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Stupid question about levels of dress code

LocusLocus Trust MeThe seaRegistered User regular
edited July 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
I'm going to a wedding in a couple of weeks. The invitation says the attire is semi-formal. I read the article on wikipedia and all I did was successfully confuse myself.

So my question(s): What does semi-formal mean? Do I really need to rent a tuxedo (or god forbid try to fit into my tux from high school)? Should I just ask the bride and groom (which might prove difficult seeing as they'll be busy preparing for a wedding)?

Locus on

Posts

  • KyleWPetersonKyleWPeterson Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Are you in the wedding? I have no idea why you'd wear a tuxedo if you're not.

    Semi-formal means a pair of slacks and a nice button-up shirt.

    Kyle

    KyleWPeterson on
  • Susan DelgadoSusan Delgado Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    semi-formal would be like a suit, (think high school dance) but not a tux, and not khakis and a button up, I personally would consider that "casual" for a wedding.

    /my2cents

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  • wunderbarwunderbar What Have I Done? Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd go with at the very least shirt and tie, a suit if you have one.

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  • powersspowerss Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    if you're overdressed, you feel silly

    if you're underdressed, you are silly

    powerss on
  • MoSiAcMoSiAc Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Dress in a suit with a nice shirt and tie, when you get there see if other guys are wearing the jacket, if not be like them, if they are wear the jacket. Anything less than almost a full suit and you are probably a little too casual for a wedding.

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  • firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Is the wedding and/or reception indoor or outdoor?

    Generally, think business attire (nice jacket, slacks, et cetera). I'd say a tie is optional. Outdoor wedding are, in my experience, generally less formal.

    As others have mentioned, unless you're a groomsman or some such, do not wear a tuxedo.

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  • mtsmts Dr. Robot King Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    its going to depend on the location, semi-formal back east is like a shirt and tie with nice pants, out in California, its more likely a clean pair of pants and a shirt with a collar

    mts on
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  • Filler Inc.Filler Inc. Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd say that out here, semi casual is slacks and a polo or button up.

    That said, for semi formal I'd wear a suit and tie. They're classy, you'll look good, and at most weddings, you won't be overdressed.

    Filler Inc. on
  • Shazkar ShadowstormShazkar Shadowstorm Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    suit and tie

    not a fricking tux

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  • LocusLocus Trust Me The seaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Yeah, it's an indoor wedding, and I am most definitely not in the wedding. I assumed all I needed was a suit, but I just wanted to make sure. Thanks for the help!

    Locus on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Dress in something that can be made more formal or more casual easily.

    For instance, a suit can range from buttoned up, with a tie, all formalified, to just a button down shirt with an open jacket really quickly.

    Tux? Not so much. Just nice pants and a button down? Again, you're kind of limited to two choices.

    Suits always work

    Khavall on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    semi formal means you wear just what you would if it was formal attire but without a tie and swap out polished shiny shoes for some kind of neat shoe alternative. not sneakers.

    Suits are never out of place. Ever.

    I sometimes wear suits to work, which if you dont know is an office full of game journalists. some people wear the same clothes for 3 days in a row.

    A nice sports jacket, white shirt and black jeans will never look out of place.

    If it is a wedding, you should really go for a suit, and because it says semi formal, take off the tie.

    a suit, not a tux.

    The_Scarab on
  • supabeastsupabeast Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    semi formal means you wear just what you would if it was formal attire but without a tie and swap out polished shiny shoes for some kind of neat shoe alternative. not sneakers.

    That is not what semi-formal means. Semi-formal means wear a (wool) suit and tie, as opposed to formal, which is a tuxedo.

    supabeast on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    supabeast wrote: »
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    semi formal means you wear just what you would if it was formal attire but without a tie and swap out polished shiny shoes for some kind of neat shoe alternative. not sneakers.

    That is not what semi-formal means. Semi-formal means wear a (wool) suit and tie, as opposed to formal, which is a tuxedo.

    A tuxedo in the afternoon?!


    Oh shoot the time wasn't even specified.

    What time is the wedding?

    Khavall on
  • an_altan_alt Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    As I've always understood it:

    Formal - tux
    Semi-formal - suit or sports coat (not with jeans or sneakers) with a tie
    Business casual - collar and khakis (no sneakers), use a tie for higher end or a polo for lower end

    ... and I'm on the west coast.

    Also, as a general rule you'll feel very silly underdressed and only silly if very overdressed.

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  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Wear a suit, a good shirt and tie, with shiny shoes. Don't wear trainers, jeans, combats, a polo shirt or t shirt. If other blokes are not wearing a jacket, you could take yours off. if they're not wearing teis, ditto, but if you turn up without either, and everyone else is in a suit, you'll stand out (not in a good way) and feel a twit.

    Its a wedding!!!! dress up, make us proud and post pics afterwards.

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  • John MatrixJohn Matrix Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Even if a suit isn't required, you should always wear one to a wedding - gotta go after those bridesmaids!

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  • mtsmts Dr. Robot King Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Black tie = tux
    formal = suit
    semi-formal = shirt and tie
    casual = whatever, but its a wedding at least have a collar

    mts on
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  • BasarBasar IstanbulRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    A nice two button suit with nice shoes would fit semi-formal.

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  • EggyToastEggyToast Jersey CityRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    mts wrote: »
    Black tie = tux
    formal = suit
    semi-formal = shirt and tie
    casual = whatever, but its a wedding at least have a collar

    Yeah, I don't know what you guys are doing saying that a suit is "semi-formal." Semi-formal means "your button up shirt should be tucked in," not "job interview."

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  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    EggyToast wrote: »
    mts wrote: »
    Black tie = tux
    formal = suit
    semi-formal = shirt and tie
    casual = whatever, but its a wedding at least have a collar

    Yeah, I don't know what you guys are doing saying that a suit is "semi-formal." Semi-formal means "your button up shirt should be tucked in," not "job interview."

    Not at a wedding.

    At a wedding informal means suit if it's in the evening, and still a sports jacket on top of nice dressing up in the afternoon.

    Semi-formal always means suit at a wedding.

    Wedding Fashion is using descriptors not for normal life, but for life where it is incomprehensible to wear a tuxedo before 6. I mean that's crazy talk. So Semi-formal is not "Don't have vomit on your jeans" it's "Suit".

    Khavall on
  • digital.aarondigital.aaron Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I personally wear my suit pants and jacket, with a nice button up shirt for "semi-formal". I hate ties and try to avoid them when possible. Since my suit is fairly fashionable (not Armani or some shit, but still nice) and my shirts are always pressed and starched, I look very presentable. Your milage with this combination may vary, though.

    If you are still unsure, wear a pair of nice slacks, no jeans, no khakis. A button up shirt with a tie, and then carry a sport coat. If you see other people wearing jackets, you can put yours on. If other people are not wearing them, feel free to leave the sport coat in your car.

    digital.aaron on
  • hippofanthippofant ティンク Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    mts wrote: »
    Black tie = tux
    formal = suit
    semi-formal = shirt and tie
    casual = whatever, but its a wedding at least have a collar

    Don't forget business casual and semi-casual!

    Seriously, these terms often just end up meaning whatever the hell the person saying meant. I've worked where "business casual" meant dress shirt and tie or where "business casual" meant my boss could come in a t-shirt and ripped ski pants. If you're confident in your appearance and value simple comfort in your clothing, go in a dress shirt, tie, trousers or nice khakis. Otherwise, bring out the suit or sport jacket.

    Personally, I'd do the suit, since if it's a wedding, they're probably skewing towards the formal side, and I don't really mind wearing a suit. But if you really must know that badly - call and ask the bride or groom. Engage in a bit of small talk, because they've probably been busy wedding-planning for weeks and haven't had real human contact for a while. Hell, you can offer to help even and come out a champ. But really, if it's their wedding, they probably have an ideal for it and will appreciate your respecting that more so than resenting your bothering them.

    hippofant on
  • DaedalusDaedalus Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Wear a suit, and if it's hot and/or outdoors, ditch the jacket.

    Daedalus on
  • SerpentSerpent Sometimes Vancouver, BC, sometimes Brisbane, QLDRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Forget that the dress code says semi-formal.

    Just wear a suit. It's a wedding. If it's a nice suit, you'll look damn sharp. If you're overdressed, you'll STILL look damn sharp.

    I mean you can lose the tie and jacket once you're there and you'll just be fine.

    Serpent on
  • wallakawallaka Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I'd say it depends on where in the country you are, and how formal these people are. The definition of semi-formal in Alabama is much looser than in NY. I've been to a couple of friends' weddings and had folks in there wearing overalls or T-shirts. Basically if they are rednecks, the whole tie/no tie argument is moot.

    wallaka on
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