Do you always put the dress code on invitations you send for a party?

Do you assume a full meal will be served unless otherwise specified?

I just received an invitation from a friend for her wedding reception at the end of the month (they married new years eve at a destination with just a couple friends in attendance). The invitations says, “food, wine, and dance,” which to me, after living in the Memphis area for several years now, means possibly the food is hors d’oeurves not dinner. I wish I knew to be honest, which it is. My husband and I have been shocked twice at the food at weddings here. The reception is 6:30 on a Friday night, that to me is dinner time. People are working all day, they will be starving.

Also, I had been planning to wear a certain outfit, but now that I have received the invitation, and now know where the wedding will be held, my outfit might be a little dressy. It could go either way really. It is just a community Clubhouse, but can be decorated nicely of course, and the hosts can make it as dressy or casual as they want, but they did not specify. I asked my husband what he planned on wearing, and he said, ” a suit.” I repeated back, “a suit, not a sportscoat.” He replied, “of course a suit, you have to wear a suit to a wedding. See we are just more formally oriented on these things. Don’t get me wrong, one of my closest friends had a church wedding, and told everyone ahead of time to bring shorts amn jeans to change into for her reception at her parents farm and I did just that, wore shorts, it was a blast!