What does one wear to a 'reception'?

[Contraryish]

We have been invited to a charity reception at a posh country house. This is well out of our normal comfort zone. The invitation says drinks at 6:30, but nothing about a dress code or whether it's a sit down meal, buffet, nibbles, etc.

What on earth do I wear? It's at the end of the month, so not long off.

I've been eying up this but am not really sure what would be expected. Does it look smart enough? Overkill?

Best would be to dig up some photos of past years receptions on line, if you can at all. Do you know anyone who's been before?

Thanks! I don't think it's an annual event, so not necessarily any pics around. The charity is one my husband does some work for, so I guess he could ask his contacts there ..

What sort of size , shape and colouring are you?

Yeah, that'd be worth a crack. Is there contact info for the organisers on the invite - I'd be very tempted to call them and say what you said in your OP. No shame in that!

You could always call the venue and ask?

....^About the evenings plan, then you know what you're dressing for.

I'd say a reception would be drinks and canapés, not a sit down meal. (But I could be wrong).

That dress is absolutely lovely, I think it could take you from a drink reception to a sit down meal. I would expect black tie (and therefore full length dresses to be indicated on an invitation).

I can't ring and ask, there is no telephone number or anything as prosaic as an e-mail address for RSVPs, just an address for the host's secretary!

I'm 5'0', currently around a 12/14 with 32H boobs! Naturally dark hair which is currently highlighted and darkish (Caucasian) skin!

Yep, drinks and canapes, so it will be a cocktail dress you'll need to be wearing.

Thanks Bitter, what defines a cocktail dress. Mid-length, right?

Can't you look up the charity's contact information? There should be a staff person in charge of the event or who is a liaison for the people who are organizing it. I work for a charity (in the US) and we have several events a year and also some of our volunteers host events in their homes, but there is always a staff person involved at some level who has all the relevant information.

this?

I went to a charity reception recently that had cocktail dress as the code. There were people there in all sorts - combat trousers, vest top and DM's, skirt suits, trouser suits, full length evening dresses, short dresses. Pretty much anything and everything was worn there (and no-one noticed after about 1/2 an hour as much drinking went on!).

Thanks Scone (rhymes with bone ), we do have a contact at the charity, hence the invite. I was just making sure we wouldn't be making a social faux pay by asking because everybody knows that a reception means an orange dress and slippers! Clearly it's not that obvious though, so we'll do a bit of digging!