I get a lot of questions on the iVillage Ask the Bridal Expert message board about attire. And not about what the bridal party should wear, but how to make sure the guests wear appropriate clothes.
My answer is pretty simple. If you want all the men in tuxedos and women evening gowns then have "black tie" or "formal attire" printed on the lower corner of your invitation. If you want your guests to be formal but don't need to have everyone in a tux then print "black tie optional." If you're not sure attire wording will fit on the invite, talk to your stationer about layouts and other options. I had a separate card inserted to the invite that read "Dinner and dancing to follow formal attire"
Your guests will know how to dress themselves, and of all the details you need to tend to, worrying about their wardrobe should not be one of them. There are certain attire rules that most, if not all, people follow:
Saturday (or Sunday) night - after 6pm - formal/black tie attire
Daytime weddings - suits for men and cocktail dresses for women
If you're concerned about a handful of guests you can either tell them, or have someone else tell them, what's appropriate, or just let them come and don't think about it. A guest that is dressed inappropriately will be more embarrassed for himself or herself and you probably won't notice because you'll be too busy enjoying the day.
The invite pictured above is from Anna Bella Stationery. They have a great selection of invitation sets and reception card pieces that can match every palette and theme, and their prices are extremely reasonable. For paper inspiration, check out their blog, Paper-Peep.
