DEAR MISS MANNERS: Please define the attire for a formal wedding vs. a black-tie wedding.
GENTLE READER: Dress code definitions are in a state of chaos (“Festive”? “Optional”? “Dressy casual”?), but Miss Manners will try.
Nowadays, formal, for an evening event, generally means the same as black tie. Formerly, formal (please excuse the double F) meant white tie and tails, but now those are worn mostly by orchestra conductors, and not all of them.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)