In recent years, I have often communicated with many brides and grooms, and this is what I realized: preparing for a wedding, even the simplest one, sometimes becomes a real stress for the future husband. The future groom, especially if he does not wear a suit every day, is tormented by a thousand doubts: “How will I look next to the bride?”, “Will I look up to par?”, “What color should I buy a suit and shirt for the wedding?”, “A three-piece suit or just a jacket?”, “What accessories to choose for a wedding?” Plus add here numerous stereotypes from friends and mother, who always have their own understanding of what a groom should look like.
The bride's wedding dress, of course, attracts more attention than the groom's outfit, but this does not mean that it is less important. What wedding suit should the groom buy? It depends on many factors. So what to do? How to choose the right suit for the groom and choose shoes and accessories?
Here's my guide to make your choice easier and more enjoyable and fun.
Tips: how to choose a groom's suit. Features and Details
The main rule is that the groom’s suit must match the wedding style and the bride’s dress.
The first thing to keep in mind is that all the details of the wedding must be in harmony, so the main rule is that the groom’s suit must match the style of the bride and the wedding. Etiquette requires compliance with certain rules that are very specific to each type of groom's suit. If the wedding dress is classic with a train and veil, and the ceremony is being held at a high level, in Europe and Italy grooms choose tight / midi-tight suits.
For less formal weddings, a smart choice is the classic three-piece suit, which is ideal for all types of ceremonies.
If the bride is wearing a short wedding dress or the wedding is taking place on the beach, it is better to choose a two-piece suit for the groom, and in the case of a summer wedding, a suit in lighter or traditional blue and gray colors is preferable.
Here's a little "elegance guide" for the groom to avoid the most common mistakes.
What suits are intended for the groom?
I know that many men look especially impressive in a tuxedo. But a tuxedo is an evening suit. Therefore, it will be more appropriate for evening celebrations.
For daytime weddings, tight/mezzo tight suits are intended, but the best choice would be an elegant classic suit, provided that it is not double-breasted. In fact, a classic suit is the choice of 80% of grooms in both Italy and Russia.
Let's look at everything in order.
The nuances of finding an outfit for the groom
Let's figure out how to choose the right suit for a wedding. There are many styles of men's attire, but not all of them are suitable for a wedding. By choosing a specific style, you can narrow down the models you consider to save time.
It is better to decide how to choose a suit for the groom for a wedding at the same time as planning the location of the event.
The most common style of suit for a wedding is classic. This is a universal option that will suit almost any man. The advantage of the style is that, provided you make the right choice, you can emphasize your strengths and hide your figure’s flaws.
A classic suit means:
- a combination of straight trousers and a jacket of the same shade;
- a shirt taking into account the chosen color scheme;
- tie or bow tie;
- classic shoes;
- cufflinks
To emphasize the solemnity of the event, you need to place a boutonniere in the breast pocket, matching the bride’s bouquet.
So, the main rules for a classic wedding suit
Textile
Wool. Depending on the season, the fabric for the groom's suit can have various additives: from cashmere for winter to silk, cotton, linen and even hemp and hemp (canapa) in other seasons. Avoid suits with a lot of linen: in them the groom runs the risk of looking a little sloppy very quickly.
A wedding is an occasion when a man can wear a suit made of glittery fabric. Usually in special collections for ceremonies, silk thread or lurex is added to the fabric. Or for woolen or mixed fabrics, a special jacquard weave is allowed. But keep in mind that such a suit after the wedding will only be appropriate for festive events or an evening out.
My advice : if you want to use your money for a groom's suit more rationally, buy or have a custom-made classic suit of very good quality made of matte plain fabric, also of the highest quality that you can afford.
Color
Gray and blue are ideal colors for a wedding suit. But in the warm season, if the wedding ceremony is not very formal and takes place outdoors, especially by the sea, a wedding suit in a lighter color - beige or blue - would be appropriate. For autumn and winter weddings, a burgundy or brown suit will be acceptable.
Blazer
The main rule is that the fit of the groom's jacket must be perfect! The jacket of a wedding suit should be single-breasted with two or three buttons. It’s better with two vents on the back, two side “framed” pockets without a flap, a chest pocket and a buttonhole.
Trousers
Should be slightly tapered, but not too narrow, and without cuffs.
Shirt
Only boiling white with a classic hard collar, French or Italian - as you like, but always without buttons and decorative elements. Although avid fashionistas can afford a collar with a pin.
Especially for the ladies: please, no colored groom's shirts to match the dress or flowers!
Vest
A classic for the groom is a vest made of silk satin in light colors: gray, champagne, blue and light yellow. It can also be made from other fabrics: high-quality linen, shantung silk and silk jacquard. Can be double-breasted or single-breasted.
Pocket square - pochette
Ideally white, but it can also be a color from the wedding palette. The main thing is that it should not be made of the same fabric as the tie! If you prefer a tie and pocket square of the same color, choose them in different textures. According to etiquette, the proximity of a boutonniere and a pochette is also unacceptable. But this very rule is constantly violated, especially in America, so on the Internet you can find a million photos “for inspiration”, where both a pochette and a boutonniere are present at the same time.
Shoes
Oxfords in matte leather. Under no circumstances varnished. Elegant moccasins are only appropriate for a beach wedding.
What is the difference between Oxford shoes and Derby shoes?
Accessories
A wedding is a moment when the groom should wear a minimum of jewelry: no bracelets, chains, and especially rings. The only ring you will wear on this day is your wedding ring. Cufflinks will be very beautiful; if desired, you can wear a tie clip.
Tight for the groom
Tight is a classic suit that makes the groom stand out. As a rule, it is worn for an official ceremony, which takes place before 18:00, when the bride is dressed in a white dress with a train and veil.
Tight consists of three parts.
Blazer
Dark gray or black jacket with one button. Short at the front while widened at the back, the length is knee-length. There are also tight dark blue colors.
Trousers
The trousers are gray, pinstripe, straight cut and without cuffs.
Vest
single or double breasted, usually in light gray satin, although the traditional color is beige. The shirt is only white, with French cuffs for cufflinks.
Tie
For the groom, a plastron tie is ideal, but a simple silk tie is also suitable. Never a bow tie.
Shoes
Always only black oxfords made of matte leather.
Accessories
And in the buttonhole there are only white flowers: gardenias, camellias, small roses, carnations.
Etiquette also requires the addition of gloves and a top hat (but not during the ceremony), as well as a cane. And one more thing: if the groom is wearing a tight, the witnesses and fathers of the bride and groom should also wear this type of suit.
Important Rules
The fitting should begin with the jacket. Even if a suit is purchased a long time ago for a wedding, there is no need to choose the “to grow” option. The jacket should not restrict movement, but should not be loose either. When fastened, there should be no wrinkles. They appear only if the arms are spread to the sides. The length of the jacket is determined by the level of the beginning of the thumb when the man stands straight and his hands are located at the seams.
Important! During fitting, you need to try to perform as many active actions as possible - sit down, spread your arms, raise your shoulders, turn your head, etc. This will allow you to choose the most convenient option.
After choosing a jacket, you should pay attention to the following nuances
- The trousers should reach the middle of the heel in the back and form a slight pleat in the front.
- It is better if the shirt cuffs protrude 1.5-2 cm from under the jacket sleeves. It looks elegant and prevents the suit from getting dirty.
- The belt is matched to the color of the shoe.
Lastly, additional accessories are selected. They should be combined with the image of the groom and the style of the wedding as a whole, ideally if there is a connection with the bride’s outfit.
Accessories need to be selected carefully so as not to weigh down the image.
When choosing a suit, a man should not chase fashion; he needs to choose an option that will be comfortable to wear all day, and that will suit his appearance and overall style.
Midi-tight for the groom
A slightly more informal version of the groom's suit than the tight - midi-tight. Unlike tight, it does not require accessories such as gloves and a hat. The jacket is shorter, the trousers are plain. Mezzo-tight is sort of in the middle between a classic three-piece suit and a tight one. It is ideal for grooms who do not want to give up the practicality and convenience, but at the same time, the charm and charm of a late 19th century men's suit.
Summary
Choosing a suit for a wedding is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Every man can do this if he approaches the issue responsibly and determines in advance the appropriate range of options for himself. If you don’t like any of the models, or your figure has features that cannot be corrected by the style, you can order a suitable suit from a studio or from a private tailor. He will advise what color suit to choose for the wedding and recommend a style. If you can’t decide on your own how to choose a men’s suit for a wedding, then it’s better to entrust this issue to professionals.
Yulia Dushevnaya
Wedding sorceress
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Smoking for the groom
The term "tuxedo" is used in French- and German-speaking countries, as well as in Italy. In America, a tuxedo is called a “Tuxedo”, and in England – a “Dinner Jacket”. There is also a “Smoking Jacket”, which is always made of velvet and complemented by an embroidered shawl collar. But all this is not what we are talking about now, and has nothing to do with the suit for the groom.
Of course, most men look especially formal and handsome in a tuxedo - all thanks to the strong contrast between the color of the tuxedo and the whiteness of the shirt. And although the tuxedo is the most popular suit for the groom in America, the tuxedo dress code is more suitable for gala evenings and evening weddings.
What does a tuxedo suit consist of?
Blazer
Single or double breasted with lapels trimmed in satin (usually black or white) or grosgrain silk.
Shirt
In this case, strictly white, preferably with French cuffs for cufflinks; may have a shirt front and contrasting mother-of-pearl silver buttons.
Vest or belt
The tuxedo is characterized by a black vest, which can be replaced by a wide belt made of satin in the same color as the bow tie.
Tailcoat – Frac
In Italy it is also called marsina. A tailcoat is a formal suit for men that can be worn during the day or evening. If the phrase “white tie” is written on the invitation, then you must come in a tailcoat (“black tie” implies a tuxedo).
A tailcoat is required, for example, at the Nobel Prize ceremony. And for the groom’s wedding suit, a tailcoat will be ideal in the event of a large classic wedding with important guests and an intimate setting, when the bride is in a chic dress and veil.
The tailcoat consists of:
Blazer
Double-breasted black with a “swallow tail” (the secret of elegance lies in it), with a satin collar, which, unlike a tuxedo collar, is always worn unbuttoned.
Vest
Not required, but must be made from white piqué fabric only.
Papillon
Like the vest, the bow tie should be made of white piqué.
Trousers
Black, without folds, with satin stripes.
Shoes
Black patent leather oxfords.
Retro classic
This is the style of English dandies. A prominent representative is Hercule Poirot.
How to choose a retro style men's suit:
- three-piece suit (can be a tuxedo or tailcoat);
- classic cut trousers with arrows;
- snow-white shirt with a high collar;
- a tie or bow tie perfectly tied with a Windsor knot;
- impeccability of cut and fabrics.
The svadebka.ws portal recommends wearing a double-breasted vest - it will emphasize the groom’s athletic figure. The color may not match the color of the jacket and trousers, but should be in harmony with it. For footwear, patent leather shoes or Oxfords, naturally polished to perfection, are suitable. Such men's suits will create the right atmosphere and help you take beautiful retro photos at your wedding. The classic style of the suit will be the perfect match for the classic A-line bride's dress.
Original suits for the groom
If you type in the search “suit for the groom”, no matter in Russian or Italian, you will find many pictures of suits made of gabardine, brocade, satin, with brooches on ties, funny vests and strange collars, embroidery (sometimes you come across real bad taste). Surprisingly, such suits for grooms have become very popular in recent years.
These are modern variations on the theme of mezzo tight, tuxedo and men's suit of the 19th century, where designers compete in originality and abundance of decorative details.
As you can see, modern designers have completely reworked the classic men's suits and military uniforms of past centuries, the Rococo style and have created “hybrid” models that have great success, especially among young people in the southern latitudes - where beauty is associated exclusively with luxury and brilliance.
How to put together a groom's suit of this type?
My advice : Advice - rely on the designer's choice. From the set he offers, remove the parts that make the suit too elegant, but do not add others (new or from another set).
All clear? Now are you ready to pick out your groom's suit and put it together?
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