Poll: what have you seen guests wear to black tie optional weddings?

I always wear a gown. I'd rather be overdressed than under dressed.

Hopefully this thread will show others that black tie optional is only confusing to guests.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I think the same thing, but the only other time I attended black tie optional, 95% of the men were in tuxes, but most women were in short dresses that I thought were hardly appropriate for a night club. The bridesmaids dresses were even in short dresses, even though it was a very swanky event. I was one of maybe ten in a long gown. It was all so strange to me. I'd always rather be overdressed than under. I just felt so out of place being dressier than bridesmaids.

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That's so messed up. BMs dresses for a BTO wedding should for sure be long. Just shows how weird BTO is lol.

View Quoted Comment Ha don't get me started on that! My thoughts EXACTLY.

My uncle did black tie optional last year for his wedding. He was in a white tux. I wore a long navy sparkly gown ...other female cousins wore short cocktail dresses. My FH wore a black suit and my brothers also came in darker colored suits.

I have never attended a black tie optional wedding but, I would probably wear a sparkly cocktail dress, something a bit dressier than a regular cocktail dress but, not a long gown either. I assume the optional means it is my choice to do a long gown or not so I'd opt to skip it. Not really sure though.

I’ve always worn long gowns to weddings that were black tie optional! I have a go-to black gown I’ve worn a few times, but I’ve also rented from Rent the Runway too, as they have a good selection and I don’t like to buy dresses if I’m only going to wear once! Usually at weddings like this, everyone I’ve seen is in a long gown or a fairly dressy cocktail dress. I think that when an invite specifies this dress code, they want you to be dressed up. I wouldn’t wear a sun dress or more casual dress, even if it says optional.

I have been to three BTO over the years. To the best of my memory, most of the men wore suits, with the occasional tux showing up. The women mostly wore long dresses, which varied in terms of, I don't know if this is the best way to put it but, elegance, (though I do believe there were about a handful of cocktail dresses). Someone wore a nice maxi dress that I remember. But mostly they were formal gowns.

I'd wear a gown; like PP said, I'd rather be overdressed than under dressed.

My parents were invited to a "BTO" wedding a few months after mine, and my mom actually wore the gown she wore to mine to this wedding. I was so glad she got to wear it again! She's good friends with the groom's mom, and was told the couple were hoping most people would come in black tie attire. But, still, it was not a true black tie wedding! It was a very nice, formal wedding, but not true black tie.

BTO? I'm not investing in buying or renting a gown. I'd pull a cocktail dress out of my closet, especially since the BMs dresses are short.

I would opt to wear a gown. I have a few from military ball type events, and I'd rather be over-dressed than under dressed.

Thanks everyone! This helps a ton. I feel like the bride and groom probably want a black tie event, but know that not everyone can swing the attire, so I'll probably opt for a floor length gown. Fingers crossed I'm not the only one.

I went to one in November. I wore long gown fh wore a suit.

Everyone was a bit dressier than a usual wedding (it was Long Island though lol)