The groom and groomsmen typically wear matching attire at a wedding, but there are many options, including: suits, tuxedos, and dress shirts and slacks.
Whether you’re the groom or one of the groomsmen, you must look good on the day of the wedding. Eyes will be on you throughout the wedding day and into the evening, and you’ll be featured in many photos. Plus, you’ll want to feel your best.
But, what is appropriate groom and groomsmen wedding attire? Here are some things to keep in mind:
To help make shopping easier for everyone, here are some tips to follow for groom and groomsmen attire.
A wedding’s venue and theme should inform what a groom and his groomsmen wear. It’s been said before, but it will be said again: Your outfit’s level of formality should reflect your wedding vibe. If you’re getting married in your parents’ backyard, you don’t need to rock a tuxedo (unless that’s your thing). Likewise, nuptials at a place of worship call for a certain style of dress—it’s not appropriate to wear flip flops and a golf shirt in a church.
Once you determine how formal or informal you can be, decide what you want to wear. Some popular options for grooms and groomsmen include:
Traditionally, a groom and his groomsmen wear matching tuxedos or suits, but today there are no hard rules. If you want the groom and groomsmen to wear the same attire, whether it be a suit or a dress shirt and pants, consider the following:
A popular style is for groomsmen to match one another, but the groom wears a slightly different, yet complementary, look. If you want the groomsmen to match, but the groom to stand out, consider the following:
If matching isn’t your thing, that’s cool. No groom and groomsmen need to dress the same. It’s important, however, that everyone at least looks cohesive and adheres to a dress code. A groomsman wearing linen pants will look odd next to a groomsman in a black tuxedo. The groom should set the tone and let everyone know how formal or casual they can dress and what color palette to stick to.
If you want all groomsmen to sport a navy two-piece suit, communicate what is appropriate. It’s one thing to say, “Everyone wears a blue suit!” but make sure that you also include dress shirts, ties, and shoe styles and colors. If your wedding is more casual and the groom is wearing nice slacks and a dress shirt, the groomsmen should follow. Use terms such as “business casual” and “semi-formal dress” to help the wedding party understand the level of formality that you want them to follow. Use photographs and share ideas with them. It’s a good idea to see (and approve) all groomsmen’s outfits before the wedding to make sure that they a) look good with what the groom is wearing, and b) are within the dress code. This helps to avoid any last-minute fashion disasters.
If the groom and groomsmen's attire doesn’t match, you can incorporate accessories to weave everyone together. Matching socks, ties or boutonnieres are all ways to let the groom and groomsmen stand out from one another, yet still complement each other’s looks.
The type of wedding you’re planning will dictate what the groom and groomsmen should wear. Consider venue, season, formality, and whether or not you want the groom and members of his wedding party to match. There’s no right or wrong way to dress for a wedding, but there are ways to ensure that everyone’s attire looks cohesive and fantastic.