Formal and black tie
Black tie is the most formal common dress code. Women wear floor-length gowns or very dressy cocktail dresses in luxe fabrics — silk, velvet, crepe — with fine jewelry and an evening clutch. Men wear a tuxedo: black dinner jacket, formal trousers, bow tie, and patent or polished dress shoes. "Formal" without the word "black" is a half-step down: a tuxedo still works, or a dark suit with a tie.
Cocktail and semi-formal
The most common wedding dress code. Women choose cocktail dresses at or just below the knee, dressy jumpsuits, or a skirt-and-blouse pairing in elevated fabrics. Men wear a suit — navy, charcoal, or dark gray — with a dress shirt and tie (the tie may be optional for semi-formal in warm weather). This is the code where most guests land, so it pays to own one reliable outfit at this level.
Dressy casual and casual
"Dressy casual" still means polished: women in sundresses, midi skirts, or tailored separates; men in chinos or dress trousers with a collared shirt (blazer optional but welcome). True "casual" is rare for weddings and usually signals a backyard or daytime event — neat dark jeans can work, but shorts, flip-flops, and graphic tees never do. When a wedding says casual, aim one notch above what you would wear to a nice restaurant.
Beach and destination weddings
Beach formal calls for lightweight fabrics that move in ocean wind: linen suits without ties for men, flowing midi or maxi dresses for women, and footwear that handles sand — dressy sandals or barefoot-friendly flats. For destination weddings, pack for the climate first and the ceremony second, and bring one layer for air-conditioned receptions. Wrinkle-resistant fabrics earn their keep when the outfit travels in a suitcase.
A note on menswear
Men's wedding guest dressing is simpler but less forgiving of errors. Match leathers (belt to shoes), make sure the suit fits in the shoulders, and skip the novelty tie at anything above casual. A well-fitted navy suit with a white shirt handles nearly every dress code except black tie — it is the hardest-working garment a wedding guest can own.