Another Wedding: Another Dress

Sunday reading the New York Times Style section I ran across this article which I hope answers a question we are frequently asked...? Does formal really mean formal?
Formal long? Formal short?  He is wearing a tux.
 
The New York Times says
Today, “black tie” gives women the choice of wearing a dressy cocktail dress, a long dress or very dressy separates. It’s always dicey when brides and bridegrooms dictate what their guests wear, especially female guests. It’s fine to have a look or theme in mind, but some couples get carried away and don’t realize that requiring “medieval attire” — or, in this case, narrowing choices to long dresses only — puts an unnecessary imposition on their guests. With all of the other ways for guests to incur expenses (travel; lodging; meals; wedding gift; and house-, pet- or child sitters), it makes no sense to add buying new clothes to the list, especially in today’s economy.
 
Designer Finds would like to add:  Wear a dress you can raise your arm in while toasting with champagne and swishy enough to dance the night away.