These days, what to wear to a wedding is not as straight forward as it once may have been. One of the things that men need to bear in mind is that weddings come in many forms – religious or civil affair, day time or night time ceremony, formal or casual celebration, themed or no theme? These are just a few of the factors that one needs to consider and bear in mind, whether you’re the groom or a guest. Ultimately, one of the big questions becomes, what then should one wear?
If you’re the groom, you and your bride can, of course, set the tone for your wedding, including the dress code that you and everyone else should abide by. If you’re sticking to tradition and celebrating your big day with a formal, evening affair, it’s best for the groom to meet his bride in front of the alter in a classic black or white tuxedo jacket with black tuxedo pants. Depending on your preference, you can opt for a three piece tuxedo, and complete the outfit with a white or black bowtie, and a chic boutonniere. Of course, formal leather evening shoes are a must to complete the polished look.
Now, if your wedding is still an evening affair yet slightly less formal, a suit and tie will certainly do. To keep with the solemnity of the affair, you’ll want to stick to classic colors, including black, charcoal grey or navy. Finish off your wedding attire with a solid colored necktie in a coordinating color, including black or white, and an optional pocket square or a traditional boutonniere instead.
Of course we all know that weddings are not always evening celebrations. If your wedding is a traditional ceremony set in the morning, then a traditional, and aptly named morning suit will work best. Cut a striking figure in a black, grey or blue morning coat with a complimentary waistcoat and trousers. Complete your wedding attire with a solid necktie and polished leather shoes.
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Blue Morning Suit with blue vest and Slim Fit blue Trousers | Black Morning Suit with grey vest and Slim Fit grey Trousers |
These days, it’s not uncommon for weddings to take on a modern or more casual form – whether that means a simple civil ceremony in city hall, a casual beachside ceremony, or a lowkey lunch celebration. Depending on how informal you’ve designed your wedding day to be, a suit in an appropriate color and fabric will, more often than not, be your best option. For instance, if you’ve decided on a beach ceremony, a cream colored linen suit sans necktie will work exceedingly well. On the other hand, if you’re celebrating with a chic and simple luncheon, you’ll perhaps want to go for a steel blue or grey wool suit with a necktie.
Now, if you’re a guest, you also have to carefully select what to wear. Make sure to double check the dress code indicated in the invitation and respectfully follow the bride and groom’s wishes. Remember, it’s their day and not yours. You don’t want to distract anyone from it. Don’t upstage the happy couple or draw too much attention to yourself, and that includes your wardrobe. And yes, this applies to male guests as well, and not just female guests who should remember not to wear white (unless explicitly allowed or requested to.) That said, what should a guest wear?
The good thing about being a guest is that while you have to follow the specified dress code, you can take a more laidback approach and have fun with your outfit. If you’re attending a formal ceremony, you can take the liberty of wearing a tuxedo in a less traditional fabric or color. Try a blue velvet tuxedo jacket or perhaps a navy paisley printed tuxedo instead. The colors are muted but it’s still a fun and fashion forward choice.
Blue Velvet Round Lapel Tuxedo
The same applies when it comes to wearing a suit to a wedding. Stick to a classic single or double breasted suit but feel free to have fun with a patterned or printed necktie and pocket square. The goal is to be mindful of the couple’s desired dress code while making the look your own.
Regardless of what you decide to wear on your wedding day or to a wedding you’re attending, the most important thing is to feel good and be confident in your outfit. After that, forget about what you’re wearing. Focus on the significance of the occasion and enjoy the moment.