Another Attire Q - "Black Tie Optional"

MacPanda

What does "Black Tie Optional" actually mean?  We have a wedding to attend in the San Juans for a bride that is from NY.  The dress 'code' was printed on the invitation.  Is black tie optional the same as semi-formal?

dreamwinds

http://fashion.about.com/cs/glossary/a/partydefinition.htm

That might be helpful. Our wedding might be black tie optional, as I'd like to see people with a little more formality to their attire (what can I say? You can't breed the southern or east coast out of a girl in just 6 years.)

The way I see it is it just further emphasizes the formality, that while tuxedos are not required, it wouldn't be unheard of to show up in a tux (and most definitely a coat, tie, and dress pants) and that a woman's attire can range from formal cocktail dress to long evening gown.

Make sure, either way it goes, that the man and woman's clothes match. So if he's in a tux, she should be in an evening gown or some such.

The most formal attire note would be white tie affair.

jennuinne

Yeah, its helpful to google these, there are a lot of definitions.  I think that cocktail could pass for black tie optional, but I think cocktail is a minimum for black tie optional, with more formal encouraged, like tux/suit and long dress.

carrieoz_76

I think it means formal.  Tux or suit for guys.  Long formal dress for girls.

I think it's silly to try to dictate dress code on invitations - unless the venue requires it, and I *highly* dought, though, that especially in the San Juans that's required by the venue.  That would make me want to show up in a tank top and flip flops, but I'm contrary like that. 

emyinpink

I would say suit for guys (black), and a cocktail dress for you.

ahuette

I inturpret black tie optional as - tux would put you out of place, but a jacket is necessary.  For women - a fancier cocktail dress would be the minimum and a longer dress would be expected. 

irshis20

A lot of people who list formal or black tie on an invitation really have no idea what they're saying. A whole lotta people will get pissed off if people show up to their wedding in tuxes, when the groom and groomsmen are wearing the same thing. I can't imagine a wedding in the San Juans being black tie. I personally just find it unrealistic to expect that everyone up here in ultra-casual Seattle will have an evening gown or tux handy to attend a wedding.