Cali

We have been to a number of black tie weddings and the women indeed did have ball gowns and slinky beaded gowns on. They have been very dressy and elegant and everyone seemed to know to really go all out. You might ask another person who is going what they are planning to wear. Kind of get the idea how formal this wedding will be.

snowrooster

It is formal, I know that and plan to wear a gown. My question was more about the season to dress for since Labor Day is kind of the border between summer and fall. The consensus seems to be summer. Thanks everyone!!

escargot

Black Tie at the Ritz - you can wear full length gown, tea length, dressy cocktail dress (anywhere from short to tea length) and the last one I was at in the Four Seasons Boston there were plenty of women in dressy pant suits and those snug pants that have the dressy, sheer skirt and/or slack combo over them too. Everything from sequins to plain.

I wear colors or black to a wedding (or red !) you can't steal the show from the bride - she is always the woman in the bridal dress - .....but you could steal the show from other guests !!

You will likely see a bit of everything, so go with what you want to wear and have fun with it.
A/C sure helps make all the difference on Labor Day ! You should likely be able to find something wonderful on sale soon as the stores get ready to bring in their fall/winter lines.

escargot

one other thought - just make sure you tan evenly in case you wear strapless, or whatever configuration since it will be end of summer and you may not know what the top part will be like - tan lines showing is the bigger faux pas, to me, than what you choose to wear.

snowrooster

I like to do Mystic Tan when I know I am going to be wearing a strappy dress to a special event (after trouble w/skin cancer I can't afford to have the kind of tan you get from the sun, so self-tanners are my friend!).

wow

I was thinking dressy pant outfit when I posted above....