The Journal

How to choose a wedding guest dress by dress code, season and venue — and look unforgettable without ever upstaging the bride.

Not as formal as black-tie, more considered than 'smart casual' — cocktail attire, finally explained, with dresses ready for every kind of evening.

The invitation says black-tie. Here is exactly what to wear — the rules that still matter, the ones you can break, and the pieces that make either choice effortless.