What are the different wedding guest dress codes?

Dress codes are a way for the couple to set the tone and help you feel comfortable. Casual means relaxed, but still neat: smart jeans, a shirt or a simple dress, and clean shoes. Smart casual is the most common for daytime weddings: chinos or trousers, a blouse or shirt, a knee-length dress, and loafers or heels. Semi-formal, sometimes called cocktail, means a suit for men and a shorter dress or a dressy jumpsuit for women. Formal, also called black tie optional or evening dress, usually means a dark suit or tuxedo for men and a long or midi dress for women. Black tie is stricter: a tuxedo with a bow tie for men, and a floor-length gown or a very dressy cocktail dress for women. White tie is the most formal and rare: tailcoats for men and full-length ball gowns for women. If the invitation does not state a dress code, look at the venue and time of day. A church or stately home in the evening is likely formal, while a barn or beach venue in the afternoon is usually smart casual. When in doubt, ask the couple or a member of the wedding party, and always err on the side of being slightly overdressed.