A guide to wedding suits
The bride will be the centre of attention in her beautiful dress on your wedding day. However, by finding the perfect suit you can also stand out and together you can both wow your guests at your wedding. When choosing your suit the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and that the suit and accessories you choose match your fiancé’s wedding dress.
You can choose depending on the style of wedding whether you would like a more classic or casual style suit. Would you prefer a traditional tailcoat, dinner jacket or a more vintage style suit with braces? We will show you different groom suits that could suit your wedding. We also tell you how to style a groom's outfit casually and how to get the perfect vintage look with braces. We will also discuss what you should wear if you are getting married at a registry office.
Traditional wedding suits
Usually in muted colours like dark blue or dark grey, this classic suit is most popular for both a registry office and a church wedding. Combined with a white shirt, matching waistcoat, turned up cuffs and a bow tie or tie, the classic wedding suit is perfect for a stylish and elegant look. A matching pocket square will finish off your outfit. Match it with a pair of plain black or brown leather shoes and a matching belt.
Suitable for: traditional suits are perfect for formal and causal weddings, depending on the colours and accessories.
Styling tip: patterned suits can also be worn, depending on the location and setting. Checkered suits or a velvet jacket are also popular choices.
How do I know if my suit fits properly and which type of suit would suit you the best? We will answer these and other questions in our suit guide.
Elegant dinner jackets
For a wedding reception in a classy location such as a castle, a dinner jacket is the perfect choice. A classic dinner jacket is usually black and has silk lapels.
Combined with a white shirt, matching waistcoat or a typical cummerbund a dinner jacket always looks very elegant at a wedding. The cummerbund is a wide fabric belt that covers the waistband of the trousers. Don’t forget to get a bow tie.
Suitable for: elegant weddings in exclusive locations.
Styling tip: choose a bow tie and cummerbund in a matching colour so that you match your bride's dress, jewellery or bouquet. This way your wedding outfits are perfectly coordinated.
Making a statement with a tailcoat
If you’re somebody that likes to make a statement, then the tailcoat is the perfect thing to wear. This is the most elegant form of a suit and therefore it will make you stand out. Typical for this style of suit is a waisted jacket, which ends at your waist and it also has two so-called "dovetails" at the back that go down to your knees.
A tailcoat is usually worn with a special white dress shirt, waistcoat or cummerbund, white bow tie and cufflinks. Silk stockings and black patent leather shoes complete this posh groom outfit.
Suitable for: large, extravagant weddings in an upmarket style at fabulously exclusive locations. Your outfit will need to match the style and location of your wedding reception.
Style tip: a tailcoat is always worn open and never with a tie. If you want to make a unique appearance, you can combine your wedding tailcoat with a top hat.
Dinner jackets and tailcoats can be quite expensive and you will most probably only be able to wear them to your wedding because of the style. Professional wedding suppliers also rent out high-quality dinner jackets and tailcoats. This way you can return it after your wedding and have a larger wedding budget.
Lounge suit and morning suit
Stylish wedding suit: lounge suit
Nowadays, this traditional type of suit is rarely worn at weddings. It consists of black and grey striped trousers and a black or dark grey jacket which, unlike the classic tailcoat, has no dovetails. This tailcoat is usually combined with a white shirt, tie and a light grey waistcoat as well as black shoes.
Formal wedding suit: a morning suit
Similar to a lounge suit, this type of suit jacket is a variation on the classic tailcoat. The front part of the jacket goes down to your hips and the back goes diagonally down to your knees. This jacket does not have any dovetails on the back. You would also typically wear black and white or black and grey striped trousers, as well as a white shirt and a light grey waistcoat. This is usually accompanied by a cravat. This is a type of tie that is quite wide.
Smart casual suits
For a summer wedding, you can also wear classic wedding suits in lighter colours such as beige or pastel shades. If it's a casual summer wedding taking place in a garden or at the beach, you can wear a linen suit in a light colour. Depending on how casual you want it to be, you can do without a waistcoat or jacket. Bow ties or ties with a floral pattern are also a nice touch.
For a smart casual style, you can also wear a chic roll neck jumper as an alternative to a shirt and tie for winter weddings. Add a pocket square and a floral pin to match the bridal bouquet and make yourself stand out.
If you would like to keep your look a bit more casual, you can leave your top button undone and wear a pair of jazzy socks to add a splash of colour to your outfit.
Vintage style suits with braces
Suits with braces are a popular choice for boho and vintage weddings. You will only need to get a matching bow tie and braces to go with your suit. This way you can create a vintage look that is still very smart for the occasion.
Wearing braces will give you the advantage of having two completely different looks. At the wedding reception, you could take off your jacket and show off your snazzy braces. If you would like to make a big statement, you could even add a matching top hat that goes well with your braces and bow tie.
Registry office wedding outfits for a groom
When getting married at a registry office you can also opt for a smart casual outfit, which would also depend on where the wedding reception would be taking place.
Below you will find some groom outfit ideas for getting married at a registry office:
A dinner jacket or a tailcoat may be too formal, but a suit in subtle colours is an appropriate choice.
If the wedding venue is more casual, you can do without a waistcoat. For a more formal wedding, a waistcoat is a nice addition to your suit.
Wear a light blue or white shirt with your suit to look very smart.
Tip: Wearing a flower pin that matches the bride’s bouquet is a lovely way to finish off your outfit. This way everyone can see who the bride and groom are.
Groom accessories
You can start thinking about accessories once you have chosen your suit. These will finish off your outfit and make your individual style stand out. You can choose accessories that will go with your suit and match your style but keep the wedding venue in mind. For example, a dinner jacket is traditionally worn with a bow tie instead of a tie.
For a classic look, you can choose to wear a bow tie or tie and wear a waistcoat over your shirt and to finish off add a pair of cufflinks. Your accessories should match your other half’s outfit and the style of your wedding reception.
Below is a list of typical accessories you could add to your suit:
What colour waistcoat should you go for?
Waistcoats in white and light grey are popular choices and go well with most suits. A waistcoat can make your outfit look even more classy. In addition, a waistcoat offers the possibility to combine colours and patterns to add some colour and personality to your suit. Furthermore, a waistcoat does not only look great, but it can also be very practical. It will help to keep your upper body warm, especially on a cold day, which is why a waistcoat is perfect for autumn and winter weddings.
Discover our range of waistcoats
Bow tie or a tie?
Ties and bow ties come in a variety of colours and patterns, so they're perfect for adding a splash of colour to your suit. Pick a colour from the bride's outfit so that you can perfectly coordinate your wedding outfits. However, you can't go wrong with subtle patterns like stripes or small dots as they are classic and timeless.
Alternatively, you can wear a cravat. This is slightly wider than a conventional tie and looks very smart. A matching tie pin and smart cufflinks will add a touch of class to your wedding suit. Ideally, they should match the style and colour of the bride's jewellery.
Find out in the following article which tie and which type of tie knot will go well with your suit: How to tie a tie and do different tie knots.
Wearing pocket squares
A pocket square is one of the most classic suit accessories, therefore, don’t forget to add one to your suit. Whether in plain white or a matching colour to go with your bow tie or cravat is entirely up to you.
Don’t forget your flower pin
A boutonnière is a small flower pin that the groom wears on his left lapel. The pin usually consists of a flower and a little greenery, which matches the bride’s bouquet. At some weddings, the best man and some of the bride’s and groom’s relatives also wear a boutonnière.
Tip: It's best to start looking for your suit at least four months before your wedding to allow enough time to find a suit that you like and also has a good fit. This will also give you enough time to compare prices, choose any accessories or get it altered.
Conclusion: a traditional wedding suit or something a bit more smart casual?
Have a chat with your other half about what type of suit you should go for so that it matches the style of the wedding and her dress. What style would you feel most comfortable in? Would you prefer something more traditional such as a dinner jacket, a vintage style suit with braces or would you wear something a bit more smart casual?
Try on different suits to find a style that suits you. It's best to set a price range at the beginning. Don't forget to think about shoes and accessories as well. Depending on the type of wedding, you can wear accessories like bow ties, ties and pocket squares for adding some colour to your outfit and also to show off your individual style.
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The image sources in this text are in chronological order
Cover photo: iStock.com/Nadtochiy
1. Image in text: iStock.com/Tom Merton
2.-4. Image in text: C&A
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6. Image in text: iStock.com/LElik83