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What to wear to a wedding
Now that‘s the big question. Whether groom, best man, father of the bride, or a plus one along for the ride, dressing for a wedding can be a sartorial minefield. You want to look smart without overdoing it.
What to wear to a wedding
What to Wear to a wedding
What to wear to a wedding, that is the question. Whether groom, best man, father of the bride, or a guest, dressing for a wedding can be a sartorial minefield. Our definitive wedding style guide gives expert insight into precisely what to wear this season, no matter your role on the day. #CharlesTyrwhitt #WeddingStyle
THE WEDDING SEASON
So, how do you tackle this one? Don’t stress; we’ve got your back. Our definitive wedding style guide gives expert insight into precisely what to wear this season, no matter your role on the day. #CharlesTyrwhitt #WeddingStyle
Types of weddings
Evening Weddings
Seasonal Weddings
Wedding Don'ts
When choosing wedding outfits for men, you need to know the type of event. Does the invite say black tie, formal, smart-casual, or cocktail? You can then base your outfit around the couple’s stipulations. What to wear to a wedding also depends on your role. The groom should be the most dressed up, and groomsmen may need to wear specified items to match each other and the wedding’s overall look and feel. If you’re simply a guest with no special duties, be sure to read the invite carefully - you don’t want to upstage the groom! The following wedding dress code for men is the basis of what to wear to each kind of wedding.
Black-tie wedding attire
A black-tie wedding is formal, so dressing appropriately is essential to show respect for the occasion and the couple. Black-tie events are all about a classic and timeless look, so avoid casual or over-the-top outfits. When in doubt, it's better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. What colour suit for a wedding, then? Wear a black or midnight blue tuxedo. Choose a well-fitted, single-breasted or double-breasted jacket.
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dress shirt
Opt for a crisp, white dress shirt with a wingtip or spread collar. A pleated front or a bib front shirt is the norm.
Bow tie
A black bow tie (always silk ) is a classic choice for a black-tie event. Make sure it's properly tied and complements your tux.
waistcoat or Cummerbund
For a touch of sophistication, wear a black waistcoat or a cummerbund, which is a pleated, silk waistband to cover the waistline.
dress Shoes
Go for black patent leather oxfords. Make sure they're polished and in good condition.
Accessories
Add black studs for your shirtfront and cufflinks for your sleeves, plus a black silk pocket square.
Cocktail or Semi-Formal Wedding
For what to wear to a wedding that’s less formal, there are a couple of options:
Semi-Formal (Dark suit): A dark, well-fitted suit, such as navy or charcoal grey, works for most evening and daytime weddings. Couple it with a white dress shirt, a tie that complements the suit, and black or brown dress shoes, and you’ve got a winner.
Cocktail Attire: Cocktail attire gives you more room to play. Wear a dark suit, dress shirt, tie, and dress shoes, then add some individual style to your outfit, like picking a velvet jacket to amp up your look. If you’re unsure what colour shirt for a wedding of this kind, stick to white, ivory, or another neutral colour.
Casual Wedding
Your casual wedding look also depends on the type of wedding you’re going to. Beach and destination weddings are now very popular, so it’s useful to know how to dress for them. Lightweight and breathable fabrics are essential. Consider a light-coloured linen or cotton suit, khaki pants, or even linen shorts. Make sure to match your linen bottoms to a linen shirt or jacket. Add loafers or boat shoes to complete the look. Always check the wedding invitation for specific dress code guidelines. If in doubt, ask the couple or the event organisers.
You’ve got to look smart at evening weddings. You don’t want to go too casual and look out of place in the photos. Also, consider what is best to wear depending on the season, which we’ll cover later. As a rule of thumb, you should keep to the following dress code for evening weddings:
Black Tie Wedding
Black tie means it’s time to whip out that tux. The ensemble includes a black dinner jacket, black trousers, white dress shirt, black bow tie, cufflinks, black patent leather shoes, and often a cummerbund or waistcoat.
White Tie Wedding
This formal dress code typically consists of a black tailcoat, black trousers, a white wing-collared dress shirt, a white waistcoat, a white bow tie, cufflinks, and black patent leather shoes.
Casual Evening Wedding
You want to look more relaxed but swish for this event type. A dress shirt, trousers, and smart-ish shoes are okay for an informal evening wedding. You can leave the tie at home, but it's best to check the invitation or ask the couple.
You can have fun with your wedding attire by following the styles for each season. Warmer weather calls for lighter fabrics and colours, while cooler seasons often mean darker colours and more robust threads.
Spring Wedding
Spring weddings are a time for bright and breezy outfits. Opt for a lighter suit in light grey, pale blue, or shades of beige, a crisp white or pastel dress shirt, a silk tie in a complementary colour or a floral pattern, and brown or tan leather dress shoes.
Summer Wedding
For summer, go for light, breathable fabrics like linen or lightweight wool. Light grey or khaki suits are quite popular now. Add a white or light-coloured shirt, bright silk tie, loafers, or lighter dress shoes.
Autumn Wedding
Choose a darker colour suit, like navy, charcoal, or deep brown. Add a white or earth-toned dress shirt, silk tie in autumn colours or subtle patterns, and dark leather shoes like oxfords or brogues.
Winter Wedding
Choose heavier suit fabrics, like wool, in colours like black or deep charcoal, for winter nuptials. A classic white dress shirt is ideal, but you can also experiment with other shades. Go for a silk tie in darker tones, like deep red or forest green, and black leather boots or shoes.
You may feel anything goes these days regarding wedding attire. However, there are still some wedding dos and don’ts. Consider the following wedding don’ts:
Formal Wear
If the invite says black tie, you should keep it pretty formal. Abide by the following don'ts:
Wear an ivory or white dinner jacket. Keep your look simple and classic.
Wear a floral boutonniere or a ‘loud’ pocket square. The groom and groomsmen usually wear these. Try a simple but chic lapel pin instead.
General don’ts for formal wear:
Mix and Match suit separates. Mixing up suits is not an appropriate wedding look. Instead, go for a full suit with uniform tones and fabrics.
Put on casual shoes. Dress shoes are more suitable for weddings, regardless of your role.
Formal wear
General don’ts for formal wear:
Mix and match suit separates. Mixing up suits is not an appropriate wedding look. Instead, go for a full suit with uniform tones and fabrics.
Put on casual shoes. Dress shoes are more suitable for weddings, regardless of your role.
Cocktail or semi-formal
For cocktail or semi-formal nuptials, don’t:
Put on a tuxedo. Yes, cocktail attire calls for formality, but a tux is too much. A quality suit and shirt is perfect.
Wear jeans. Unless you have the go-ahead from the bride and groom for a very casual event, jeans are out - even if you wear a blazer.
Wear casual trends like clothes with rips and tears. A cocktail outfit must be sophisticated.
Casual attire
Even though your invite may say casual, it’s still a wedding. So, don’t:
Wear a T-shirt. Weddings are special occasions, so go for a poplin or polo shirt if you opt for short sleeves.
Wear a tie. You can wear an open collar and no tie for casual weddings. You can also opt for a banded collared shirt if you don’t want to wear an open-necked shirt.
Wear open-toe shoes. You may get away with smart sandals at a beach wedding, but unless the bride and groom okay it, open shoes are definitely out. Loafers and oxfords are okay for less formal events.
Style of wedding
Evening Wedding
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