Founded in 2008, Hockerty is the e-commerce leader in custom suits and custom dress shirts, as we offer our customers complete freedom to design their own clothes by choosing from a wide range of styles and fabrics. Your wedding day is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most significant days of your life. Despite the ongoing situation with the international health crisis and the consequent social restrictions, your wedding day is a day of celebration. It should be treated as such regardless of how small and intimate a celebration it may have to be. Of course, one of the ways to do just that is to dress for it.
At a time when days and months seem to blend from one to the next, your wedding is far from just another day on the calendar. Your bride may have her dream wedding dress to walk down the aisle in but that doesn’t mean that your outfit isn’t just as important. In fact, that makes what you wear even more crucial. You want to do your bride’s wedding attire justice and you’ll want to look your very best as you stand next to her. So how do you ensure that you do just that?
Photo credits: @shareedavenport
Like many men, your wedding attire may not be something that you’ve given much thought to prior to actually having to plan your wedding day. This really isn’t surprising. What may be surprising are the many different options you now find yourself with and the consequent feeling of being overwhelmed, if not slightly confused. Have no fear. We’re here to help you navigate your way through the wedding attire maze so you can walk straight down the aisle looking your absolute best.
We all know that different cultures have varying traditions and garments when it comes to wedding celebrations. For most Americans, your main choices for your wedding wardrobe are either a two piece suit, a three piece suit or a tuxedo. The type of style you’ll want to wear will largely depend on the type of celebration you and your bride plan to have. Are you having a religious or a legal ceremony? Is it a day or evening occasion? Do you prefer a more laidback or a formal celebration? Is there any theme that you’re incorporating into your big day? Also, what’s the season or climate like where you’ll be having your wedding? You’ll need to take all of these into consideration as they will help you determine the best type of outfit to wear and the fabric it should be made of.
Two piece suit
A two piece suit works best for wedding celebrations that lean towards a more laidback style. Think of a civil wedding followed by an afternoon brunch, a beach side celebration or even a casual backyard or garden party. If you decide on this style, you then have a number of different fabrics and color options to choose from. This, again, will largely depend on the type of wedding you and your bride are having. A light colored two piece linen suit in pale blue or beige work great for beach side weddings. You can even get away with walking down the aisle with a dress shirt, sans necktie. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see a bride and groom exchanging vows on a beach, with the sun shining down on them and sand on their feet. Your personality as a couple will dictate both the style of your wedding and the style of your wedding attire.
Given our present reality, with curfews, social distancing and guest restrictions, you and your bride may be one of the many couples who’ve decided to opt for a more casual, intimate wedding affair at home, right at your own backyard. A small gathering at home with perhaps an online livestream for extended guests is just as special. For this type of occasion, a two-piece suit will work perfectly in an appropriate fabric depending on the season or weather during your special day. You have the freedom to choose whether you prefer a blue, navy, grey, charcoal or a black suit. We would recommend opting for a shade of blue or light grey for a day celebration and a charcoal or black suit for an evening affair. A smaller gathering doesn’t automatically mean it’s a casual affair. Complete your wedding attire with a classic necktie, well-polished shoes and a pocket square.
Three-piece suit
Now, if you’re having a slightly more formal wedding celebration, a three piece suit would be a more fitting choice. If your personal style leans more towards the traditional side, a suit with peak lapels along with a single breasted vest in a coordinating color and fabric will work perfectly for you. A solid white dress shirt, solid colored necktie and evening shoes will complete your classic look. However, if you have a more fashion forward sensibility that you want to showcase, you can certainly do so. Your wedding is your day and you should dress how you like (provided your wife to be agrees). Instead of a solid colored three piece suit, you can choose a herringbone or even a checkered pattern. There’s also no rule which states that your vest must be the same exact fabric as your suit. Feel free to choose a vest that coordinates with your suit but doesn’t precisely match it. Again, these suiting options will depend on your personal style, comfort and the type of wedding celebration.
Tuxedo
Lastly, for those of you who aren’t letting the current situation stop you from having your formal wedding celebration, the tuxedo is the only way to go. While there may be restrictions on how grand your celebration can be, there are certainly no restrictions when it comes to your black tie attire. A traditionally formal wedding celebration will call for a black or white tuxedo jacket worn with black tuxedo trousers, a white tuxedo shirt and of course, a classic bowtie. Add a pocket square, as well as a boutonniere to match your bride’s bouquet and you’re ready to walk down the aisle. But feel free as well to play with the colors and go for modern choices such as bottle green tuxedo or velvet tuxedo.
Photo credits: @erinrobertsphotography
