Black Tie or Black Tie Optional

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Posted by marc_rai

I just bumped a thread I posted a while ago on this on the BHB board. Apparently, black tie just mean a dark suit for the men and nice dress for the ladies. Hmmn, I thought it meant Tuxes only and nice dresses for the ladies. So, if I don't know what it means, they probably won't. I'm going to say 'Formal Reception to Follow'. Do you think people might take that the wrong way? Like 'Duh' you said reception...

This is so hard. Pickles, is there a lag between your ceremony and reception?

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Marc, I'm having the reception and ceremony at the same place so no lag....and I know that my side will probably be coming in tuxes or dark suits..but he said that his side knows black tie optional, and will do the same..I don't know

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Posted by becks23

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Posted by pickles16

My mom and I want black tie, we're having it a very formal place, everything about the decor is formal, and we wanted just black tie, FH is really upset by it, he doesn't want ppl being forced to wear a tux...he thinks optional will give a 'hint' to ppl..I don't want to 'hint' to ppl, I want ppl coming dressed to the nines....all the invites we've gotten for most of my family's side has always been black tie, never optional...am I overreacting???

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How about Black Tie Preferred as a compromise? I think it's a stronger 'hint' than black tie optional.

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We thought of that too, but the woman at the invitation place said black tie optional is the route that most ppl take, preferred and optional she said basically meant the same thing