When you receive an invitation that says: 'Black Tie'

If the event you are attending is 'black tie' and the invitation says the same, you are expected to wear a tuxedo. All guests invited to this function are required and expected to wear formalwear. For the ladies cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates are appropriate.

When the invitation says: 'Black Tie Preferred'

This means the host of the party prefers to see all guests in formalwear. You could wear a Dark Suit, but tuxedos are preferred. For the ladies cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates are appropriate.

When the invitation says: 'Black Tie Invited or Optional'

In this case, it is not mandatory to wear a tuxedo; however, you will probably see more tuxedos than dark suits at these affairs. Black tuxedos and white or ivory Dinner Jackets with black trousers are appropriate. For the ladies cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates are appropriate.

When the invitation says: 'White Tie'

This term means you must wear Black Tails with black trousers and a white shirt, bow tie and vest. This ensemble is known as the 'ultra formal look' and if your event calls for it, you should not wear anything else! For the ladies long gowns are a must.

When the invitation says: 'Semi-Formal'

This is the trickiest of all dress codes. Usually it means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening event (after 6 pm) would still dictate  dark suits for the men and a cocktail dress for the ladies. Daytime events (before 6 pm) mean a suit for men and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for the ladies.

What to wear on a Destination Wedding or a Cruise:

Almost anything goes for a Destination Wedding even a black tuxedo. Choosing vests with lighter colors is a wise choice. Our style Stephen Geoffrey Alfresco is just one appropriate style that we offer. Many cruises will have a formal event when formal wear is appropriate. It may not be required, but it is suggested that you wear a tuxedo. Any black tuxedo will be suited for a cruise with the exception of tailcoats. Dinner Jackets are great choices as well. If you have multiple formalwear nights on your cruise, consider a black tuxedo and a dinner jacket!