These days, especially after quarantine, it is uncommon that you have to wear a suit on a regular basis. Maybe you’ve never worn one, only wore a tuxedo at prom, or have worn suits in the past but they haven’t been the perfect style or fit. When it comes to your wedding day, you want to make sure that you look your best. So, let’s go over some common questions that come up when it’s time to purchase your wedding suit. 

How to choose a Groom’s suit? 

While there are many decisions to be made along the way of planning a wedding, it’s understandable that suiting is often left to the last minute. But, it deserves time and attention. After all, the suits affect the aesthetic of your day and are a big part of your wedding photos. If you will be purchasing a custom suit, we recommend beginning your search 9 months before the wedding day as custom suits can take 4-6 months to construct. 

If you’re planning to purchase at a retailer like SuitShop, it’s best to start making your decisions on color and style about 6 months in advance of your wedding date. But, you won’t need to make your purchase until 2-3 months ahead of time. 

Here are a few key tips from SuitShop to help you plan the picture-perfect attire for your wedding day.

Determine how formal your event is

Ask yourself: will the wedding be black tie, black tie optional, cocktail attire, or casual? Typically your wedding venue can determine this for you but take into consideration your personal style and personalities as well. Who says you can’t have a black tie event in an industrial loft?

Choose your wedding colors 

What are you and your fiance’s favorite colors? Do they blend well? How do those colors fit into the season that you are getting married in? If both of your favorite colors are blue you’ve got it easy. If your favorite colors are more eccentric, like mango and violet, you may have some compromising to do. 

Find the dresses

Yes, the wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses, if there will be any. The wedding dress should fit in well with your overall formality and theme but don’t be afraid to stand out. You want to be the most formal one there. Opting for a suit or a tuxedo instead of a wedding dress? Consider a white shawl lapel tuxedo. This classic look will never go out of style and you can accessorize however you see fit. Then, nail down the color of the bridesmaids dresses and if you will specify that everyone wear the same dress, same color, or be able to choose. Either visit stores in person or order swatches from a few online companies so you know what the colors truly look like, a picture can often be filtered and lighting plays a factor as well. 

Choose the suits

Once the bridesmaids dress colors are chosen you can choose the suits their aisle mates will be wearing. Have someone on the groom’s side who wants to wear a woman’s suit? Find a brand that carries matching suits for all bodies. Then, make sure that the suit color fits well into the season you will be married in. For example, if you’ve chosen gray as your suit color, consider light grey for a spring or summer wedding or charcoal grey for a fall or winter wedding. 

Accessorize

It’s always good to give your wedding party as many details as possible when it comes to accessories. This way you’ll get what you want for your photos, and your bridal party will know exactly what to pack for the big day. For the girls, decide on shoe style and color as well as jewelry, and if you will have any requests for hair, nails, etc. For the guys, determine if they will be wearing boutonnieres, pocket squares, or both. Find ties that complement the bridesmaids dresses, or for a casual wedding decide if the guys will wear ties at all. For belts and shoes it’s always key to be specific on color. If you’re having the guys wear black shoes and belts you can probably have everyone wear a pair they have at home as blacks don’t tend to vary much. When it comes to brown, however, you definitely need to tell the guys whether you are looking for a tan or a dark cognac brown. Or, ask them to all purchase the same shoes or give them their shoes as a gift to ensure your wedding photos are amazing. 

How much does a Groom’s suit cost and who pays for it?

Custom (bespoke or made to measure) suiting can cost anywhere from $400 to a few thousand. It typically depends on your size, and the amount of customizations you are looking to add. (For example: patterned lining, colored threading, etc.) Off the rack suits typically start at $200 and can go up to around $600. Rental companies will carry suits and tuxedos for around $250 and sometimes offer package deals or incentives for multiple purchases. Typically, the groom will purchase his own attire for the big day. But, it is common for the cost of the suit to be included in the overall budget for the wedding. If the bride and groom are paying all wedding expenses themselves, attire should definitely be included as a key part of the budget. 

Should a Bride see the Groom’s suit before the wedding day?

While there is no rule that says a bride needs to see her groom’s suit before the big day, as a former bride I can’t imagine not having known what my groom would be wearing when we had our first look! I think it could be a great surprise but only if both of you agree to keep your looks a secret. For same sex couples, often the two grooms will agree on a color palette but keep the final look a secret. You want to make sure that you don’t show up wearing the same thing or matching too much, but you also want to enjoy that “first look” element of surprise. 

What colour should a Groom’s suit be and can it be black?

There are no rules here. You should wear what you feel comfortable in, and a color that matches your season and the style of your wedding. While classic wedding colors like black or navy blue will never go out of style, bolder colors like burgundy, burnt orange, and hunter green are very trendy right now and can look really formal and special. 

Does a Groom’s suit HAVE to match the Groomsmen’s suits?       

Absolutely not! The groom should always do something to stand out from the groomsmen. Your bride to be will stand out in her glowing white dress and it’s your special day too! Here are a few ways you can stand out in the crowd: 

1. Wear a different tie than the groomsmen. There are so many options with this one. Wear a bow tie while your groomsmen wear a slim tie. Or, go for a different color or pattern than the guys. A lot of grooms will choose to wear a white or ivory tie to match his bride’s dress while the groomsmen wear colorful ties to pair with the bridesmaids’ look. 
2. Make it a three piece. The best part about being the only guy in a suit vest on your wedding day is that when the jackets come off at dinner so everyone can “let loose,” you’ll still be the most formal one there and will stand out from all of the white dress shirts on the dance floor. 
3. Be bold in a different color. While your look should complement your groomsmen, you definitely don’t have to match them perfectly. For example, stand out in navy blue or charcoal while your guys are in a light blue or light gray.  
4. Be the most formal man in the room. Your bride will be wearing an elegant dress, the fanciest one she’s worn in her whole life. It’s ok to match her formality. Even if you aren’t hosting a black tie affair, you can absolutely wear a tuxedo while your groomsmen wear suits. 

Still not quite sure the route you want to take for your big day? Book a virtual appointment with a SuitShop stylists to go over everything from sizing to colors and beyond. We look forward to getting you suited up!