What does semi-formal mean?

Noseypoo · 05-09-2005, 02:06 PM

I know it's a dumb question, but what in the world is semi-formal? I'm invited to a wedding and it says semi-formal attire. Now I know what formal is, but semi? How can you be formal, but not really ?!

Blah ...

raybeck · 05-09-2005, 02:46 PM

Well, after living in Midland, TX for 27 years, I can relate. Folks would put casual on an invitation and then you would get there and everyone was dressed up!!! So now I call that dressy casual!!! To me semi-formal would be something you would wear to Church that is dressy. Does that make sense? Even Churches have gotten so much more casual that just saying church clothes would not be enough, but something like you would wear for Easter, more dressy than how you might normally dress for church these days. Have I helped, or just confused you more????? To me, I'd rather be too dressed up than under dressed!!!

Noseypoo · 05-09-2005, 02:49 PM

Woo! I think I know what you mean, just dress nice, but not too fancy schmancy

Thanx so much

raybeck · 05-09-2005, 03:24 PM

You are so welcome!

Alec · 05-09-2005, 05:21 PM

Semi-Formal means he doesn't need a tux, but he should wear a coat and tie. For the woman it means that it doesn't have to be a full-length dress, but it does need to be dressy.

http://fashion.about.com/cs/glossary...definition.htm

Quote:

Semi-formal is the trickiest of all dress codes. Usually it means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.

raybeck · 05-09-2005, 07:26 PM

Good advice, Alec! Although sometimes those tux deals can get complicated, too! Formal does not always mean a tux, again, hard to figure out sometimes! Personally, casual and dressy casual suit me fine! lol It is fun to dress up sometimes, tho, isn't it!!! I had to fight my DH at both of our DD's weddings that he could NOT wear his tux he owned, he had to rent one and match the other guys............Father of the Bride ordeal to a tee!!! Funny now, but is wasn't at the time...lol (I won)

Noseypoo · 05-09-2005, 07:33 PM

Bahaha ... my hubby said he's going to wear a bright-orange tux, like on Dumb & Dumber

raybeck · 05-09-2005, 07:37 PM

Care to make a little wager on that, Noseypoo......lol

Noseypoo · 05-09-2005, 07:43 PM

I wouldn't put it past him, good thing there's no place around here to rent weird clothes like that

Justawoman · 05-13-2005, 07:21 PM

Never tell a redneck semi-formal. I was thinking about my brother's wedding when I read this thread. My aunt and uncle showed up looking they had just finished yardwork. I was more embarrassed and upset then my brother. In my extended family you say "dress up dang it and take a shower while you are at... we ain't in the backwoods anymore."

raybeck · 05-14-2005, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justawoman

Never tell a redneck semi-formal. I was thinking about my brother's wedding when I read this thread. My aunt and uncle showed up looking they had just finished yardwork. I was more embarrassed and upset then my brother. In my extended family you say "dress up dang it and take a shower while you are at... we ain't in the backwoods anymore."

I hear ya...I get embarrased for THEM, but sadly, it doesn't seem to affect them, does it? They don't even know they aren't dressed appropriately! lol

Justawoman · 05-14-2005, 08:31 PM

Sad too, because you get to the point you don't want to invite family members like that anywhere special. How do you tell them nicely that semi-formal means nicer than your everyday work clothes?

raybeck · 05-14-2005, 09:36 PM

I don't know how you would tell someone and them still like you!!! I know one of Ray's brother's had to go out and buy a new suit to wear to one of my DD's weddings. I sure appreciated it...

ladybug56 · 06-18-2005, 02:48 AM

Second-hand flatulence knows no bordersYup, it does Alec

ladybug56 · 06-18-2005, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Noseypoo]I know it's a dumb question, but what in the world is semi-formal? I'm invited to a wedding and it says semi-formal attire. Now I know what formal is, but semi? How can you be formal, but not really ?!

Blah ...

Go Formal in a Semi ? J/K

05-09-2005, 02:06 PM	#1
Noseypoo Frappy Air Freshener Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,218	What does semi-formal mean? I know it's a dumb question, but what in the world is semi-formal? I'm invited to a wedding and it says semi-formal attire. Now I know what formal is, but semi? How can you be formal, but not really ?! Blah ...

05-09-2005, 02:46 PM	#2
raybeck Waffydaffy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,120	Well, after living in Midland, TX for 27 years, I can relate. Folks would put casual on an invitation and then you would get there and everyone was dressed up!!! So now I call that dressy casual!!! To me semi-formal would be something you would wear to Church that is dressy. Does that make sense? Even Churches have gotten so much more casual that just saying church clothes would not be enough, but something like you would wear for Easter, more dressy than how you might normally dress for church these days. Have I helped, or just confused you more????? To me, I'd rather be too dressed up than under dressed!!! __________________ Getting into the best shape of your life is a marathon, not a sprint!!! Beck

05-09-2005, 03:24 PM	#4
raybeck Waffydaffy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,120	You are so welcome! __________________ Getting into the best shape of your life is a marathon, not a sprint!!! Beck

05-09-2005, 07:26 PM	#6
raybeck Waffydaffy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,120	Good advice, Alec! Although sometimes those tux deals can get complicated, too! Formal does not always mean a tux, again, hard to figure out sometimes! Personally, casual and dressy casual suit me fine! lol It is fun to dress up sometimes, tho, isn't it!!! I had to fight my DH at both of our DD's weddings that he could NOT wear his tux he owned, he had to rent one and match the other guys............Father of the Bride ordeal to a tee!!! Funny now, but is wasn't at the time...lol (I won) __________________ Getting into the best shape of your life is a marathon, not a sprint!!! Beck

05-09-2005, 07:37 PM	#8
raybeck Waffydaffy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,120	Care to make a little wager on that, Noseypoo......lol __________________ Getting into the best shape of your life is a marathon, not a sprint!!! Beck

05-09-2005, 02:49 PM	#3
Noseypoo Frappy Air Freshener Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,218	Woo! I think I know what you mean, just dress nice, but not too fancy schmancy Thanx so much

05-09-2005, 07:33 PM	#7
Noseypoo Frappy Air Freshener Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,218	Bahaha ... my hubby said he's going to wear a bright-orange tux, like on Dumb & Dumber

05-09-2005, 07:43 PM	#9
Noseypoo Frappy Air Freshener Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,218	I wouldn't put it past him, good thing there's no place around here to rent weird clothes like that

05-13-2005, 07:21 PM	#10
Justawoman Justamoderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 7,091	Never tell a redneck semi-formal. I was thinking about my brother's wedding when I read this thread. My aunt and uncle showed up looking they had just finished yardwork. I was more embarrassed and upset then my brother. In my extended family you say "dress up dang it and take a shower while you are at... we ain't in the backwoods anymore." __________________ You know you have had too much coffee when someone says,"how are you?", and you say,"good to the last drop."

05-14-2005, 08:31 PM	#12
Justawoman Justamoderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 7,091	Sad too, because you get to the point you don't want to invite family members like that anywhere special. How do you tell them nicely that semi-formal means nicer than your everyday work clothes? __________________ You know you have had too much coffee when someone says,"how are you?", and you say,"good to the last drop."

05-14-2005, 09:36 PM	#13
raybeck Waffydaffy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,120	I don't know how you would tell someone and them still like you!!! I know one of Ray's brother's had to go out and buy a new suit to wear to one of my DD's weddings. I sure appreciated it... __________________ Getting into the best shape of your life is a marathon, not a sprint!!! Beck

06-18-2005, 02:48 AM	#14
ladybug56 Gigglesnort Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 769	Second-hand flatulence knows no bordersYup, it does Alec __________________ Cherish all your happy moment's.They make a fine cushion for old age.