Guys, here's exactly what you should wear to that wedding you have coming up

It's wedding season, and that means that invitation you have hanging on your refrigerator door is likely going to be put to use soon.

Ergo, you're probably panicking about what to wear. Well, don't panic — we're here to help. We'll translate the invitation's instructions for you, with the help of longtime butler Charles MacPherson's etiquette guide "The Pocket Butler".

Black tie

Getty/Ian Gavan

Black tie is often considered the pinnacle of modern formality (aside from white tie, which has been completely forgotten about, and is almost never worn aside from royal weddings). Attendees of evening weddings are, however, sometimes requested to wear black tie.

If that's the case, here's what you need to wear:

- A completely black tuxedo with a white formal shirt featuring a wing collar, finished with a black satin bow tie. Sometimes a black satin cummerbund is added, but that is becoming less and less common.

- Black socks and black patent leather shoes are non-negotiable for footwear here.

Black-tie optional (also known as "formal")

Getty/Jamie McCarthy

If you see "black-tie optional" on a wedding invite, know that wearing a tuxedo is not required, but whoever sent the invitation will most likely be wearing one.

A wedding with a formal dress code means it's just slightly less formal than a black-tie wedding. It's up to you how closely you'd like to fit in.

- An appropriate black-tie optional outfit could include a navy suit with a formal dress shirt and a dark-colored tie (does not have to be a bow tie).

- Yes, you can wear a tuxedo if you'd like, and if the wedding is at night.

Cocktail attire

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Cocktail is another step down from formal, which allows an injection of personality into what you're wearing.

We recommend you err on the side of caution and wear a suit here, but you don't have to. You could also get away with wearing a blazer and dress pants. Keeping it dark and seasonally appropriate will go a long way.

This is also what you should wear if there's no stated dress code on the invitation.

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