Suit Styles For Grooms
In planning your wedding day, you (as the bride) may be so focussed on your wedding dress, bridesmaids, hair and make-up, that your husband-to-be’s attire takes a back seat However, there are so many different cuts and styles of suits that it is wise to educate yourself, as the way he looks plays an integral role in the overall look and feel of you, as a couple, and of your wedding day. In addition, this is his big day too, and he will want to look and feel his best.
The following traditional suit styles are each appropriate, depending on the style of the wedding and the time of day it is being held:
Traditional Morning Suit:
Despite its name, this suit is appropriate for almost any formal affair. It is the traditional “groom’s suit” and is usually dark in colour, paired with a white shirt and a coloured cravat and waistcoat to match the theme colours of the wedding. It is comfortable for most men, since these are the types of suit they are used to wearing for formal occasions. Variations can include longer jackets that resemble a butler style, pinstripes or tailcoats. This attire is ideal for a day or night wedding.
Black Tie Suit:
Evening weddings work best for a Black Tie event. This is a particularly smart and glamorous suit that really makes grooms feel dashing in a ‘James Bond’ kind of way. This suit is usually known as a tuxedo and is generally black with a white shirt and black bowtie. Guests can be asked to follow the same dress code for an ultimately stylish wedding.
Lounge Suit:
Lounge suits are more relaxed, sometimes omitting a jacket altogether. They can be lighter in colour (stone, grey or brown, for example) and are paired with a white or coloured shirt. They can be modern (brown suit with a turquoise shirt) or more traditional (cream suit with a white shirt) and allow the groom flexibility. He can decide whether he would like to pair the outfit with a tie and jacket, or if he feels more comfortable with an open collar and no jacket. These are generally more suited to informal or civil weddings.
Of course, there are other options available to modern-day grooms, depending on their heritage and the theme of the wedding. For example, grooms with strong ties to their Scottish heritage may prefer to wear a kilt made from their clan’s tartan and those associated with the military may want to wear their uniform. On the other hand, if you have chosen to celebrate your union on the beach in a barefoot ceremony, he may even look good in Hawaiian style shorts.
If you are purchasing the suit (as opposed to hiring it), make sure that it is flexible enough to be worn on other important occasions. It is also vital that the groom wears new, polished shoes. Get these at least two weeks before the big day and have him wear them around the house to make sure that they are comfortable.
If your husband-to-be is willing, try to involve him in the process of choosing his outfit as much as possible. This ensures that his suit will reflect his taste and, therefore, compliment him. He will also look and feel more comfortable in it, which means more natural wedding photographs. Encouraging such involvement instills the same sense of excitement about his wedding day that you have likely been enjoying through your planning.
Photo Credit: mr-yen.com
