Don’t toss that wedding invite as soon as you mark the date on your calendar. There’s actually a lot you can learn about the wedding from that one piece of mail.

Amy Eisinger, associate editor of zoodress.com, decodes the wedding invitation so you’ll be totally prepared for the big bash:

White tie This is the most formal of all wedding dress wedding dress codes (think state dinners and the Oscars). He should wear a tuxedo wedding gown wedding gown, a long black jacket with tails, a white pique vest and a bow tie. Black, formal shoes and even white gloves for dancing are appropriate. She should wear a formal, full-length ball gown in a neutral color like dark brown or black. Glamorous makeup and dramatic jewelry and hair are appropriate.       
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Black tie This is the second-most formal wedding dress code and usually means the wedding is an evening affair. He should wear a tuxedo, black bow tie, cummerbund and patent leather shoes. She should wear a chic cocktail dress cocktail dress or a long evening gown in a dark, neutral color like brown or black. The bride, wedding party or friends can help answer questions about the appropriate dress length.
Casual dress Generally, casual means “anything goes.” That said, jeans, shorts and tank tops are probably not appropriate unless they’re specifically noted as acceptable. For the purposes of wedding wear, assume business casual to be on the safe side. He should wear dress pants with a button-down shirt or polo. She should wear a summer sundress or a skirt or pants with a nice blouse. Makeup and hair can be natural.     
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beach wedding He should wear a linen shirt linen pants or khakis, and sandals. She should wear a summer sundress at tea- or knee-length with flat sandals. Makeup and hair can be natural.  

Starting time Most invitations will list the ceremony start time, so prepare to arrive 15 minutes before to find a seat. If the ceremony time is not listed, assume that if the ceremony is in a church or temple, the start time is the ceremony time. If the ceremony is taking place at the reception site, most will arrive at the invitation time and the ceremony will start later.       
              sweetheart prom dresses straps sweetheart prom dresses straps;              blue flower girl dress ;                                    Mother of the bride dresses ;                                                                  summer beach wedding dress ideas summer beach wedding dress ideas         Catholic church Typically, wedding ceremonies last 30 minutes, but a traditional Catholic wedding Mass lasts closer to an hour. A wedding that does not include a Mass can be approximately 20 minutes long and usually includes readings, hymns and psalms as well as blessings from the priest but does not include a celebration of the Eucharist (Holy Communion).