Ladies at white tie events must always wear very long, very formal evening gowns. If a lady is avoiding white or black at a wedding celebration, she can select deep, rich hues of violet or burgundy to add to the festive mood. Ladies almost always wear long gloves to white tie events, which they should remove once seated for dinner.
Black Tie Preferred. The “black tie preferred” designation on an invitation represents your host’s request for a very formal affair that can still accommodate some personal style. It doesn’t mean that you can show up wearing anything from the closet, however.
A gentleman would not be out of place in a charcoal or black business suit, with a plain white shirt and a conservative tie. These invitations actually offer far more flexibility for ladies. Women can opt for a shorter evening gown or even a formal dinner suit, and they can leave the gloves at home if they wish.
Black Tie Invited. Party planners have started to use this euphemism for “black tie optional,” since so many Americans seem to take the word “optional” too literally. Your hosts would prefer you to follow the same rules as “black tie preferred,” but won’t be as stringent if you exercise a higher degree of creativity in choosing your outfit.
Black Tie Optional. Like “black tie invited,” though many Americans now interpret this phrase to mean “semi-formal.”
Semi-Formal. Without going completely casual, your hosts request that you wear classy attire in colors that are appropriate for the season. Gentlemen can wear lighter jackets in the spring or summer, while women can wear a variety of contemporary or professional dresses or suits.
Learn more about the secret code words of invitations in two definitive books from the Emily Post Institute:
Essential Manners for Men, by Peter Post: http://www.amazon.com/exec/
obidos/ASIN/0060539801
Emily Post’s Entertaining: http://www.amazon.com/exec/
obidos/ASIN/006273640X
