Clueless pair of idiots here - please help!

[Greensleeves]

So DH and I are going to a garden party tomorrow which is sort of a wedding party, but the actual wedding happened during Covid. Dress code is "semi-informal, more sun hat than wedding hat". I think my outfit is OK, I'm wearing a floral dress and light cardigan with nice sandals...but what on earth should DH wear?! He's a programmer, so "work attire" is jeans and T shirts and holey jumpers , he does have a suit but it's for funerals and very dreary! He has one short-sleeved button-up shirt dating from the late 90s and a fairly unattractive selection of ties. He doesn't own any other clothes really apart from his running gear, and he's refused to even think about this until now (he hates clothes). We will have a few hours in a big town tomorrow before the party, so we could technically pick up something, but neither of us has a clue what he should be wearing! Anyone want to throw us a bone?

I think jeans and a button shirt would be fine. Could get away with trainers if they're clean and a simple design/ neutral colour.

Hope you both have a lovely time!

Chino, shirt, maybe light blazer(although could be too hot for that)

Chinos and short sleeved shirt would be fine, I should think. Smart shoes. Basically dress as if you were going out to dinner at an informal place on holiday.

Exactly this, which you should be able to pick up at any supermarket clothes section or next/m&s etc!

Chinos and a long sleeved shirt with the cuffs rolled. Shirt can be plain or patterned but definitely not short sleeved.

Really? Definitely not a short-sleeved shirt?

Chinos and a nice shirt. Can't go wrong with that. Make sure he has the right shoes.

What are the right shoes? <wail>

100% to chinos and long sleeved shirt. Short sleeved shirts should be illegal

A definite no to the short sleeved shirt sorry

It says "semi-informal" and presumably they know what DH is like, so I would suggest new jeans in whatever style he likes but maybe dark wash, and a new shirt, and possibly a haircut/beard trim. He can probably get away with trainers if they are clean/new.
The last wedding I went to (in April) most of the guys were wearing dark jeans and a fresh looking white or light shirt. Some definitely had trainers on, as did some of the wedding party. Things are pretty informal these days unless it is in a really swanky venue. It's probably not worth spending money on stuff he'll never wear again, and it's too hot for a jacket!

I would say chinos, long sleeved shirt, no jacket or tie. The shirt can be plain or a bit interesting (flowery or whatever if that is his thing).

How well will you know the guests ?

If quite well then wear whatever you want if not that well then pop into M&S and let them guide you

Wear jeans that aren't blue or darker chinos - things he'll wear again

Oh...my eyes obviously skipped the ‘semi-‘ bit of that! So not informal dress, then!

I agree, long sleeved shirt.

The dress code for our wedding was 'summer party'.

Most Men wore smartish trousers / chinos and long sleeve shirts. Some wore ties & jackets, a couple wore waistcoats. Only my Stepdad and DH wore full suits.

I'd go to M&S and get him a pair of light trousers or chinos and a shirt, job done.

Would like to add, I've had to look at the pictures to tell you what they wore. Didn't give a toss at the time, don't give a toss now. If the Bride & Groom are good friends I'm sure they won't either

Uniqlo has nice linen shirts for men at the moment.

Definitely long sleeved, rolled up!

Slip on shoes.

I’d read that dress code to be smartish garden party so absolutely not jeans and as others have said, long sleeve shirt rolled up, linen jacket no tie if it were my husband. However, you have to judge the audience with dress code so if you think most will have a branded polo shirt and tailored slim fit shorts then the other would look silly if it’s not “him”. What’s the crowd like? Think that way.

Semi informal - wtf?? Is that the same as smart casual? Very vague.
I was at an event last weekend where dress code was smart casual and the men were mostly in jeans with a nice shirt or smart polo top.

Bloody hell. He should wear whatever he feels comfortable wearing.

If they want Insta sodding photos, he doesn't have to pose? 🤷🏻‍♀️

They're not stuffy or judgemental people at all, quite the opposite! And they won't be worrying about insta-photos it's just that we haven't seen either them or the other old friends who will be there for more than a decade, so we don't want to be conspicuously shit-looking!

I was going to ask if you were going to Boris & Carrie's post wedding summer party! They were going to host it at Chequers but now have secured an alternative venue.

Short sleeved would work - would need to be patterned though (bold or subtle depending on his personality). With some slim fit chino style trousers.

But most of all something that he is comfortable in so you can go and enjoy yourselves!

You would need £35.00 mugs (each mug) as a wedding gift if you are heading down to Boris and Carrie's party (whereever it may be - but it is NOT going to be chequers.)

Also be prepared for pensions protestors outside the venue. This bunch have managed to have 50 odd ministers in post and then resigned and some only been in post for a couple of days and walked away with 150 grand odd.

Stll, they will still be worrying about 'holey' jumpers no doubt.

Possibly they imagine that makes them have something in common with people on strike or at the food bank.

Oh dear.