While you can never demand that anyone wear (or not wear) anything to your wedding….you can always give your guests the attire of your bridal party in the invitation! This can helps guests dress accordingly if they decide to do so.

Below are guidelines to help you know exactly what to say to your guests about the attire of your wedding. Just remember, your wedding can be as unique as you want it to be and does not have to follow these guidelines!

Formal Daytime Wedding

Bride: floor-length dress in white or off-white with a train and long veil

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, and Flower Girls: floor-length dress in matching colors with matching shoes

Groom: cutaway coat (traditional) or grey tuxedo (modern)

Ushers and Groomsmen: similar to groom’s attire with variation in shirt and tie

Bride and Groom’s Mothers: long or short dress

Bride and Groom’s Fathers: same as grooms attire

*****

Formal Evening Wedding

Bride: same as formal daytime attire

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, and Flower Girls: same as formal daytime attire

Groom: Black tailcoat with white wing-collar piqué formal shirt (traditional) or black tuxedo with white formal shirt (modern)

Ushers and Groomsmen: similar to groom’s attire with a variation in tie style (bow tie and long tie)

Bride and Groom’s Mothers: long evening gown

Bride and Groom’s Fathers: same as groom’s attire

*****

Semiformal Daytime Wedding

Bride: floor-length dress in white or off-white with a short veil

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, and Flower Girls: same as formal daytime attire

Groom: grey or navy tuxedo

Ushers and Groomsmen: similar to groom’s attire but with a difference in vest and/or tie

Bride and Groom’s Mothers: floor-length dress

Bride and Groom’s Fathers: identical or groom’s attire or in a dark suit

*****

Semiformal Evening Wedding

Bride: same as semiformal daytime attire

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, and Flower Girls: same as semiformal daytime attire

Groom: tuxedo in a range of colors depending on the season (dark colors for fall/winter; bright colors for spring/summer

Ushers and Groomsmen: identical to groom’s attire but can be a different color tuxedo/suit with a difference in vest and tie

Bride and Groom’s Mothers: same as semiformal daytime attire

Bride and Groom’s Fathers: identical to groom’s attire but with a difference in tie

*****

Informal Daytime and Evening Weddings

Bride: cocktail dress or formal dress with a range in colors

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, and Flower Girls: dress should be the same formality of the bride’s dress

Groom: suit in a range of colors (fall/winter), sports coat with slacks/jeans (summer/spring)

Ushers and Groomsmen: identical to groom’s attire but with a difference in tie

Bride and Groom’s Mothers: cocktail dress

Bride and Groom’s Fathers: identical to groom’s attire but with a difference in tie