We are currently a bit more than half way through our trip to Italy and I hope you are all following along! Though even though we are on holiday I did not want to leave you hanging on Sparkles and Shoes so I am sharing a bit more about one of the most requested topics – an update on our wedding! Recently I had a friend over for dinner and she asked about wedding planning, a common question nowadays. We got talking about where we are and when I mentioned the dress code for our wedding, her reaction was surprising. Currently our wedding website says “Formal, Black Tie Optional” but apparently in England that means something different than it does in the United States.
Over the last eight years I have shared what I have worn to various black tie weddings , like this gorgeous purple dress I wore to my friend’s black tie wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. Breaking it down, this dress code essentially means a long dress for the girls by default and a tux for the guys. When planning our wedding we decide to add the formal bit bit because we do not want people to have to go our of their way to buy tuxedos, especially as we are having a destination wedding. And what does that mean exactly? I did a bit of an Internet deep dive and found this great diagram from Brides that perfectly describes what I am envisioning the dress code to be at our wedding:
Wedding Dress Codes Explained Jessica Ola for Brides
Overall, I want our guests to look fancy – it will be a fancy evening and you may recall for the last 10 years my cocktail parties have had a dress code so it will not come to a surprise to many that my wedding will have one as well. I want people to look nice – I am definitely fine with variations, ladies can wear heels or flats, the Brits are more than welcome to wear hats (commons for the ladies), and guys can wear dark suits if they don’t have or want to wear a tux. The only thing I would not be a fan is any female showing up in a white gown.
What are your thoughts on a black-tie optional dress code?
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Miki Esme┊Fashion Stylist says
Your photos are amazing dear! Love your pink dress, so cute on you!
Thanks for sharing
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Bernadette says
You and your girlfriend are gorgeous. I love both of the dresses and the color on you is superb.
I will keep this dress code for my wedding and for other functions that hopefully will be returning to normal at some point.
Keep them coming Kelly.
Christa says
I think black tie optional is great. Will get you the fancy wedding that you want while being realistic that the expense of renting a tux on top of travel expenses to get to a wedding can add up if one does not own a tux already.
Can’t wait to see the photos from your wedding and what everyone will be wearing!
Sarah says
Never knew that there were so many categories. Thanks for the interpretation.