people will get it. I also thought about putting a fun something or other on my website that says "Dress Code: Wedding." But then I thought that was dickish. I don't know I just tell people when they ask? "Don't wear a ball gown, don't wear jeans"

Casual dress.

What Jessi said

I personally think the venue sets the tone for how to dress rather than the invitation. Our invitations were fairly simple, but our venue was elegant. People got the hint. All the women wore dresses of some sort and all the men wore shirts and ties (a few wore jackets).