What are the requirements for a black tie wedding?

It's interesting:
"I think you'll all agree that it's been a wonderful wedding so far. ... But I never received a formal invitation to the wedding, so I just hope I haven't eaten a meal ..."

Dress codes for weddings can range from the semi-casual to the highly formal, and the black tie suggestion is one of the most formal on the spectrum. Black tie is more than just a suggestion of formal wear, and you should attempt to follow its requirements as closely as possible if you’-re attending such an event. Some wedding invites will specify black tie optional instead, which offers a more relaxed but still formal choice of what to wear.

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1. Men’-s Jacket and Tie

   • The basis of the man’-s black tie outfit is the tuxedo, and this can be bought or rented. There are a few varieties of tuxedo jacket available. These include both single- and double-breasted jackets, as well as black and midnight blue colors. According to the Black Tie Guide website, things to avoid on a tuxedo jacket include flaps on the pocket, while notched lapels are acceptable but are not truly traditional. The jacket should be combined with a black bow tie, which should be self-tied, not clip-on, if possible.

   Shirt and Trousers

   • A man should wear a pleated or pique front shirt in white underneath his jacket. This shirt ideally has double cuffs, adorned with cuff links, as well as a turn-down collar, according to the Black Tie Guide website. The trousers of the outfit should be black and made from the same material as the jacket.

   For Women

   • If you’-re a woman, you have a little more choice when it comes to black tie. The general guidance is to wear a long evening gown or else a stylish cocktail dress. In terms of color, go for dark colors such as black and browns, as noted by the MSN Lifestyle website. You can wear jewelry if you desire. Feel free to wear glamorous makeup, too.

   Footwear

   • If you’-re a guy, you’-ll want black shoes, and ensure your footwear is well-polished, too. Common shoe styles for tuxedos include leather pumps and oxfords. Wear black socks with your shoes. Ladies should go for high heels or shoes of corresponding elegance.

   Variants

   • Sometimes the wedding invites will suggest a black tie dress code as optional. In these situations, you have a choice of whether to wear a tuxedo or not for men. If you don’-t wear one, you should still wear a suit, in a dark color if the wedding is at night, accompanied by a tie. Women attending weddings with such a dress code can still wear a long dress or don a cocktail-length dress instead.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Black Guide, Black Guide website, black wedding, dress code, Guide website, invites will