Wedding dress
codes.
Every wedding dress code decoded — from black tie to beach formal — with what guests should wear and ready-to-paste wording for your invitation and website.
- Based on
- 5,962 venues
- Destinations
- 40 covered
- Time to result
- ~40 seconds
- Basis
- Modeled estimate
Polished but not formal — a suit, or a cocktail or midi dress.
Cocktail attire
We’re going cocktail attire — think suits and cocktail dresses. The celebration runs into the evening indoors, so dress for a long, beautiful night.
A cocktail or midi dress, or a dressy jumpsuit.
A suit and tie, in any colour — a dark suit reads safest.
Put the dress code where guests actually look: not only the invitation, but the wedding website, beside the schedule and the weather. The single most useful thing you can add is the terrain — “the ceremony is on a lawn” saves every guest in heels — and the evening temperature, which on the water or at altitude drops more than people pack for. Vague codes (“dressy”, “garden chic”) cause more outfit panic than strict ones; pick a real term and define it.
Every dress code,
decoded.
The wedding dress codes, most to least formal, with what each one asks of your guests. Choose one above and the tool writes the wording for your invitation and website; the table below is the quick reference to share when someone asks what cocktail attire actually means.
| Dress code | What it means | For her | For him |
|---|---|---|---|
| White tie | The most formal dress code there is — full evening dress. | A formal floor-length ball gown, with gloves and fine jewellery. | A black tailcoat, white waistcoat, and a white bow tie. |
| Black tie | Formal evening wear: tuxedos, and floor-length or elegant gowns. | A floor-length gown or a very formal midi. | A black tuxedo with a black bow tie. |
| Black-tie optional | A tuxedo is welcome but not required — a dark suit is just as right. | A floor-length gown or a dressy cocktail dress. | A tuxedo, or a dark suit and tie. |
| Formal | Polished evening wear, a step below black tie. | A long dress, a formal jumpsuit, or a dressy cocktail dress. | A dark suit and tie. |
| Cocktail attire | Polished but not formal — a suit, or a cocktail or midi dress. | A cocktail or midi dress, or a dressy jumpsuit. | A suit and tie, in any colour — a dark suit reads safest. |
| Semi-formal | A notch below cocktail: a suit, or a midi or smart dress. | A knee-length or midi dress, or smart separates. | A suit; a tie is optional. |
| Festive | Cocktail with personality — colour, sparkle, a little statement. | A fun cocktail dress — colour or sequins encouraged. | A suit with a bold tie, jacket, or pocket square. |
| Beach formal | Elevated but breathable, made for sand, sun, and a sea breeze. | A flowy midi or maxi dress, with wedges or smart flats. | A linen or light-coloured suit, no tie, with loafers. |
| Dressy casual | Put-together but relaxed — a step up from everyday, no jeans. | A sundress or nice separates. | Chinos and a collared shirt; a blazer is a nice touch. |
On a printed invitation, the dress code is just the term, set in the lower corner. Save the detail — the setting, the weather, the lawn that eats heels — for your wedding website, where there is room to be warm and specific.
Modeled from 5,962 venues.
Every number in these tools is a modeled estimate, researched per venue across the Aisle marketplace and currency-normalized — not a figure pulled from booked weddings. Treat them as planning ranges and confirm with the venue.
- Data source
- Marketplace cost research
- Last refresh
- June 2026, Q2
- Next refresh
- September 2026
- Basis
- Modeled estimate
- Sample size
- 5,962 venues analyzed
- Corrections
- hello@aisle.wedding