Black Tie Optional Wedding Attire
How to dress for black tie optional without overdoing or underdressing.
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Paste the wording from the invite, or pick a code below.
Decoded
Black tie optional
Nearly formal. A tuxedo is welcome, but a dark suit or elevated dress is also appropriate.
Good choices
- Tuxedo or dark suit
- Long dress, dressy midi or refined jumpsuit
- Formal shoes and restrained accessories
Avoid
- Casual separates
- Bright clubwear
- Anything that reads bridal white
For summer weddings: Keep the silhouette formal, then adjust fabric weight to the season.
Black tie optional in plain English
Nearly formal. A tuxedo is welcome, but a dark suit or elevated dress is also appropriate.
Best for elevated weddings where a tuxedo is welcome but not required.
What to wear
- Tuxedo or dark suit
Works well for this code when the venue and season agree. - Long dress, dressy midi or refined jumpsuit
Works well for this code when the venue and season agree. - Formal shoes and restrained accessories
Works well for this code when the venue and season agree.
What to avoid
- Casual separates
It can make the outfit read too casual, too bridal or too impractical. - Bright clubwear
It can make the outfit read too casual, too bridal or too impractical. - Anything that reads bridal white
It can make the outfit read too casual, too bridal or too impractical.
Season note
Keep the silhouette formal, then adjust fabric weight to the season.
FAQs
- What does black tie optional mean for a wedding?
Nearly formal. A tuxedo is welcome, but a dark suit or elevated dress is also appropriate. - What should I wear to a black tie optional wedding?
Tuxedo or dark suit; Long dress, dressy midi or refined jumpsuit; Formal shoes and restrained accessories - What should I avoid wearing?
Casual separates; Bright clubwear; Anything that reads bridal white