Lair of the Lost Girl

So I have a conundrum.

Next weekend I'm going to a friend's wedding. It's a fairly small event, with what sounds like a not-quite-typical reception; dinner at a "nice restaurant" (no, I have no idea what they mean by that. I'm white trash; my idea of a nice restaurant is the Cheesecake Factory, but I'm guessing it's something a bit more upscale.).

I have no idea what to wear. It's an evening wedding, which implies formal, but it's a smallish, not-so-formal event. Pleas for advice have been answered with "I dunno, whatever you'd wear to a nice restaurant," which, for me, is jeans or a broomstick skirt and a tank top. Which I somehow figure is not what they mean.

Most of my dresses are either black (which is a no-go zone for weddings), sundresses (not quite the right season), or... a bit on the sultry/evening-ish side. And while I love the latter, I'm not sure whether I'd be too over-the-top showing up at what turned out to be an informal wedding in a royal blue ruched sequined sheath dress, or a leopard-print bombshell mini-dress.

So.... to those wiser and more levelheaded than me, what does one wear to this sort of event? Bite the bullet and take the risk of egregious offense wearing black? Look like a potential hussy in sequins? Embroidered jeans and a really pretty lace t-shirt?

Or... you know.... take it as an excuse to binge-shop at the Betsey Johnson going-out-of-business sale?