Sep 12, 2013 | Posted by: abi s

You just received your invitation to a wedding and you are thrilled. Then the thought hits you, "what to wear for the wedding ?". Excitedly you will look for the invitation to see if there is a clue. You spot the words "Casual Dress" and this doesn't help you. This article will help you to decode the difference between casual wedding attire, semi-formal, cocktail and formal wear. You may wonder if it is appropriate to wear that pretty sundress and a pair if neat sandals, the answer to that would be a resounding NO! Keep reading we have decoded the meanings for you and provided examples as well.

If the wedding invitation says "Black Tie" this is formal wear at its finest. Think of Oscar Night Red Carpet. This is when you can really put on the Ritz, sequins, beads and sparkling jewelry just remember to not upstage the bride.

Like this beautiful gown by Adrianna Papell, it has all over beading, sheer long sleeves and an elegant pleated hem. Classy and stylish but still subdued enough to not outshine the couples.

Semi-Formal is the one that is most often the one that people get wrong. If you remember that a wedding is not going to the nightclub you stand a chance of getting this one right. Finding the right wedding guest semi-formal attire is also dependent upon the time of day and the season. when in doubt go for a more formal cocktail dress, err on the side of formality and make sure that you use decorum when choosing. Above the knee is fine to wear.

The invitation said casual, this does not give you license to wear jeans. Casual wedding dress attire can be something like you would wear to church or to the office.

Dress pants and a really cool blouse, cotton dresses or pencil skits. In the fall and winter a good pair of well tailored wool pants and a silk top works great. Also add jewelry, a handbag and killer shoes for cool look .

Beach wedding attire is a bit trickier but unless you are specifically requested to do so please don't wear a bikini. When you see the words "Beach Wedding", think formal occasion on a beach.

When choosing beach wedding dress attire , remember to consider the sun, heat, sand and water. While wearing a short flirty dress may seem tempting a gust of wind could make you wish you hadn't worn it. This is a wedding where dressy flat sandals similar to the examples shown here.