Can You Wear Jeans to a Wedding?

While planning a wedding, the bride and groom put care and concern into the decorations, theme, and apparel for the wedding party and their family members. When you are invited to a wedding ceremony or reception, what you wear matters, too. So, can you wear jeans to a wedding? The usual answer is no. 

Don’t guess whether or not it is okay to wear jeans to a wedding. Weddings are formal occasions where the bride and groom have spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on their clothing. They expect some formality from their guests. However, it is okay to wear jeans to a wedding in a few circumstances. 

No, it is not okay to wear jeans to a wedding in most cases. There are a few rare exceptions, but most weddings are too formal for jeans.

In general, guests should follow a few friendly rules when choosing what to wear to a wedding. Women should avoid wearing white, overly revealing clothing or outfits that outdo the bride. Everyone should avoid wearing sweatpants, pajama pants, and other loungewear. 

The best bet is to read your invitation and abide by the requests from the wedding party. If the invitation does not mention what to wear, ask the bride or groom about their preferred attire. We think knowing what to wear is better than showing up underdressed or overdressed. 

Another way to determine the dress code is the ceremony and reception settings. If the wedding takes place at a church and a high-end event center, then we suggest that you not wear jeans or other casual attire. 

A popular trend for brides and grooms is to hold their weddings and receptions outside and at barns. Even though barns are traditionally associated with farmers, jeans are still not acceptable to wear at this type of wedding unless stated otherwise.

Barn weddings are still considered dressy events, so we recommend wearing seasonally appropriate, dressy-casual attire. If you think it might be a casual barn wedding, ask someone before choosing to wear jeans.

When you wear jeans to a wedding, you show disrespect to the bride and groom and the occasion. Jeans are too casual, and you can wear them any other time you want.

Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events for the bride and groom. If they’ve invited you to their special moment, we suggest showing respect for the gravity of the occasion by looking your best. 

When to Avoid Wearing Jeans to a Wedding

We highly recommend that wedding guests avoid wearing jeans to any wedding unless the invitation specifically mentions them. Some weddings have themes that encourage guests to wear jeans, like “Diamonds and Denim” or “Cowboy Casual.”

You should never wear jeans – even dressy denim – to weddings that are formal or black tie. Guests shouldn’t wear jeans to barn weddings or beach weddings, either.

Generally, outdoor wedding apparel includes comfortable but dressy clothing like linen pants, dresses, ties, and lightweight jackets. Shorts, jeans, and flip-flops are no-nos, even at outdoor weddings. 

Other Factors To Consider

Rather than potentially offending the bride and groom, we think the best choice is to avoid wearing jeans to a wedding. Weddings are special occasions and should be celebrated by guests who are dressed to show they care. 

If you consider wearing jeans to a wedding, we encourage you to look at other pants options, like chinos or khakis. They look nice, especially when worn with an ironed top.