There were many different types of balls, such as charity balls (fundraisers), balls organized by societies and associations, costume balls (rare, but popular), and debutant balls (young women were presented to society) but only high society was invited to these events.

There were many manuals printed to inform high society on the appropriate behavior when hosting a ball. For example, "the 1866 British manual The Ball-Room Guide gives advice on how to draw up the invitation list to a private ball. We are told, for example, that one should generally invite more people than can comfortably be accommodated because it's rare that everyone invited will show up. And to ensure that the dance floor is filled, one should invite more men than ladies" 

The acceptable dress may seem obvious, women in a ballgown and men in a black suit or tailcoat, however, there was more to it than that. The men must also wear a white tie and white gloves. However, cream or ivory gloves were also acceptable. The women must wear long gloves and slight heels. Exposed shoulders were encouraged, and a Lady must carry a fan and a dance card with her. The fan must be made from ivory or mother-of-pearl. The fan was used as a form of communication, "[d]epending on whether it was closed, open or fluttering, it could convey a refusal, interest or excitement".

Citation:

Rousseau, Karine. “Balls (In the 19th and Early 20th Centuries).” Balls (In the 19th and Early 20th Centuries) | Thematic Tours | Musée McCord Museum, McCord Museum, collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/scripts/explore.php?Lang=1&tableid=11&tablename=theme&elementid=83__true&contentlong.