How would you approach this dress code?

[AelinAG]

Been invited to a friends wedding, the dress code is formal, black tie optional. We’ve got to be there at 11.30, so the black tie has thrown me as that’s an evening dress code. I asked the bride and she said oh you always look nice, which wasn’t much help.

Would you do a full length gown type dress for this dress code?

Bride went to private school and a lot of her friends are very posh, so I don’t want to look like a poor relation. Would normally match my level of formal with my best friend but she will be 36 weeks pregnant at the wedding so is going for the dress code ‘whatever fits me’ which is fair enough!

Does she know what black tie is? Sounds to me like she's confused it with morning suits.

That sounds perfect.

Formal means long dress. Semi formal means cocktail length. Of course people will do what they want though.

Think more gown than floral or linen. Silk, satin that sort of thing. Heels, jewellery clutch that sort of thing.

But ‘formal’ in long dresses isn’t something that happens at 11 in the morning, unless you’re actually attending a coronation in full regalia.

Ummm summer maxi dresses are a thing so it doesn’t have to to be full length to be a coronation in full regatta 😂. Hyperbole to make a point that doesn’t really stack up.

I think we need to see your McQueen dress @AelinAG Just to make sure it's appropriate obviously!

But that’s why I said ‘formal in long dresses doesn’t happen in the morning’. I mean, you can get ankle-length beach cover ups.

The OP has an invitation whose dress code doesn’t match its time slot.

Was just thinking the same thing!!

Me 3!

Had to do a bit of a google hunt for a photo but hopefully you can see it here! It’s the loveliest, most luxurious fabric and comes to roughly just past knee length on me.

managed to speak to a few people in the wider friend group tonight who are going. One girl is doing a fuschia jumpsuit from Reiss and one of the lads is doing a light beige linen suit and no tie as it’s mid August. His take was, and I quote ‘it’s uncouth to expect people in formal dress at that time of the morning in August, I don’t want to have roasted in my own juices before we even have a drink’

So I actually think we’ll probably have people in every variation

This is beautiful. What a colour!

Beautiful, I would wear it to any occasion possible.
Sounds like the dress code has been seen as BS by all the guests.

Gorgeous dress!

Liking the sound of Light Beige Linen Suit Lad.

Midi length dress, but certainly cover top of arms

This means that you wear a formal dress (or jumpsuit or suit yourself) but not a white tie level (floor-length and more ball-esque) one. So if you google best wedding guest dresses or best garden party dresses than that kind of thing will be perfect. Something floaty and midi-length with block heels would be nice? In a more formal fabric like silky/chiffon type rather than casual jersey.

If you have a male partner going with you then if he googles lounge suits that would be right. Black tie would involve a dress shirt and black bow tie etc so just go for a lounge suit. My partner has a blue linen one he wears with fun (not novelty…) normal ties.

I love dressing up for weddings. Sure you will look fabulous. Enjoy!

Of course it does. I’ve been to plenty of weddings which had to start at 11:30 due to the mass time and long formal dresses were completely normal and the most common outfit by far.

That's a casual cotton jersey dress. I wouldn't wear it to any wedding. Plus there's a superstition about wearing red to weddings.

All the people not bothering to read the thread before commenting make MN so much fun …