Brent Emerson: Charlotte, North Carolina (NC)

It’s not easy to get ready for a wedding. If you haven’t attended many, you may not be aware of what is appropriate attire. If you’ve been to a lot of parties, you’ve probably noticed that the formality varies from one to the next, and even if it doesn’t, you probably don’t want to wear the same outfit to each one. Read this helpful guide before you start panicking, going through your closet, or committing to a shopping trip. You’ve come to the right place if you need dress codes explained or just some ideas for changing up your look.

• Tie in White

A white tie is the most formal attire available. It gets not used very often these days. If you’ve been asked to an event like this, though, you must dress appropriately. Men must wear a black tailcoat, white vest, formal white shirt, white bow-tie, and white gloves if they are feeling fancy, according to Brent Emerson, AZ. Wear black pumps on your feet (a.k.a. opera shoes).

Women’s attitudes differ, but it’s safest to wear a long, formal gown. Arizona store advises that you examine the size of your dress. It’s best to wear heels, but make sure you can walk in them. Wearing a shorter height is preferable to stumbling around all day.

• Formal/Informal (Cocktail)

The name, according to Brent Emerson, Charlotte, implies a call. “On the wedding costume spectrum, semi-formal is halfway between formal and casual.” Men’s suits, she believes, can be worn with or without ties. Arizona store considers semi-formal to be “quite fancy” but adds that ladies have options. Cocktail dresses and elegant separates are nearly always appropriate.

• Casual

Casual clothes vary a lot depending on where you are and what time of day it is. A sport coat gets required at the most formal level. Button-down shirts, sweaters, and loose-fitting pants (chinos, khakis, etc.) are often acceptable. Men can get away with wearing polo’s and shorts when they want to be casual. Footwear is unrestricted in all instances (boat shoes may be worn, for example). According to the North Carolina store, women can dress in a “less-dressy dress” (think: a sundress). Sandals or flats are the ideal footwear for this occasion.

• Traditional

In rare circumstances, you may get expected to dress according to the conventions of a particular culture. A couple planning a traditional Indian wedding, for example, might ask women to wear saris. Do your research, ask for guidance when necessary, and always dress respectfully in these situations.

• Custom

Anything is possible in today’s world. We’ve seen couples include color palettes in their wedding invites and encourage their guests to dress following them. Others have created Pinterest boards with wardrobe ideas to inspire their guests. North Carolina store, which gets featured above at her wedding in Italy, explains, “Our wedding dress code was upscale-casual, and we wanted our guests to get inspired by the Tuscan environment for their clothes.” The majority of her guests wore neutral colors, such as these.