Info Enclosure for Wedding Invite: Dress Code Wording

Are you saying they have to wear khakis? And what if a lady isn't comfortable in a dress or skirt and wants to wear a pair of tights and a loose shirt?

I'm confused as to if they HAVE to wear what you mentioned. If you expect everyone to wear that.. Good luck.

If not, just put casual attire on the insert,.

I don't think it's appropriate to put a dress code on the invitation or in an enclosure in the invitation. That is information that should be spread via word of mouth. You can put it on your website too, they way you share registry information.

As I previously mentioned, I know I cannot dictate to everyone what they have to wear. I'm not saying that at all. They don't absolutely HAVE to, but it is a dressier venue and its new so people don't necessarily know that yet. Jeans and T-Shirts will not fit in at all. They don't need to be in a tux or anything, but khakis or a light suit are going to fit the venue best. I just want to make sure that if I put dressy casual, people do not assume that jeans are fine. I'm hoping for someone to have a cute way of wording this without offending anyone. My wedding is outdoors on a riverbank in late June, so I want people to be comfortable but not show up in super casual attire such as denim, old navy flip flops or a tank top. I want people to not be embarrassed for showing up under dressed because I feel like the venue name implies its casual, and its actually semi-formal.

I think most people know how to dress for a wedding. Is it your fear that will come overdressed? or underdressed? I agree with Jacqui that unless your event in black tie its not appropriate to put a dress code on the invite.

Since it's a new venue you could do a FAQ on your website

If they are confused they will ask you. "dressy casual" means absolutely nothing, if someone thinks a nice pair of jeans is an approopriate choice for a wedding, they will think that is dressy casual. Giving bizarre dress codes "dressy casual" "daytime elegant" whatever the fuck people think is a descriptive doesn't mean anything and will only confuse. Your guests aren't morons, they can figure it out or ask someone if they need more info.

Business Casual is usually the best way to go. Or exactly what you said Semi-Formal Attire.

The way you worded it made it seem like you wanted everyone to wear exactly that, and that's where I became confused.

I would stick with Semi-formal, however I agree that it's not appropriate to put on an invite. Spread it via word of mouth, website, etc.

Use terms like semi-formal, formal, black tie optional, or black tie rather than giving specific suggestions. If part of your wedding is outdoors or on grass, let them know about that so they can choose footwear accordingly. Just not on the invitation.

I understand not wanting them to wear jeans, but if someone is the kind of person who wants or to or thinks it is ever ok wear jeans to a wedding, believe me, they will wear jeans to your wedding no matter what you tell them. My FFIL insists that he will wear black jeans and a black turtleneck. Everyone else will be in formal dress. It's not worth the fight unfortunately.

Our venue has a dress code (its a golf course), so that made it easier for us. "Venue" has a strict golf dress code, and we request semi-formal attire...or something along those lines

ETA: venue does not allow jeans, so I felt that needed to be communicated

It's not childhood so dress codes don't really work out well. Some as will always show up in jeans or a club dress. I put sassy summer casual so folks could know yo skip the suit but still "try" and I ONLY put it because it's not a formal event and it's outside for the ceremony and Vegas in June it's a hot.

People know how to dress for weddings and those who would wear jeans and tshirts probably still will. It really doesn't matter what they wear as long as they are there for you.

Am I the only one that really doesn't care if people come in jeans? I personally wouldn't wear jeans to a wedding, but I couldn't care less if someone wore jeans to mine. As long as they're there, that's all I care about.

The nicest wording I have heard on WW so far is "requested, but not required"... and then insert "semi-formal" or whatever wording you have.

You don't need to put dress code anywhere on the invitation or in an enclosure. People know how to dress and those that don't won't listen to a dress code anyway. For what it's worth, semi-formal doesn't really have an "official" definition. The only dress codes that do are black and white tie, everything else means something different to different people. You can easily find 80 different definitions online. Dressy casual and other "made up" dress codes are even worse.

Feel free to spread the word if you'd like. But don't put it on the invitation.

@Beth, no you're not the only one.

Semi-formal

For a daytime wedding, semi-formal attire means a light colored suit for a man and a knee-length dress, dress suit, or pantsuit for a woman.

You probably want dressy casual. Sun dresses, khakis, not jeans.

I'd say something like....

Attire is dressy-casual. We want our guests to be comfortable.

You make it sound like your doing them a favor! ;-)

I'm in the camp of not telling anyone what to wear, period. Don't put "dressy casual" or "semi-formal" or anything else, because those all mean different things to different people. People know how to dress for a wedding. And if they're underdressed, so what? They're wearing what's comfortable. You won't notice!

WHAT lol Adults can dress themselves. Tonight has been hilarious.

I'd put that info on your website. Then say, for your comfort we suggest wearing "whatever you want to put in these quotes" as the ceremony will be on the grass outside, and the reception will be inside in a beautiful old (yet fully air conditioned) Grist Mill.