From his childhood days till the time he breathes his last, a man encounters several landmarks in his life. His wedding day is one such important milestone, one which changes his life completely.
There’s no doubt about the fact that every man would like to look his best on this special day.
If men could, they would most definitely pick out a men’s designer wedding suit and wear it with élan.
We all know how shopping for the big day gives men the jitters. After all, there’s so much to do and such little time. The most important part for a groom, however, is to pick out the perfect wedding suit for himself – a suit which pronounces that it is his special day!
One of the biggest myths related to preparing for the wedding day is that men have it easy as far as shopping and dressing up for their D-day is concerned.
The truth is far from this notion, though. For men, finding the right wedding suit is as important as it is for women. And it better be, after all, it’s no ordinary suit you’re looking for. It is your wedding suit! So everything needs to be just right.
Before you buy a suit, it is important that you know what your options are.
As far as the color of your suit is concerned, the rule of thumb dictates that you choose something depending on the time of the day at which your wedding is to be held.
A daytime wedding would call for a suit in a light-color like beige, tan or subtle shades of grey. On the other hand, for an evening wedding, dark colors would be the way to go.
The classic black suit with a bow-tie and (maybe even a boutonniere) is your safest bet and is sure to always hit the right notes when worn.
When it comes to suiting up, you have a plethora of men’s wedding outfits to choose from – the semi-formal suit, the morning suit, the British suit, the Italian suit, and the American suit.
The semi-formal suit is the laid-back version of the formal wedding suit. A well-ironed smooth shirt, immaculately tailored trousers, and a matching smart yet comfortable suit jacket are all that you need to put together to create this ensemble. The material of your suit depends on the weather, but tweed or cotton is a good option.
The morning suit consists of a traditional jacket with tails. It is typically paired with striped trousers, although matching the color of the jacket with that of the trouser is also acceptable. You can opt for a colored shirt with this suit. But do ensure that the collar and the cuffs are white. If you plan to wear a vest under the jacket, make sure it complements the color of your suit.
The British suit is a more traditional suit with the jacket being either single or double-breasted. It is normally made with a heavy fabric and the fit is more snug than loose.
The American suit is quite similar to the British suit, with the only exception being that the jacket is more on the baggy side. The jacket is single-breasted with a slight or no padding at the shoulders.
The Italian suit is what most modern grooms go for as it looks smart and trendy. It has a slim fit and the jacket gently embraces the body. Its length is shorter than regular suits. That’s the reason why its buttons are placed higher. The pockets do not have flaps and the suit lends you a structured look.
So enough about what the groom should wear! What if you’re not the groom?
What if you’re the groomsman?
Groomsmen have an important role to play at weddings.
(Image credit: Pinterest)
As a groomsman at a wedding, you need to dress appropriately and ensure that you do not overshadow the groom. Your groomsman suit should be smart and should fit well within the parameters requested by the groom. Keep in mind that you are not there to attract attention to yourself. Your presence should help in the fruition of an important event in the lives of two families.
So now that it’s obvious that you will not be dressing like the groom, you need to work on wearing something different yet understated.
A semi-formal suit in beige or tan is a great option, if it is a summer wedding. Pick a grey suit for a winter wedding. A popular trend these days is to incorporate a color from the bridal party into the groomsmen’s attire, so you may want to think about that.
To add a bit of funk and modernity to your outfit, consider wearing suspenders. Ring bearers can give this idea a try as well.
If you’re going as a guest, you don’t have much to worry about. Most wedding invitations clearly mention what they expect their guests to wear by setting a dress code.
More often than not, it is black tie and business casual, so you would do well by sporting a navy or a dark-colored suit with a crisp white shirt.
However, if the invitation does not mention the dress code, figure out your attire by considering the location. There’s a high chance that a small-town outdoor wedding will be much less of a formal affair than a big-city church wedding.
The time of the day needs to be factored in too, because day weddings tend to be less formal than evening ones. In fact, showing up in a tuxedo for a daytime event is considered a fashion blunder by several fashionistas.
You can also take cues from the invitation card itself. If it is extravagant, it may be a good idea to spend some time planning your outfit and dressing like the perfect guest.
And then there are the laid-back weddings wherein the couple specifically asks their guests to dress casually. This can get dicey because the definition of ‘casual’ varies from person to person. To handle such tricky situations, be prepared by not only dressing as per what you think is right, but also carrying an upscale casual outfit in your car, just in case you realize that you’re under-dressed.
While it said that it is always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed, it is best to be dressed perfectly as per the occasion. A true gentleman is aware of the fact that his clothing is not just about him, but is a reflection of the regard he has for those around him. Dress your best not just because it is a special occasion for you, but also because it is special for everyone you love!
