Invite Wording

I put mine at the bottom right corner of the invitation.

BLACK TIE OPTIONAL or BLACK TIE INVITED gives you the option of wearing a tuxedo or formal dress, but it should clue you into the formality of the event, meaning a dark suit and tie would be your other option. Women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.

If you are not looking for them to be That fancy, maybe just have the words "Formal Attire" ???

Or you can word one of these on the lower corner of the invite or on the bottom of reception card

how about:

Formal attire recommended

Formal attire recommended ~ Dress to impress

Formal attire required

Formal attire Appreciated

Formal attire Appreciated ~ Dress to impress

- On the reception card

The pleasure of your company

is requested

at the formal reception

to be held at seven o'clock

San Bay Yacht Club

Los Angeles, California

Hi Emily!

You can place this at the bottom of the invitation or if you are having a separate card for extra information, you can always include the dress code on that portion. However, by putting "black tie optional" is giving the view that this is an optional type of attire. If that is what you are aiming for then that is perfectly fine! Otherwise you should have it be more specific!

I attached an information card one of my brides used who did a black tie event and requested formal attire.

I put black tie attrire required and appreciated. i dont care if they wear suits but i knew that if i just put formal some people would take it as semi formal and i didnt want that