Cocktail or Semiformal

Cocktail attire has become one of the most popular wedding dress codes and is pretty ambiguous for those who haven’t attended a lot of weddings. Cocktail attire is a smidge more formal than semiformal attire, and is often for weddings held later in the day, while semiformal is usually for afternoon weddings. Avoid a tuxedo and go for a well-tailored suit with a solid shirt—tie optional but encouraged. Take cues from the wedding’s location. At a private club or mansion? Don’t forego the tie. At a country home or farm? You’ll likely be okay with an open collar. Again, a solid shirt is your best bet, but you can deviate from white into blues here. Loafers and lace-ups are both approved footwear.