Catholic weddings & Women's Attire

[Maulik]

The invitation asked for formal attire.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a nice Catholic ceremony for one of my better college friends. The ceremony was held at The University of Maryland, the weather was beautiful and we all had a great time.

All the boys were wearing at a bare minimum, slacks, dress shirt, tie and dress shoes. This equated to business formal.

What were women wearing you ask? Dresses, which looked as appropriate to wear out to a dive bar as to a wedding. Several women wore open-toe shoes, which I consider the equivalent to a casual shoe. Please explain how men have to dress up wearing "dresses."