I think floral print with a bit of bling, like some beading or even just a shiny fabric, ie silk but not cotton. So it sounds like dress no. 2 works.

DH outfit sounds right to me.

Sounds great!

Skip the shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. At least look like you tried. Either dress sounds fine. Hubby is good to go.

ETA: This was sarcasm. Still think both dress ideas are fine.

Well since garden party suggests summery dress to me-- i think both of your options should work beautifully, Jojoco. Dh's outfit sounds great also.

FWIW .. I have NEVER seen anyone show up to a wedding in shorts, tank tops or flip flops. I dont know where this happens but I do think wedding dress attire demands more than "just no shorts" lol

Your choices sound perfect to me.

Before you wrote your outfit ideas that is exactly what I envisioned.

Your choices sound perfect to me. And DH has not owned a seersucker suit in decades. He has the blue sports coat and I think he'd wear it with khakis or summer weight gray slacks.

My worry about some of these garden venue weddings are shoes. If in heels and on a lawn type surface you'll be aerating it making for clumsy footing. The last garden wedding we attended the footing surface was fine but the path through timber from the parking to the setting was gravel (!) and I cut the leather on the heel of one shoe. A very nice pair of dressy heels - ruined that afternoon. Any photos of the venue available online or is this a private garden wedding.

Add a pretty sandal, jewelry and a cute bag and you’re ready to go.

"Elevated" means high up. Therefore: 5" heeled strappy sandals, hair styled in a really, really, tall bouffant up-do (with additional spiky feathers), and a silky summer-y dress with a thigh-high split in the skirt....

No?? This is what popped into my quirky mind... (sorry!)

(but I loved marie_cate's thought about stilts, lol)

I cannot for a single moment imagine you attending a wedding in anything inappropriate - not even sort of! Your options both sound wonderful and so does DH.

I know it's a long standing tradition to request black tie or formal for some occasions but I think the dictating of guest attire has gone too far. Harrumph and get off my lawn.

AI Overview - "Elevated garden party attire" for a wedding dress code means a polished, sophisticated take on garden party themes, often suggesting semi-formal attire with an emphasis on light, airy fabrics, vibrant colors, and floral patterns, while still being suitable for outdoor settings like SuitShop says. It's less rigid than black tie but still requires a put-together look, says League of Rebels.

Remember those quaint ancient times when you put on a dress or suit to go to a wedding without the bride and groom telling you which dress and which suit to wear?

You've got it figured out already. Sounds perfect to me.

“Elevated garden party attire” says one thing to me— that somebody is spending way too much time on youtube listening to influencers.

For the record, there is no way to elevate athleisure to the point at which it can be worn to a party, nor can all clothing be ”dressed up or down.” You cannot wear an Amazon travel ”set” to church or a wedding and you cannot wear a gown to a barbque. When they say that stuff what they mean is that they have a very narrow range of clothing, all on the casual spectrum, and spend their days trying to figure out how to wear it everywhere!

Everyone knows, or should know, or can google, what constitutes garden party attire. Elevated is just a word tacked on to make it sound better. Jojoco, whatever you choose to wear you will be perfectly dressed and lovely. You may even hear people whispering as you pass by, ”See, that‘s what they meant on the invitation!”

I think part of it is that there are very few actual points of reference about what is appropriate to wear anymore, and I know I have been criticized in here by remarking on people wearing sweatpants or a t-shirt when dining out at $100 + a person, because "their money is just as good as everyone else's"--a corollary to this is do they want you to be at the wedding or not, so what if you wear flip flops? Or "my husband will not go Anywhere he has to put on a jacket/tie/collared shirt. I don't agree with this of course. There is something about respecting the situation in my opinion, and being willing to maybe be slightly uncomfortable for a short while. (Thinking about men and ties)

We used to tell students to wear what they would wear to a wedding or out to dinner for the smaller graduation in our program. It used to work out fine until two years in a row, many of the women (the program is sometimes 100% women) wore outfits that looked like what a pole dancer would wear until she got down to her g-string.

After that we had them buy new scrubs all in one color they had voted on.

Nobody's family seemed to object to what they wore, they were used to seeing them dressed like that, and they frequently came with whatever they had put on when they got out of bed that day.

I think what you have planned to wear will be perfectly appropriate.

Pal, I had to request that a new receptionist in our office start wearing scrubs as her clothing was spectacularly inappropriate for a medical practice. We bought everyone’s scrubs and light sweaters and jackets in the same color scheme and had them embroidered with the practice name and logo. I had a local seamstress who shortened hems as necessary. The receptionist lived in an adjacent town and wanted to use her own tailor. When she came to work wearing scrubs she had ordered a top just a tad too small and had had the pants shortened to capri length and was wearing them with gold sandals. I almost had to admire the ingenuity that turned scrubs into a beach outfit, but we started over and she was finally resigned to closed toe shoes, long pants and a top that did not show any midsection. She was in her early 50’s…. age does not always bring wisdom!

Either dress sounds fine. My concern would be shoes and more specically, what kind of flooring in the arboretum?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_JaKpIxAgQ/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Inspiration?

@Funkyart, I have been at a wedding where someone showed up in shorts and flip flops and a sleeveless t-shirt. A church wedding! His date was wearing satin hot pants. It was at DH’s daughter’s first wedding. They were friends of the groom. I clutched my pearls through the whole ceremony! The marriage did not last and was without issue.

@jojoco, if you wear the floral Lilly dress, can you get matching pants for the hubs? 😁

Sounds like floral dresses, sun dresses, etc. For men, probably polos and khakis or other trousers would be fine. My guess is that they're aiming for garden party feel but more dressed up than the casual attire of today (shorts, tank top, flip flops, etc).

I disagree. I think the ”elevated” argues for coats and ties for men. Dressy outfits for women in light or pastel colors or florals. Perhaps a beaded bag with a sardine on the side. 😉

I have relatives who don't seem to care if their teenage children are properly dressed for an occasion. I've seen some very casual outfits on them at weddings and funerals -- I mean hoodies, ripped jeans, graphic t-shirts and slide sandals with socks. It's like they just got off the couch and into the car to go. I would have been mortified to walk into an event with my kids looking like that!

I have relatives who don't seem to care if their teenage children are properly dressed for an occasion.

That would probably be me. May I introduce my girls, circa age 15-20? Emphasis on parents who don't seem to care. That was my aghast-pokerface.

My son, will wear whatever I suggest. Including suede beige Merrell's that his co-workers dubbed his "Dad 5000s."

Last summer one male teenaged churchgoer at the summer chapel wore a Jaws T-shirt, emblazoned with the lead character's well, jaws, agape. He went up for communion. Only recently I recalled this to our friend the bishop. He didn't recall the outfit and said "well he was there and not somewhere else." Maybe all we can hope for with teens!

I think looking at the mix of interpretations at the wedding is part of the fun with dress codes. I wouldn't put too much thought into if it's proper but does it fit the mood of the event? Also, what time is the wedding? I'm assuming evening with the "Elevated".

Elevated says to me, more the second dress than the bright attention getting LP dress imo. Give the bright color to the bride and you be the foliage in the background. Beads sound very nice for the event.

Or maybe go shopping and see if Garden Party is a thing right now and you may find something even better! lol

My son is a groomsman and a few days ago was told to wear an "ocean-themed button down' to the rehearsal dinner. Amazin, $22 and 24 hours later. It reminds me of The Great Wave.. meets Roy Lichtenstein.

For "elevated garden party", I picture you in a floral tea dress, pearl necklace, white gloves, and the perfect hat. If held outdoors, bring a parasol. :)

Maybe not shorts and flip flops but if they had just said "garden party" I think most would come much more casual than they are hoping for. I think you are all set unless you wanted to have this reason to get something new!!

Just looked up some pics of DS’ wedding almost 2 (!) years ago and I think the dresses in this pic (me and friends) look very garden-party-esque.

To me, "garden party" is daytime, and floral pastel. "Evening" garden party doesn't really make sense to me because garden parties are daytime affairs.

BBstx, my dh would never, ever be caught wearing Lily pants. It's rather impressive that I can get him to wear a pink oxford. I grew up in a very preppy part of the country. He, not so much.

Elevated garden party attire means they wish they had the money to pull off a black tie affair, don't, but want to make sure people dress seriously enough to make the day feel important to them.

Perhaps, wear your maxi, pair with heels and nice jewelry. BUT, a lot of Lily P. wear is very pastel, bright, daytime attire that wouldn't make sense at night. Do you have a pic of the dress?

Did someone say handbag? I ran across this website a few days ago. Don't think I shared . LINK Spartina 449. They also sell clothing, jewelry and accessories.

Spartina bags are beautifully made; I have one of their small crossbody bags and a golf tote and have seen manythers at their Atlanta store. Leather, straw and canvas bags all have very good quality construction and materials.

@Allison0704 I forgot about that brand. I think I liked about 212 of the 213 purses you linked! Great prices too.

I thought of you, Mtn, when I saw all the beach scene bags - what did you end up getting for the bride?

I want the Spartina Mandarin Toile minaudiere! I thought it would be cute with the Lilly dress I’m wearing to my niece’s wedding, but when I put the pictures side by side, it didn’t work.

Spartina has cute costume jewelry, too. I have only been in the stores 2x (in FL and SC) but was impressed by the selections.

BBSTX i wanted that one too, and the one right after it. Inexpensive to boot!

Are you sure it wont work?

Bbstx, I’ll bet the color of the dress is SOMEWHERE in that bargello yarn or beading. I think it overall just looks like a lighter hue of the teal color and would carry it in a red hot minute!

Went to look at their return policy and discovered there is a store that carries Spartina close to DD. I’ll have to go look when I’m there for Easter!

“Blue blazer, khakis, pink oxford and loafers?” That sounds just right for your DH. It’s what my DH would wear except with saddle oxfords.