"Festive Attire" for wedding????

[dastz]

Hi
I've been invited to a wedding in Massacusetts; the date is late September. the invitation says "festive attire." Any idea what that means and any tips on what to wear? can i get by with gray trousers, black blazer, white shirt and a funky tie? Any suggestions will be most appreciated.
thanks

 

[Concordia]

I hate the whole "festive dress" notion. I think it generally means cocktail attire, that is to say, slightly uninhibited business dress.

What you describe sounds about right. And if your hosts don't like it, let that be a lesson to them for being so vague.

 

[FLMountainMan]

I say show up in a jester's outfit, complete with shoes with bells on the toes. As we so wisely say in the South, "that'll learn 'em."

 

[acidboy]

festive, you say?

 

[Jovan]

God. Why can't people just use normal terms for the state of dress for weddings? There needs to be a section in LMS from now on that teaches proper terms for dressing and examples.

Personally, I say just show up in a suit and tie, and remove the tie if necessary.

 

[JBZ]

Originally Posted by Jovan

God. Why can't people just use normal terms for the state of dress for weddings?

Hear, hear. My parents were recently invited to an event (not a wedding) where the invitation called for "elegant attire." My father was wondering if this meant a tux. My thought was yes, but I think, given the vagueness of the term, I think one could also show up in a suit and tie. My mother was also at a bit of a loss in deciding what to wear.

If you want black tie, either say "black tie" or "formal" (and, yes, I know, traditionally "semi-formal" meant black tie, but no one knows that anymore).

 

[Lucky Strike]

Birthday suit.

Now, that's truly festive.

 

[mrpologuy]

I was going to wear my birthday suit but couldn't get all the wrinkles out!!!!

 

[jml90]

I'd go with a nice middle ground ala Daniel Craig in Layer Cake suit spread collar shirt sans a tie

 

[Thomas]

Toga!!!

 

[chorse123]

Originally Posted by Jovan

God. Why can't people just use normal terms for the state of dress for weddings?

Women. I think the use of "creative" dress code terminology does send clear signals to them. But I think we need much clearer wording.

 

[Jovan]

I wouldn't quite generalize that. My female friends also have no idea what the **** people are saying when they get invitations like that.

Originally Posted by FLMountainMan

I say show up in a jester's outfit, complete with shoes with bells on the toes. As we so wisely say in the South, "that'll learn 'em."
Hey, some jesters kick tonnes of arse.

 

[summej2]

Originally Posted by Jovan

I wouldn't quite generalize that. My female friends also have no idea what the **** people are saying when they get invitations like that.



Hey, some jesters kick tonnes of arse.

Yes; my wife usually asks me what the ambiguous terms are supposed to mean.

 

[Edward Appleby]

I'd go with a "going out" suit, i.e. the ones that are too flashy for business. As far as the tie goes, I think that depends on where the wedding's being hosted.