What to wear (men & women) to a wedding that the invite states "Formal"? How is that different than Black Tie?

I think a dark suit will work for formal. As for you I would wear a gown, and no it doesn't need to be black. And if you're asking should you, personally I wouldn't. Formal affairs rare once you leave prom (other than weddings I can't think of anything else formal unless you go to a banquet or gala) so I like to really play with style and color. If you want to wear black that's fine, I wouldn't. Its too common. We went to the box prom (local radio station threw an adult prom) I wore a dark green sequins gown. Last year I went to a black tie wedding and wore a dark purple satin gown.

What FFW said, but to me formal for a woman means a long gown. But most weddings I've attended recently were at night.

If it's during the day I would wear a nice dress of a shorter length if you want, but I often go with long to cover the fact I"m wearing comfortable shoes underneath the long skirt

In my mind ive always compaired it to dances. Semi formal makes me think homecoming short dresses and formal males me think prom long dresses.

This is exactly why people shouldn't make up an ambiguous dress code for their invitations. Formal isn't a dress code. I would think a dark suit for your fiance would be sufficient. For you, either an extremely dressy cocktail dress or a longer gown?

@Lori What would be a proper dress code description? Thanks in advance.

A dark suit may be preferred but if it were me and my FH I wouldn't want him to buy a dark suit when he has a regular grey suit already. Then I would wear a long simple dress I already own or even a short black dress with a blazer.

If this is truly going to be a black tie wedding, I'd wear a gown. But it seems like your best bet is a nice cocktail dress. A dark suit is fine for him.

Lily, dress codes shouldn't be listed on invitations unless it's a black tie or white tie (white tie is extremely rare). Guests should take their cue from the time of day and formality of venue. Using ambiguous dress codes just confuses guests.

How well do you know the couple getting married? I might just ask them what formal attire means to them.

I had a friend do black tie optional, but she was heavily suggesting tuxes.

I have been to weddings where the website said "formal" but you would have looked way out of place in a long formal dress. I ended up wearing a shortish black cocktail dress and still felt too dressed up. If it's early in the day a short dress may be ok, but you could always be safe and ask the couple or a member of the BP.

What time of day is the wedding? If it's an evening wedding, I think you both should wear dark colors. You should be fine with a cocktail dress. As PP said, you can always ask a member of the BP if you're really unsure

I had the opposite situation happen at a wedding we went to this past weekend....I brought a black cocktail dress and heels bc it was an evening wedding assuming that would be appropriate (oot wedding/distant relatives.) When we got there the night before....the mog told me the wedding was in a field and the reception was in a park pavilion! I would of looked ridiculous!!! I had a sundress I brought just to wear and bought a pair of dressy sandals.

*grammar edit

Dark suit and cocktail dress would be my best guess