Wedding Invite: Black Tie Preferred

[dmw16]

I got an invite to a friend's wedding. They aren't the closests of friends, but me and my GF like them and we are planning on attending the wedding. Anyway, the invite says that black tie is preferred. So do I have to rent a tux? Is "preferred" a polite word for required? I have no issue with a dark suit and bow tie, but I'd rather not rent a tux.

Any thoughts or experience on this? For whatever it might be worth it is a jewish wedding (first one I've ever attended), are they more formal than a christian wedding?

 

[Steve]

http://www.modernetiquette.com/dress%20code%20article/black_tie_preferred.htm

http://www.formalwear.org/public/resources/blacktie.htm

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n...GLJ_enUS206US207&q=black+tie+preferred

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

a dark suit and bow tie should be more than sufficient. it means just what it says. Most likely family and close friends will go black tie, but it's common for lesser folks to wear a suit.

 

[Ipno]

show up in boots and blame it all on your roots.

 

[middlehead]

I'd stick with a normal suit.

 

[meltdown75]

Best title & topic summary ever.

 

[dmw16]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Best title & topic summary ever.

why's that?

 

[jhayx7]

What time of day?

 

[Lola]

I feel that a dark suit and nice tie would be fine. Even when it says black tie... not everyone will be wearing tuxes.

 

[LordMaul]

Well, if they prefer you to wear a black tie, then wear one.

And nothing else.

 

[dmw16]

I assume it is an evening wedding (but I dont have the invite in front of me). I am leaning towards a nice white shirt and modest bow tie. I am not a huge fan of tuxedos. At least not the $100 rental types.

 

[imported_vr6]

Originally posted by: LordMaul
Well, if they prefer you to wear a black tie, then wear one.

And nothing else.

lol good idea

 

[Drakkon]

the last wedding i went to i showed up in polished cowboy boots...my best pair of dark blue jeans...and my nicest western shirt - i was probobly one of the best dressed amount the attendees not family - how i love arizona

 

[blackdogdeek]

now's the perfect opportunity to buy a nice black suit. pair it with a white shirt and black tie and you're all set.

 

[dmw16]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
the last wedding i went to i showed up in polished cowboy boots...my best pair of dark blue jeans...and my nicest western shirt - i was probobly one of the best dressed amount the attendees not family - how i love arizona

Wow...just wow. Here in the cultured northeast we demand more of ourselves

 

[miniMUNCH]

I own a very nice, tailored tuxedo... however, if I were going to a 'black tie preferred' wedding I would not wear it even though I love an opportunity to wear my tux.

I might possibly look better dressed than the groom (due to my tux fitting perfectly) and that would be bad form... never upstage the groom.

I would personally go with my charcoal suit.

Edit: I have never been to a white tie event.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: LordMaul
Well, if they prefer you to wear a black tie, then wear one.

And nothing else.

:music: Everybody's working for the weekend! :music:

 

[digiram]

Wear some jeans, a t-shirt, and wrap a black tie around it. That should work

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
the last wedding i went to i showed up in polished cowboy boots...my best pair of dark blue jeans...and my nicest western shirt - i was probobly one of the best dressed amount the attendees not family - how i love arizona

I would tell you to go the hell home if you showed up to my wedding dressed like that.

 

[senseamp]

I wore a tux to black tie wedding.
I looked ridiculous. Let me disspell any notion you may have that wearing a tux makes you look like James Bond. No.
On the upside, I did eat more than enough caviar there to cover the cost of the rental, so it was worth it.

 

[edmicman]

I think it means to wear those skinny ties that were big in the 80s. Probably with a fedora and some wayfarer sunglasses, too.

 

[Aquaman]

This should do.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The last "black tie preferred" wedding I went to was about a 50/50 split between Tuxes and dark suits. I wore a dark suit and didn't feel at all out of place. As far as I'm concerned, if they expect me to wear a tux they should provide one at their expense. I'm not renting a tux just to feed somebodys overinflated sense of ego. It's just a freaking wedding, it's not the social event of the decade.

 

[dmw16]

thanks for all the input. I think my dark suit and a nice bow tie is the way to roll.

 

[ebaycj]

cutoff shorts + oldest most beat up t-shirt you own + sandals, FTW