Beach formal?

MrsW101109

Hello, former knottie here with a question. I was invited to a wedding in August. The ceremony is on the beach and the reception is at a catering facility. It states that the attire is "beach formal" and I am really not sure what it is.

I was thinking that for me it probably means a short, more flowy dress and either sandals or barefoot for the ceremony. Am I on the right track?

I am actually more concerned about what my husband should wear. All I can think of when I hear beach formal is beige linen pants and a white shirt, but that def doesnt seem "formal".

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

uppereastgirl

Ugh... I hate dress codes like that.  Beach formal means nothing!  Anything I can think of that is beachy is decidedly not formal.   Do you know if the facility will be holding more than one event at a time?  If so, I think you definitely want to interpret that in a fancier way out of respect for that party.

Are you close enough with the bride and groom that you could ask them what they have in mind?  

Otherwise, I'd probably err on the side of formality -- fancy sundress or moderately fancy cocktail dress for you, and a suit (possibly without a tie, but that's the least formal that I would assume) for your husband.  It is better to be overdressed than underdressed, particularly if the wedding is at a reception hall, right?

kasabby

I think for your husband--khakis and a blazer of some sort and a dressy sundress for you but who knows. It is always so confusing! 

felicia220

Uppereast-your post made me smile.  Only because I am having a similar style wedding and didn't put a dress code (because I agree that it is rude to do so) and now everyone is calling me asking me what to wear....haha.

Beach formal pretty much means, light colored dress clothes.  So a light colored pant, not necessarily linen with a white shirt.  And for you a light or summer colored cocktail dress or as you said a flowing long dress will work just as well.  

My FI is wearing a tone on tone striped sand colored pant and a white button shirt but it doesn't have a collar, which he really likes, I have to tell you that it ended up looking a lot more formal then I thought it would when I saw it.  

If it helps Macy's has a lot of stuff that would be good for that type of thing, but I would go soon before they start to put the fall stuff out.  

mbcdefg

My immediate thought for your husband was khaki pants, blue blazer, white collared shirt and maybe a tie. He can always take off the tie and/or the blazer if he shows up and people are dressed more informally.

I think the flowy dress and nice sandals would be fine for you. You could always bring beachier sandals for the beach and dressier sandals for dinner and then change in the car if need be. A bright-colored wrap would be nice to have just in case, and you can bring both casual and nicer jewelry in yoru bag and change them in the bathroom or car once you see how (in)formal everything is.

I agree, though, call the bride/groom if you're close enough to them to do so.