Wedding Styles

Will Guests Come to a Formal Wedding?

I really want my wedding to be a dressy affair. But I'm afraid if I insist on black-tie, some people won't come.

If you've got your heart set on a celebration that resembles Oscar night, go for it. Most guests will be happy to dress the part. Just keep in mind that for the men who will need to rent tuxes, this can mean an additional cost of £39.95 or more. For the women, a formal wedding may mean that they have to pony up for an appropriate dress. If you add these expenses to the cost of a present and travel arrangements, seeing you tie-the-knot could get pricey.

However, no one on your guest list is being forced to wear a tux—men can wear dark suits instead when black-tie is called for. If you're afraid your guests won't understand this option, you can always put black-tie optional on the invitation. Although some guests will bow out of the tux option, plenty of people will still participate in your Academy Award-style fantasy.