Invite wording help= reception and response cards

So in using the guide lines from Martha Stewarts Magazine it says do to

#1)Reception
time


But...I have received invites that say

#2Formal reception following
time

I am not doing black tie but want to make sure people know to dress nice, should i go with stating formal or not?

How have you guys on here done the wording?

Also, can people share their response card wording pleaes? TIA

I think many people will assume it's black tie if you put 'formal reception' on the invitation. I've personally never seen that done...

Do you have reason to be concerned that people won't dress appropriately? I've never been a wedding where that was a problem... but I guess if you have a lot of OOT guests who aren't used to 'New York' weddings, maybe you might need to say something.

Is there a way to spread the word without putting it on the invite?

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Posted by Kara and Todd

I think many people will assume it's black tie if you put 'formal reception' on the invitation. I've personally never seen that done...

Do you have reason to be concerned that people won't dress appropriately? I've never been a wedding where that was a problem... but I guess if you have a lot of OOT guests who aren't used to 'New York' weddings, maybe you might need to say something.

Is there a way to spread the word without putting it on the invite?

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Yeah there will be many people who are not used to a 'New York' wedding and the interesting thing is that the invite i stole the formal reception idea from was from an Upstate New York wedding, so maybe that is something you need to state when you really do have serious concerns about people dressing nice.

I think I will probably just go with the Martha Stewart way.