Wedding plans can be very stressful, especially when dealing with men! A man generally doesn’t plan ahead when it comes to clothing, and he may not think through how important a wedding outfit can be—even when he’s the groom! Guys often have very little idea about everything that goes into a wedding. The first time they’re involved in planning a wedding, many men can’t believe the level of detail and the number of decisions that need to be made to organize even the smallest of wedding events.
Ensuring that you show up for a wedding dressed appropriately is a gesture of respect, and thinking ahead means you’ll have this important to-do checked off the list with plenty of time to spare. My best advice is to set a cutoff date for having your outfit ready to go at least one month prior to the event.
First things first: Is it a daytime or evening event? Most ceremonies, especially religious ones, take place during daytime hours. At some weddings, a smaller group will be invited to the ceremony, while a larger group attends the reception afterward. Most celebrations or wedding receptions are in the evening, for which I consider a dark suit the correct choice. However, if the ceremony is during the day, followed by an evening event requiring black tie, I’d recommend a different outfit for each. A black tie look worn during the day can look odd, and I’d advise against it, but I realize that many weddings these days break the rules by having the event start during the afternoon. For formality’s sake, this is what the traditional “morning suit” is for, consisting of a tails coat, light grey pant and vest, cravat and top hat—think Royal Ascot attire.
If you are a groom, you’ll obviously need to consider what your spouse will be wearing when you plan your wardrobe. Coordinate your colors, if there is a specific color theme for the wedding. In men’s suiting, the pale greys and pale blues are easy go-tos that coordinate well without having to match perfectly. Navy is a classic year-round option, and we introduced a grey/teal last spring that was a nice update for special occasion dressing. For fall and winter weddings, suits in mid-tone colors such as mid-greys, Windsor blues, and as always, the timeless navy blues. Midnight navy or black can work, too. Though traditionally reserved for a Tux, these two dark shades are absolutely acceptable choices for modern wedding suits.
If you’re the best man or one of the fathers, then you may have additional obligations that you’ll need to dress for in addition to the wedding itself. Again, you’ll want to find out as early as possible about all the occasions you need to plan your wardrobe around. Whether you’re a guest or a member of the wedding party, you’ll also want to plan for any pre- or post-wedding celebrations you’re invited to. For example, a sportcoat may be required for a brunch, while a suit is more appropriate for a rehearsal dinner. These moments are often seen as exclusive wedding party celebrations, and they usually have their own dress codes, although it may not be clear on the invitation exactly what you should wear to these functions.
There is a lot to navigate around a wedding! Dressing the part will help you to look and feel great during such an important event. With a little bit of forethought, you can have everything ready with time to spare, which will allow you to focus on the happy moment and enjoy the celebration that much more. We have a national team of J.Hilburn Personal Stylists who are well trained and prepared to offer you great advice for your wedding wardrobe needs, and to be mindful and inclusive of all budgets as you prepare for the big day. Cheers!
