The most important thing for guests to keep in mind is that their attire should not make them stick out. In other words, if your outfit is so casual, so formal, or so outlandish that it would detract from the wedding or draw attention away from the bride, you should pick something else! In general, people tend to dress more casually for weddings these days, just as they do for everything else (with the possible exception of the bride). That said, you never want to show up for a wedding looking like you just stopped by on your way home from the grocery store or the gym. These are the answers to some specific questions that wedding guests frequently ask.

Many female guests say that they rarely wear skirts or dresses, and would really prefer to wear pants to a wedding, but wonder if it is acceptable. The good news is that pants can be appropriate for a wedding, if done right. A very dressy pantsuit with ornate wedding jewelry would look lovely for almost any wedding. However, a business suit or casual pants are definitely out of the question for female guests, as they just are not festive enough for a wedding. The one time that a female guest really must wear a dress along with her best jewelry is to a black tie wedding. A long or very fancy cocktail dress is the woman's equivalent to the man's tuxedo; anything else would look out of place.

Getting dressed for men should be easier, as their choices are more limited. A tuxedo for black tie, a business suit for a formal daytime wedding or semi-formal evening wedding, and a jacket and nice trousers for a semi-formal daytime wedding. Those are pretty much the choices, and any deviation will stick out like a sore thumb. Sometimes male guests at a destination wedding want to know if they can get away with shorts, but really, the answer is no. The beach version of semi-formal attire would be clothing in a tropical weight fabric like linen, cotton poplin, or seersucker. And please, no sandals on men!

Speaking of shoes, they can make or break an outfit, and they are frequently the subject of confusion for wedding guests. People are so accustomed to dressing down for everything that they sometimes have a hard time with the notion of dressing up, even for a wedding. The answer is no, you cannot wear your sneakers as long as you have gone to the trouble of wearing a suit. Nor should the female guests wear their clogs, crocs, or Birkenstocks. A casual or very chunky shoe will drag down a festive and pretty outfit. It is also important to check the state of the shoes you intend to wear. If they need to be polished or have a run-down heel replaced, take the time to spruce them up before the wedding.

The bride and groom go to a lot of effort to make their wedding a beautiful and special occasion. A little effort on the part of the guests is not too much for them to expect in return. When everyone is appropriately attired in festive and appropriate outfits, the whole wedding will feel more pleasant.