Types of Wedding Suits for a Groom
Many grooms believe the hardest part of the wedding process is buying a ring and planning out how to propose. They are surprised to find that is only the tip of the iceberg and are left wondering
“What should a groom wear for his wedding? What are the types of wedding suits for a groom?”
By separating different styles of weddings we make this question a little easier to answer.
The largest proponents of grooms’ suits for weddings or grooms’ wedding outfits will be determined by two factors: time of year and formality of the wedding. Often these two factors go hand-in-hand. Let’s take a look at different types of weddings and the groom’s wedding styles which match best.
What grooms should wear for a Beach Wedding
The least formal of all wedding settings, the beach wedding’s attire reflects that. Due to heat, humidity and direct sunlight, beach wedding outfits are usually lightweight and breathable. This would be the one time the bridegroom could be without a jacket. For slacks, focus on light tan cotton chino (khakis), stone-tone linen or an ash grey tropical-weight wool. To complete the groom’s outfit, pair this with a white cotton or linen shirt (although a light pastel could work). These combinations photograph well with the water and sand as the backdrop.
What grooms should wear for a late spring or early summer wedding
A step up in formality from the beach wedding, the late spring/summer wedding can take many approaches to the groom’s outfit. For a more casual wedding setting, the groom can wear a blazer and slacks with a tie and pocket square. The slacks should be on the lighter half of the spectrum in either a brown or grey. The blazer should be a lighter navy tone. For a more traditional setting, the groomswear should be a 2-piece suit in lighter navy to cobalt or medium grey to oxford grey. Accessories such as ties, pocket squares and socks can be in brighter tones. These tones reflect the pop in the blossoming floral arrangements.
What grooms should wear for a Fall Wedding
Similar to the late spring/summer wedding, the fall wedding lends itself to many different directions the groom’s wedding outfit can take. A more casual setting allows for the groom to be dressed in a blazer with slacks, a tie and pocket square (with perhaps a vest). A more traditional autumn wedding style is for the bridegrooms to be in a two-piece or even a 3-piece wedding suits. The color of the suit (or the blazer and slacks) should be on the darker half of the spectrum. The socks, tie and pocket square should be more earth-tone based to play off the turning foliage in the backdrop.
What grooms should wear for a Winter Wedding
The most formal of all settings, the winter wedding leans toward dark somber tones. These tones make a strong appearance against a potentially snowy background. For a less formal wedding, the grooms should be in a 3-piece wedding suits in either dark navy, charcoal or black (with a preference for charcoal). A traditional winter wedding will be black-tie in which the groom’s tuxedo will be well-fitted and accompanied with studs; french cuffs adorned with cufflinks; and a black satin, grosgrain or velvet bow tie.
When to wear a Dinner Jacket
A formal curveball to any season, the dinner jacket can be a playful step down to a groom’s tuxedo. Unlike a tuxedo where both the jacket and slacks are the same color, the dinner jacket will be a contrast to the black tuxedo slacks but still have the satin on lapel and piping on the pockets. This is a newer and younger splash to wedding tuxedo styles. For a spring look, the jacket can be in brighter blues, bottle greens or gem tones. In the heat of summer, nothing works better than a cream or white dinner jacket. With the turning foliage, navy blue, logan green or deep wine tones pair exquisitely for fall weddings. Lastly, as winter rolls in, a groom should consider a tuxedo.
Obviously, there are many hybrids of the different categories listed above. Every wedding will be a little different but following the above guidelines will help have any groom looking their best on their big day.
Wedding attire best practices – your questions, answered
How do I choose a wedding suit for my groom?
Start by deciding when and where the wedding will take place and the formality of the setting. City weddings are usually more formal than country weddings. Weddings in tropics will be more casual than those in more temperate areas. Summer weddings will be more casual than winter weddings. Warmer, more casual weddings lend themselves to lightweight materials and lighter half of the color spectrum; cooler more formal weddings trend toward the darker colors and sturdier cloth.
What color should a groom wear for a wedding?
A groom should wear a color that is complementary to their skin tone but is seasonally appropriate. A black suit in a summer beach wedding is entirely too hot and also somber for the setting. Similarly, an ash grey suit tropical weight suit is too light to wear to a formal winter wedding.
Should the groom wear a vest at a wedding?
A vest is a dapper way to add another level of dressiness to an outfit. Usually vests are reserved for cooler weather weddings as they add another layer of fabric and can cause the groom to overheat in warmer climates. With that said, after the ceremony finishes and the party begins, a vest brings a certain finished look to the groom once the jacket is removed.