What is semi-formal wedding attire?

Semi-formal for a wedding means a suit and tie for men and a cocktail dress, a midi dress, a jumpsuit or dressy separates for women. The Emily Post Institute describes semi-formal as more formal than what you would wear to an office and slightly less formal than what you would wear to a formal event.

Use the invitation, the time of day and the venue to judge how dressed up to go:

• The invitation. The code stated on it is the final word. If it is unclear, check the couple's wedding website or ask them.
• The time of day. Emily Post says to err on the side of formality when the event is later than 6 in the evening, and its wedding guest page lists a dark suit for a semi-formal evening.
• The venue. Grass, sand and cobbles decide your shoes, and a beach afternoon is lighter in tone than a city evening.

Couples still choosing their wording can start from the semi-formal dress code page.

Semi-formal wedding attire for women is a midi or tea-length dress, a cocktail dress, a tailored jumpsuit or dressy separates such as a skirt with a fine top. The safest semi-formal wedding guest dress is a midi in silk, satin, crepe or high-end cotton, in most colours, though not white, ivory or a shade close to a bridal palette.

• Length: midi or tea-length is the classic. A floor-length dress in silk or crepe also works, provided it has no train, heavy beading or voluminous skirt.
• Jumpsuits: a tailored silk jumpsuit is dressy enough, and easier to walk in than a gown on grass, sand or cobbles, so it suits a destination wedding.
• Shoes: heeled sandals, block heels, closed-toe pumps or dressy flats. Save stilettos for indoor venues, because a thin heel sinks into grass and catches in cobbles.
• Accessories: one statement piece is enough: a clutch, a pair of earrings or a necklace.

Semi-formal wedding attire for men is a suit and tie. Navy or charcoal wool with a white or pale blue shirt is the classic choice. A tailored sport coat with contrasting trousers and a tie also qualifies, and a linen suit works in summer or at the beach. A tuxedo is too formal.

Wear leather oxfords or derbies in most settings and loafers at a beach or daytime wedding, and avoid rubber soles. Plan on a tie: Emily Post and The Knot both list one for semi-formal. With a linen suit you can leave it off if the invitation suggests it.

Semi-formal is not quite the same as cocktail attire, but the two overlap and one outfit can pass for both. Where a couple draws a line, cocktail is the dressier: The Knot's dress code guide ranks cocktail one step above semi-formal and describes semi-formal as less embellished. The Emily Post Institute lists a cocktail dress as semi-formal wear.

Four neighbouring codes, from most to least formal, summarised from The Knot's guide:

Above formal come the tuxedo codes, such as black tie. Below dressy casual is casual.

A semi-formal wedding calls for the same outfits all year, in fabrics and colours that change with the season. Wear linen and lighter colours in summer, wool in richer tones such as burgundy or forest green in fall, and darker wool, velvet or heavy crepe in winter.

Add a cardigan or light jacket for a spring evening. In winter, bring a coat you do not mind being seen in, because you will wear it to and from the venue. For a wedding abroad, the destination wedding packing list covers the rest of the suitcase.

Do not wear white or ivory to a semi-formal wedding: it is never appropriate as a guest. Avoid both ends of the scale as well. Jeans, T-shirts and sneakers are too casual, and a ballgown or a tuxedo is too formal.

• A dress with a train overshoots semi-formal.
• An untucked shirt, or no tie at an indoor wedding, undershoots it.
• Stilettos sink into grass at outdoor venues. Wear block heels.
• Flip-flops are wrong even at a beach wedding. Wear dressy sandals.
• An extremely bright or flashy outfit pulls focus from the couple.