A Wedding Dress Code Wording Guide That *Won’t* Leave Your Guests Confused

Wedding dress codes are only as complicated as you make them. That said, crafting wedding dress code wording that's brief and straightforward should definitely be a priority. Breaking down dress codes for your wedding guests, whether on your wedding website, invitations or both, will help your loved ones feel confident in their attire choices—and hopefully prevent anyone from showing up in something inappropriate. Here's how to nail the perfect wedding attire wording for every style of celebration so your guests arrive in style.

In this article: Quick Guide to Wedding Attire Options Wording | Wedding Invitation Dress Code Wording | Wedding Website Dress Code Wording | How to Make a Dress Code Page on Your Wedding Website | How to Add Wedding Dress Code Wording to Your Website's Home and Event Pages | How to Add Wedding Dress Code Wording to Your Wedding Website FAQ Page | Wedding Dress Code Wording Tips

Quick Guide to Wedding Attire Options Wording

Not a wordsmith? Don't stress about your wedding dress attire wording. Use these wedding dress code wording examples that you can quickly copy and paste or adjust as needed.

Design: Falak Khoja

How to Word Wedding Dress Codes on Invitations

Creating a wedding invitation with dress code rules isn't a requirement, but it's helpful for guests and should be put in the lower corner or bottom center of the invitation. If you're looking for how to list a dress code on your wedding invitation, you have to be selective with your wording. All you'll really have room for is something like "black tie attire requested." Instead, you can move your wedding invite dress code to your wedding invitation details card (both of which you can find on The Knot Invitations, or you can find a pro stationer on The Knot Vendor Marketplace), so you can expand a little more. Check out the wedding invitation attire wording examples below for some help.

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White-Tie Attire

"We request the honor of your presence at our white-tie affair on [wedding date]. Dress code: Please wear tailcoats or ball gowns."

Black-Tie Attire

"We politely ask that you dress in black-tie attire to match the event's formality level."

Black-Tie Optional Attire

"Our wedding is black-tie optional. Please wear your best tuxedo, dark suit or evening gown."

Formal Attire

"We cannot wait to celebrate with you on our special day! The wedding dress code is formal attire. Please wear a suit of any color, nice cocktail dress or pantsuit."

Cocktail Attire

"Come dance the night away with us wearing cocktail attire. Smart clothing, like a suit, dress shirt and tie or knee-length dress is requested."

Semi-Formal Attire

"We ask that you wear dressy separates or a suit and tie for the affair."

Dressy Casual Attire

"Please arrive in dressy casual attire, which is anything that's stylish yet comfortable."

Beach Casual

"Meet us by the ocean in beach casual clothing. Sundresses, sandals and short sleeve shirts are all acceptable."

Casual Attire

"Prepare for a relaxed bash honoring [couple's names] on [wedding date]. We request you wear casual attire that's comfortable and neat."

Daytime Attire

"Join us outdoors for a garden wedding on [wedding date]. Feel free to wear dresses and dressy-casual suits."

Country and Western Attire

"The wedding dress code is country and Western attire, which includes cowboy boots and hats, casual suits and flowy dresses."

How to Word a Dress Code on a Wedding Website

Instead or in addition to listing your suggested attire on your invitations, including your dress code as you make your The Knot wedding website is super smart. Reason being: it's in a place where guests can easily access it at any time, and a wedding website has much more room for explanation. Get some inspo from the attire wording for wedding examples below.

White-Tie Attire

"White-tie attire: We ask that you don tailcoats or floor-length evening or ball gowns. Top hats and gloves are encouraged."

Black-Tie Attire

"Black-tie attire: Kindly wear a tuxedo or floor-length gown."

Black-Tie-Optional Attire

"Black-tie-optional attire: We ask that you wear a tuxedo or dark suit and tie. Alternatively, an evening gown or a midi- or knee-length cocktail dress would be appropriate."

Formal Attire

"Formal attire: We suggest guests wear a suit in any color, a cocktail dress or an elegant pantsuit."

Cocktail Attire

"Cocktail attire: A suit or a dress shirt with a tie is suggested. Also welcome: a midi- or knee-length dress and dressy separates."

Semi-Formal Attire

"Semi-formal attire: We ask that you wear semi-formal attire, such as a cocktail-length dress, dressy separates or a suit and tie. Please note that the venue does not permit blue jeans or sneakers."

Dressy Casual Attire

"Dressy casual attire: We want you to be comfortable at our wedding. The dress code is smart casual attire. For this time of year in California, may we suggest the following attire:

• Folks who'd like to wear a dress can wear sundresses, lightweight separates and flats or wedge heels for the outdoor ceremony on the lawn.
• Alternatively, guests can wear a light dress shirt with khakis or other lightweight slacks; jackets and ties are optional."

Beach Casual

"Beach casual attire: We suggest long- or short-sleeved shirts paired with slacks or shorts. A sundress or dressy separates, like a nice top and skirt, would also be appropriate. Instead of heels, please wear a pair of strappy or platform sandals."

Casual Attire

"Casual attire: We suggest button-down shirts with khaki pants or sundresses. Dressy flats or comfortable heels are welcome."

Daytime Attire

"Daytime attire: Our wedding will be taking place outdoors in the grass. We suggest sundresses and sandals or button-down shirts and pants. Please, no athletic wear."

Country and Western Attire

"Country and Western attire: We encourage relaxed clothing, but please no shorts or sneakers. We recommend flowy dresses, light fabrics, cowboy boots and hats, and denim."

How to Make a Dress Code Page on Your Wedding Website

One of the coolest things about having a wedding website on The Knot? You can set up one of the most thorough dress code pages ever. Here's how to do it:

1. Log in to your The Knot account and navigate to the Wedding Website tab.
2. On the right side of your screen, you'll find the "Edit website" section. Click into the "Dress Code" page section.
3. Click "Add More to Dress Code," then type your dress code name and desired wording into the text box.
4. Pro tip: Check the option to link editorial articles that cover the ins and outs of your chosen dress code to your page. That way, you don't need to wax poetic for too long about what "black tie" means because we've already covered it at length.
5. Check the "Offer fashion info" box to serve up pre-curated looks in your desired dress code for guests to get right then and there.

How to Put a Dress Code on Your Wedding Website Home Page and Event Page

When you're figuring out how to create your wedding website, we recommend prioritizing wedding dress code info on your list of what to put on your wedding website. Adding your requested wedding attire somewhere on the homepage, along with the welcome message and other essential day-of details, such as the wedding date, venue and time, will be helpful to guests. If your website includes multiple event pages (e.g. welcome reception, wedding day, postwedding brunch), you can add a dress code for each event. Here's how to add some clever dress code wording to both of these wedding website spots.

1. Log in to your The Knot account and navigate to the Wedding Website tab.

2. On the right side of your screen, you'll find the "Edit website" section. Click into the "Home" section.

3. Under the "Content" tab, scroll down until you see blue text reading: "Add More to Our Wedding."

4. Click the text and then select "Text Block." Now you can type in the wedding dress code wording of your choice. Click save.

5. Next, navigate back to the "Edit website" section and select "Add a Custom Page." Here, you can craft your event page and add your wedding dress code wording as you like.

Answering Wedding Dress Code Questions on Your Wedding Website FAQ Page

If you want to get ahead of any dress code queries, include some clear info on your wedding website FAQ page. This section of your wedding website is prime real estate for anticipating common questions so you can spend less time fielding inquisitive calls or texts.

Provide clear wedding attire descriptions and special requests on the FAQ page from the very start. Read the following for a few examples.

"Is there a dress code?"

State your dress code in a direct sentence: "The dress code for our wedding is… ." Following that, you can include a brief explanation with attire suggestions and specifics (if your venue requires a jacket and tie or if the ceremony will take place on the beach, etc.). If there's no specific dress code, you should clearly mention that to prevent confusion.

"Are there any styles or colors you'd prefer me to wear?"

Keep the wording specific but also realistic—avoid lengthy instructions or too many special requests that will burden guests. Share a brief recap of your vision for the wedding day, such as the theme or color palette, to help people understand what you're asking for. Be mindful of how to ask guests to wear a certain color or pattern politely (for example, sequined looks), and note that it's frowned upon to make those requests an absolute requirement.

Wedding Dress Code Wording Tips

Now that you're an expert on wedding dress code wording, all you need is a few extra tips to help polish and refine your approach. Check out the below for some additional assistance.

• Match the tone of your wording to the event's formality level: The language on the rest of your invitation suite and your wedding website should set the tone for your celebration, and your dress code explanation is no exception. Just ensure you're still communicating clearly and not getting caught up in fancy language just for the vibes.
• Include visual aids, if helpful: Hyperspecific dress code wording is a must if you're asking for something beyond the standard (sunset colors, disco formal, etc.), but it can be made even stronger when paired with a visual aid. We recommend linking to a Pinterest board of example attire to offer more clarity.
• Read the room when it comes to things to avoid: If you're requesting black-tie attire for your wedding, chances are you don't need to specify "no jeans" as you would if you were requesting dressy casual. (Though we don't know your family and friends, so use your discretion.)

Additional reporting by Cathryn Haight and Chapelle Johnson.