[ss1088]

I have been invited to a wedding where the dress code is listed as semi-formal. However, I am still confused on what to wear. I know most of you guys would be correct in translating this to be a black tie event. However, it seems most people these days just assume this means a suit and tie. I really don’t want to be out of place at this event by wearing a tuxedo. I have tried to contact the host/hostess but they are in the military and not prompt to respond. This gives me only two weeks to get a tuxedo together if necessary. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[ss1088]

Suit. If somebody wanted either black tie or white tie, they would let you know about it very clearly. I could imagine that "semi-formal" is even blazer and tie territory - but a suit is clearly the safest route.

You are probably right about that. I think a dark suit will be the safe way to go. If it were any one of my good friends I would assume a suit and tie to be fine but the bride is a high brow kind of girl so it had me worried. I do not know the groom.

P.S. The wedding is in the evening which also had me concerned. I probably should not be too worried. At most weddings I see some pretty poorly dresses people show up these days.

 

[ss1088]

Black tie would be formal these days noit semi formal so the suit is in fact correct.

Hence the ambiguity.

 

[ss1088]

If the wedding is after 6 in the South East, it is semi-formal, even if that is not stated, it is understood. Now if the invitation tells you it is semi-formal, then you have to assume it is. Almost evey male I know over the age of 18 owns a dinner jacket. It is not at all unusual in this part of the world.

Kind of the opposite here.

 

[ss1088]

ss1088:

There are strict and set classifications for men's wear! You'll want to review the article linked from the Home Page, Cracking the Dress Code:

EVENING SEMI-FORMAL: Black dinner jacket or white in summer (tuxedo).
​

You just have to hope the host knows the Dress Codes!

That's where to problem lies. I know what semi-formal is but based on my experiences, I do not think the majority of the people that may show up to this event do. If that is the case, I will be the one who appears to be in the wrong. I wouldn't want to spend most of me evening explaining myself to people.

In addition, there is a lot of misinformation on the internet now. Most articles will tell you semi-formal means a suit or even less.

I think I will play it safe and show up to the wedding in a suit. If most are in back tie I think I will skip the reception to avoid embarrassment.

 

[ss1088]

She is an Airforce officer and I am pretty sure he is too.

 

[ss1088]

From the web site about.com on the matter of how to word wedding invitations:

Optional details include telling your guests what to wear. Strictest etiquette tells you not to include information about attire on your invitation, but I think this is an outdated opinion. Guests appreciate clues about how to dress, and are not as instinctively knowledgeable as they used to be. To avoid someone showing up in blue jeans, include a line such as:

Black Tie

Other options: Semi-formal, cocktail attire, festive attire, creative black tie, white tie, black tie optional, dressy casual, informal.

The same web site provides the following definition of "semi-formal":

Semi-Formal or After Five means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.

And while I am sure you will say that you do not consider this to be your definitive guide in such matters, that isn't the point I'm making. I'm saying that one cannot assume that everyone is reading from the same book. All I know is that I've been to more than a few "semi-formal" weddings where a suit was what was being requested.

Heck, in many of these "semi-formal" weddings the groom was wearing a suit and I don't think I would want to show up at someone's wedding in a tuxedo with the wedding party in suits. Like I suggested previously, the issue isn't about who is technically right or wrong.

Cruiser

The dress code was not indicated on the invitation itself but in an area on their wedding website. I am going to assume they don't mean black tie because I am sure not everyone will bother to go the the site and see this.

 

[ss1088]

Well, I finally got a repose from the bride to be.

"I don't know about black tie, but most people will be wearing suits or uniforms. We decided against tuxs since most of the groomsmen were Air Force people."

That settles that.