Firstly, don't panic! The biggest difficulty you will have is making a decision because nowadays you can now get married in anything you like. But, whilst themed weddings can be fun, turning up as King Arthur or Louis XIV is not necessarily everyone's cup of tea so we suggest that either you go for full formal/traditional, smart suit or smart casual. Let us explain.
Formal Attire & Suit Hire
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Full formal or traditional comes in a few flavours: morning suit is the most traditional, a black morning coat accompanied by striped trousers, a fancy waistcoat and a tie or a cravat. Top hat may be worn.
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Alternatively frock coats, these are straighter coats, may be worn. Traditionally, both morning and frock coats are black, but grey morning coats are also acceptable. Steer clear of white, blue of any other shade of formal attire - you will be a laughing stock.
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There are many different outfitters around so look for one which has a good reputation. Perhaps you have been to a wedding recently, ask the Groom where he went.
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Go along to the outfitters, see their suits and check their availability for your big day.
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You need to decide on who in the wedding party will be wearing the same or similar attire to yourself and they will have to be measured by the outfitters either altogether or they will need to arrange their own measuring.
Three basic rules here:
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Make sure the waistcoats and cravat colours fit in with the overall colour scheme you have chosen for the day
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Make sure everyone goes in either together or separately to be measured (do not only give a list of measurements as people think they are one size when they are another and formal trousers are not the same as their favourite pair of jeans!)
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Arrange to collect the suits at least the day before and if possible try them on in the shop; if not possible, make sure everyone tries them on the day before the ceremony. Mistakes can happen and if the sizes are not right then you have time to sort it out
Have a suit made
This is increasingly becoming a popular option for a groom as you end up with something which is not only unique but is also increasingly more affordable than you might think. You can have any type of suit you wish if you have the money but there are two main options: personal tailoring, where the suit is factory made but is finished to you specification or fully bespoke, where the suit is completely handmade, often on the premises. Quite often the same shop will offer both.
Personal tailoring means that you will (usually) get to chose the colour, weaves and weight of the cloth of the suit, the style of the suit, how many buttons, how many sleeve buttons, whether you want a waist coat and what style and the colour of the lining of the suit. Most people do not have symmetrical bodies but also many people do not have features that require major tailoring so this is often a great option as it gives you the luxury of getting a unique suit without the cost.
Fully bespoke on the other hand is the ultimate in personal tailoring as the suit is made to your exact measurements which means it will fit perfectly. There will be plenty of styles and cloths to choose from, but don't be daunted; a good outfitter will be welcoming and put you at your ease. If you have seen something in a magazine that you like, take it along with you. Remember you are spending a lot of money and the customer is always right.
Depending on the tailor, you may only need two visits but there may be a need for more. At the first one you will make all your choices, the second will be for your fitting and the third visit you will be able to collect or for final adjustments. The whole process takes between 8 and 12 weeks so it will need to be planned in (see our timeline for more details).
Buy a suit "off the peg"
If your budget does not run to having a suit made or you cannot justify such an expense when you will never wear it again, there is plenty of choice on the high street for men's fashion. Again what is key here is to go for something not too outlandish; remember going for something with a fashion statement such as a Nehru collar will look odd when you have to wear it to a funeral
If you are getting married on a beach at the height of summer, buying an off the peg linen suit is a great way of looking smart and being smart as you won't probably wear linen in to the office on a regular basis. Most shops do altering as well and some suits, at least the more expensive ones, come unfinished at the hems for example, so will need to be altered. Allow time to do this, it may take a couple of weeks.
Smart Casual
Smart Casual is a phrase which means different things to many people and has caused confusion particularly for those people who are told smart casual for work days (dress down Fridays anyone??). Today, not wearing a tie is quite acceptable, and, if you have the confidence, wearing Converse baseball boots or flip-flops can work, as can loud ties and vibrant coloured shirts. This is great if you want a less formal wedding, just make sure you at least warn the immediate wedding party in advance. You don't want Great Uncle Bertie turning up in full morning suit when the rest of you are in open neck shirts - you'll never hear the last of it and it is unkind to make your guests uncomfortable!
Shoes
Finally, just a quick word on shoes: whilst it is important to be comfortable, your usual work shoes will never do. Perhaps buy a new pair. Remember to break them in a couple of weeks before the wedding and to take the labels off the soles! If you are hiring your suit and shoes, make sure your shoes are presentable; an extra polish never goes amiss!
