What to Wear to a Semi-Formal Wedding
Your wedding invitation says "semi-formal"—now what exactly does that mean? In short, the event's formality falls somewhere in the mid to more-casual range of the dress code spectrum. It's not as fancy as a "black tie" wedding, but it's not the kind of soirée where anything goes, either.
Below, we break down semi-formal wedding attire for women and men in full. We've even offered up shoppable inspiration to make choosing an outfit easy. (Don't own anything appropriate and can't commit to buying something? It's A-okay to borrow from sites like Rent the Runway. We've included a handful of on-loan looks in our roundup too.)
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire: Women
Skip the evening gown and wear a cocktail dress instead. Dressy jumpsuits, rompers and separates are also viable semi-formal wedding attire options. Use accessories to your advantage; glitzy jewelry can elevate something on the casual side, while sandals (versus glam stilettos) can tone down a fancier ensemble. The following semi-formal wedding guest dresses (and alternative garments) illustrate the level of formality you should look for.
Semi-formal wedding guest dresses are often short—but never too short. This asymmetrical hemline strikes the perfect balance. Plus, we love the abstract print.
Osman Ink dress, from $120 to rent, RenttheRunway.com
Many midi dresses fall under the semi-formal label too. Fun pleats and bright color-blocking keep this garment looking fresh.
ASOS DESIGN double layer pleated midi dress in Color Block, $67, ASOS.com
Go ahead and put on pants. This structured jumpsuit is perfectly sophisticated.
Jill Jill Stuart black ruffle jumpsuit, from $70 to rent, RenttheRunway.com
You can also pull off patterns you might've overlooked for a more formal affair. Take this bold leopard print.
Rahi Dixie dress, $128, Amazon.com
There are gorgeous semi-formal wedding guest dresses for any body (try stores like ASOS and Nordstrom for plus sizes). This floral wrap dress is beautifully modern.
City Chic Mystic Fever midi dress, $129, Nordstrom.com
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire: Men
Wondering what to wear to a semi-formal wedding? The formula is super simple: a suit with dress shoes. Play things safe and put on a tie; other accessories (like cufflinks) are optional. See some outfit examples below.
You can't go wrong with a classic black suit jacket and matching pants for a semi-formal wedding.
The Black Tux black suit, $110 to rent, TheBlackTux.com
Gray is another semi-formal wedding-approved color. You can even get away with a subtle print.
Peter Millar Fynn classic fit plaid wool suit, $795, Nordstrom.com
Here's a blue suit to complete the traditional color trifecta. This navy number is versatile enough to wear again and again.
Ted Baker London Jay trim fit suit, $798, Nordstrom.com
Let the season inspire your outfit color palette—lighter suits well, suit warmer weather. We like this one's slim design.
Selected Homme Logan slim suit, $222, ASOS.com
Suits span a wide range of lengths, widths and overall fits—wear whatever you feel awesome in. This plus size set defines dapper.
Burton Menswear big and tall skinny suit jacket in Black, $87, ASOS.com; Burton Menswear big and tall skinny suit pants in Black, $48, ASOS.com
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