Black-Tie Optional?

mgnova03

My fiance would like all men to wear a tuxedo to our wedding as he loves the look and is nervous that some family members won't dress appropriately.  I don't want people to feel like they have to go out and buy or rent a tux and so we landed up at Black-tie optional.  My first question here is black-tie optional confusing to people? 

I do want guests to wear suits and dresses.  I know you can list black-tie on an invite, but if the wedidng isn't black-tie, but you want people to dress in a suit or dress is there something else you can list and would it just go on our website?

I never thought attire would need to be clarified, but he is very concerned.
Thanks!

csweaney

You can never really dictate what people are going to wear. People are going to do what they want to do regardless of what you put on the wedding website or invitations. For example, my sister in law put "black tie attire suggested" on her invites and our uncles showed up in black button down Harley Davidson shirts *cringe*

Hopefully most people will respect what you put on the invitation so they don't feel underdressed. 

beardownbchs

Are you having the other elements of a black-tie wedding? Such as gloved waiters, a multi-course plated dinner, top shelf open bar, band, ect? If not, please do not ask your guests to dress for an event that it not black tie. Your typical nice wedding with a chicken breast and a DJ is not black tie. Unless your wedding is truely black tie, you cannot and should not tell people to dress black tie. Choose very formal invitations and guests will get the idea. Those who don't, wouldn't even if you put black-tie on them. 

I would be pissed if I went out and bought a gown and FI rented a tux and we get to a wedding that isn't black tie. 

emeejeeayen

Black tie optional is stoopid.