Wedding Attire - What are the etiquette rules for dress code?

Q: I'm attending a New England wedding in November as a guest of a guest. What dress code rules should I adhere toto? Are long formal dresses inappropriate for anyone other than bridesmaids? What's the etiquette?
-Shelley

A: Dress codes for modern weddings have relaxed a bit, but there are still traditional standards for fabrics and styles. Style really depends on the formality of the wedding. For formal evening weddings, guests should dress for a nice dinner or event. This includes suits (or black tie) for men and dresses or skirts in sophisticated colors and fabrics for women. Lengths can also vary according to the style of event and location. For instance – an outdoor beach wedding lends itself to shorter hems and more casual fabrics; however, a formal wedding in a ballroom calls for longer ball gowns or cocktail dresses. As for colors – female guests can now wear black (a color that was once frowned upon), but to avoid competing with the bride, guests should never wear white.

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-Cori Russell - style and etiquette editor