NER: What to wear for "beach formal"

Just H

I have a friend going to a wedding at the end of this month where the attire is to be "beach formal"  The ceremony and reception will be at a beach front resort but none of the festivities actually take place in the sand on the beach, everything is indoors and its a 6PM ceremony with sit down dinner.  What do you wear?  I don't think The Knots recommendation of nice sundress and flats seems appropriate.  Thoughts?

crash2729

What is beach formal? That sounds made up to me. : I would just dress like you would for any othe wedding

wrigleyville

I'm picturing a flowy formal gown, maybe chiffon or organza, in a beach color (various shades of blue, coral, yellow, or pink). She could also wear something shorter, depending on the temperature that day.

Examples:

wrigleyville

Additionally, this is why I think dress codes are stupid (unless the venue requires formal wear). Everyone is either going to wear whatever they want or resent the couple for asking them to buy something they might not own.

Whenever I see a dress code like that, I think the couple just wants everyone to look good for pictures. I'm not a prop. My cousin's wedding colors were black and red, and they asked everyone to wear those colors so the pictures would match. I think maybe 30% of the guests wore black or red, and my cousin actually had the balls to get uppity about it. "We couldn't take any big family photos because so-and-so wore blue." Ugh.

Just H

Thanks!   Wrigley--that's the type of dress I was thinking.  When friend asked me, I had never heard of beach formal either, but it was on the invitation that way.  I thought it was a little different too since the wedding is not actually on the beach and its October and the location is not exactly the Caribbean...

Jen4948

I'd consider wearing something suitable for a house of worship in the summer.  It might be long, soft, and loose, in cool colors.

artbyallie

This is exactly why I hate made-up dress codes. If it's not white or black tie, people need to shut the eff up about it. I would do what I always do to dress for weddings: check the weather a week or so in advance and wear a dress with tights or not according to the temperature. More formal dress if the wedding/reception are in a fancy church and/or in the evening.

I'd always prefer to be overdressed than under.

wrigleyville

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-what-to-wear-for-beach-formal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:fda52305-903e-47ca-8124-55155e8de13bPost:a0f9f9d4-b34e-4350-87bc-d2fa12fb09c6">Re: NER: What to wear for "beach formal"</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks!   Wrigley--that's the type of dress I was thinking.  When friend asked me, I had never heard of beach formal either, but it was on the invitation that way.  I thought it was a little different too since the wedding is not actually on the beach and its October and the location is not exactly the Caribbean...
Posted by Just H[/QUOTE]

That's because there's no such thing as "beach formal". ;) I promise your friend isn't the only confused one. I think it's especially stupid of them to say that considering it isn't at some posh resort in the tropics or on the beach itself (and who wants to wear formal wear with heels in sand anyway)?

I feel the same way whenever I see "country chic", "vintage camo" (I swear I'm not making that up), "classy rustic", and other weird stuff. Just be happy I'm wearing a bra and showed up with a check.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-what-to-wear-for-beach-formal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fda52305-903e-47ca-8124-55155e8de13bPost:a65eb8c7-00a7-4491-8a81-7d695c77633c">Re: NER: What to wear for "beach formal"</a>:
[QUOTE]Additionally, this is why I think dress codes are stupid (unless the venue requires formal wear). Everyone is either going to wear whatever they want or resent the couple for asking them to buy something they might not own. Whenever I see a dress code like that, I think the couple just wants everyone to look good for pictures. I'm not a prop. My cousin's wedding colors were black and red, and they asked everyone to wear those colors so the pictures would match. I think maybe 30% of the guests wore black or red, and my cousin actually had the balls to get uppity about it. "We couldn't take any big family photos because so-and-so wore blue." Ugh.
Posted by wrigleyville[/QUOTE]

I feel like dress codes can be fine as long as you don't MAKE CRAP UP. "Beach formal" doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Black tie or "cocktail attire," even, I can deal with.

I mean, I guess they don't want people to wear jeans or shorts just because the wedding is at a beach, but it creates problems for people who actually try to follow things like appropriate attire rules.

Cortney1982

I can only imagine they don't want people showing up in shorts, denim, short skirts, tank tops, or tees because that would be "beach casual." I'm going to assume here "beach formal" would be slacks and shirts for men and not overly dressy dresses for the ladies.   I would just show up in one of my favorite maxi dresses and leather sandals and call it good.

Gustafson28

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-what-to-wear-for-beach-formal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:fda52305-903e-47ca-8124-55155e8de13bPost:45182967-7f33-4a3c-8abe-97955fc42778">Re: NER: What to wear for "beach formal"</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NER: What to wear for "beach formal" : That's because there's no such thing as "beach formal". ;) I promise your friend isn't the only confused one. I think it's especially stupid of them to say that considering it isn't at some posh resort in the tropics or on the beach itself (and who wants to wear formal wear with heels in sand anyway)? I feel the same way whenever I see "country chic", "vintage camo" (I swear I'm not making that up), "classy rustic", and other weird stuff. <strong>Just be happy I'm wearing a bra and showed up with a check.
</strong>Posted by wrigleyville[/QUOTE]



Hillarious! I agree that the dress code seems weird on all accounts. You think people would know how to dress themselves for a wedding...Beach formal just confuses.. She might get someone in a bathing suit and heels... lol

Gabrielle76

For my wedding I'm going to tell people to wear "Barnyard Black Tie" or maybe "Kegger Formal"

Just to see...