Jeans at a wedding??

Semi formal is the default for weddings. It is best described as Sunday Best attire you would wear to church on Sundays or Christmas/Easter.

Many posts on WW go so far as to suggest banning guests in jeans from attending. But most couples would be happy that person is making the effort to attend and their clothing choice ir irrelevant in the long run.

I can never understand why anyone would think jeans is an acceptable thing to wear to a wedding. Even a casual wedding, I wouldn't wear jeans to. I specifically said on our wedding website that while we wanted everyone to be comfortable we kindly ask that you don't wear jeans, shorts or sneakers. Thankfully everyone complied.

I'm not sure why you need to figure out how to approach them if they are asking you. And since they are asking for your input, then of course it's completely fine to tell them that jeans don't match your semi-formal reception plans.

And sure, I think it's odd to want to wear jeans to a semi-formal wedding, but at least they ARE asking you so you have time to clarify. I wouldn't waste time worrying about if them liking jeans (but not wearing them, because they did ask ahead of time) is disrespectful or not.

I think you give them a visual like this. You could also put a few examples of semi-formal on your wedding website if you have one.

If someone outright said if they cant wear jeans they’re not going then I would just tell them to stay home. I personally don’t care what my guests wear however I also don’t think any of my guests would show up in jeans. Anyhow that’s utterly disrespectful that they care more about jeans than attending your wedding.

Well to the person who said they aren’t coming, “Thanks for letting me know!”

OMG- had someone ask me this the other day! We put semi formal, told him as such but he still wondered. Church clothes, business casual! What more do you want me to say???

Jeans never belong at a wedding in my opinion. Not for guests, groomsmen or groom.

Hi Bethany! I agree wearing jeans to a wedding or asking the bride to wear jeans is not appropriate. I’m all for being comfortable and not needing to buy a new outfit for a wedding, but I think our casual culture takes it a bit too far sometimes. Heck, when I was broke and first started dating my now husband, he brought me to a wedding and I borrowed one of my friend’s dresses to wear.
The next guest who asks, I would say “the men guests are wearing dockers and collared shirts and the women guests are wearing either maxi dresses or dressy pants”. Like the bride doesn’t have enough to worry about during these times! 😂 Good luck girlie ❤️

Dear Bethany,

As a southern bride who has been to many southern weddings, I feel your pain. Unfortunately, this is exactly why we will be putting "Black-Tie" on the wedding invitation. My grandmother has already expressed disdain for this, saying "you can't dress nice in formal wear!" She doesn't understand that her really nice dark denim blue jeans aren't going to keep her warm either (in fact, wearing undergarments and even nice leggings, boots and fluffy socks with her really nice long dress would keep her 100% more warm) ... Also, after living somewhere where there were seasons other than summer, I know for a fact you can dress for any occasion in any weather- we had to lol. You can pick up a perfectly fine pair of slacks at Walmart for less than $15, so I see no excuse.

Personally, I would politely explain the dress code to them and kind of leave it at that. When you go into a fine dining restaurant with a hat on, you can't barter with the hostess about whether you have to take it off or not. That's just audacity...

I hope that you don't have any other trouble and wish you happy planning!

Aubrianna Abbema

To those people you just have to say NO!!!

View Quoted Comment Righhhttt! That's what I was thinking too

Yea, if they're asking just let them know up-front,

"Can I wear jeans?" "No, we recommend slacks and a nice shirt or dresses."

"If I can't wear jeans I'm not coming." "Sorry to hear that! We'll miss you at the wedding, but thanks for letting me know now!"

People are rude. I don't won't your jeans in my wedding photos? Honestly even at a rustic wedding. Like. You can wear jeans everyday, this is someone's wedding. They're spending a ton of money, you can at least put on nice clothes.

Thank you all for your input! i don’t think there’s any way you can “dress up” jeans to make them wedding appropriate. i don’t want to be a bridezilla but it’s my special day and if i say the attire is semi formal i don’t see why jeans are even in question... it’s just crazy to me!

I never understood why people care what guests wear. The attention is going to be on two people. The bride and groom. That’s it. I think jeans should be acceptable and even shorts especially at a beach wedding. I know some of y’all will pop a vein when I say this but the amount of jeans I saw in church was too much so don’t say “Sunday best” “church clothes” because again it depends and is different for everyone. If you’re really pressed over what guests wear make sure less than 100 people are going because someone aka more than won’t listen and a lot of bridezillas and groomzilla would blow their lid.