Men's Wedding Suit Guide

January 26, 2022 9 min read

Men's Wedding Suit Guide

You've met the love of your life and decided to take the next step. Congratulations! Now, it's your job to choose the perfect wedding suit for your big day. Depending on the wedding style, you can go for a classic or modern look, and you will need to choose your preferred fit, style, color and fabric. 

With various current wedding suit trends and many options to choose from, the planning task can seem daunting. To help you along the way, we've compiled a men's wedding suit guide with the following wedding suit tips.

Men's Wedding Suit Guide (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: When to Start Planning

Whether you, your partner or both of you are planning most of the wedding details, you should start planning your wedding apparel six to nine months before your wedding. This is when you should decide what you and your wedding party will wear. You can begin shopping for your desired wedding attire three to five months before the wedding. 

Keep in mind that you may need to allow extra time if you will need alterations. Stores and tailors can become busy during the wedding season, so try to make an appointment early if you purchase from a popular retailer. 

Step 2: Suit vs. Tuxedo

A tuxedo features a satin lapel, satin buttons and a satin stripe as well as a bow tie, and it has no belt loop or vents. A suit has belt loops, a tie, regular buttons and a lapel the same color as the suit, and it has no stripes. 

Choosing between a suit and a tuxedo depends on how formal the wedding will be. Tuxedos are optimal for black-tie weddings, and they are also an option for black-tie optional and creative black-tie weddings. However, an elegant dark suit is perfect for other types of weddings.

Step 3: Renting vs. Buying Your Suit

Whether you rent or buy your suit will depend on your budget, any alterations you will need and whether you plan to wear the suit more than once. Purchasing a suit means that you will have one that is custom-fit to your body. Deciding to buy your suit gives a lasting investment for future use.

If you plan to wear your suit only once, renting may be the most economical option. However, purchasing a suit can save you money down the road if you plan to use it for other occasions such as work meetings, formal dinners or friends' weddings. For example, if you purchase a suit for $500 and wear it for five separate occasions, the cost is only $100 per wear, which is cheaper than renting a suit.

Purchasing a suit tailored to fit your body can give you a sophisticated, professional look. Additionally, owning a suit allows you to customize the fabric, color, cufflinks and pocket locations. 

Step 4: Choosing Your Suit Style

Suits have different styles that fit with various wedding types. Your suit style will depend on your personal preference, the wedding location and the wedding style. Daytime and outdoor weddings are usually more casual than evening weddings or weddings in grand venues, and some outdoor weddings call for different styles based on the season. Before you choose your suit, consider the differences between the following styles:

  • Two-piece: A two-piece suit includes pants and a double-breasted jacket, and it's a more casual option than a three-piece suit. This type of suit is perfect for casual weddings, daytime weddings, outdoor weddings, summer weddings and beach weddings. With a two-piece suit, grooms will typically wear a dress shirt, necktie, belt and pocket square. The necktie, belt and pocket square are optional depending on the groom's preference and how casual the wedding is. 
  • Three-piece: A three-piece suit consists of pants, a single-breasted jacket and a vest. Three-piece suits are best for evening weddings and outdoor weddings during the fall or winter months. Grooms can wear a dress shirt, belt, pocket square and necktie with this suit type, but the pocket square and belt are optional. 
  • Double-breasted: A double-breasted suit is made up of pants and a double-breasted jacket. A double-breasted jacket has two rows of buttons to close. The double-breasted suit type is more formal than two-piece and three-piece suits, and it makes more of a statement. It's perfect for fall weddings and evening weddings. A groom wears a dress shirt, pocket square and necktie with this suit, but the pocket square is optional. The jacket should remain buttoned while you are standing and unbuttoned while seated.
  • Morning suit: The morning suit is a very formal suit comprised of an elongated, single-breasted jacket, a vest and pants, and it's more common in Europe. Grooms will typically wear this suit type for a formal daytime wedding. With this suit, grooms will wear a necktie, pocket square, cuff links and a dress shirt with French cuffs.
  • Guayabera: The guayabera is also referred to as the Mexican wedding shirt, and it's a great fit for summer or southern weddings. The guayabera's popularity originated in South America and spread to Texas and Florida due to their comfort level in high temperatures.

Men's Wedding Suit Fit

Step 5: Choosing Your Suit Fit

Once you choose your preferred suit style, it's time to decide what type of fit you want. This will depend on your body type and your desired comfort. Some suits have extra room that allows you to move around comfortably, while other suits provide a sharper look with just enough room to move without restriction. When choosing your wedding suit, consider the following fit types.

Regular

The regular fit is also known as the classic fit. Suits with this fit are slightly more comfortable than other fits because they provide a little extra room for easier movement. Grooms with a larger or average build may prefer this fit over other suits. A suit jacket with a regular fit will have a broader shoulder area and extra room in the chest area. The pants will sit high on the waist and have a little more room than other fits, and they will have a relaxed thigh.

Slim 

Suits with a slim fit are tighter than the regular fit and hug the body. This fit provides less room and allows less movement than the regular fit, but it's perfect for grooms who want a sharper look or who have a slimmer body type. Suit jackets with a slim fit will have a fitted shoulder area and a slim chest fit. Slim-fit suit pants are straighter in the legs and slim at the thigh. They are also cut closer to the waist and sit lower on the waist.

Tailored

The tailored fit, also known as the modern fit, is a combination of the regular and the slim fit. It's a mid-way point between the two suit fits that is slim but not as tight as the slim-fit suit. It provides a little more room for movement. Suits with a tailored fit have a fitted chest and high armholes. The pants are tapered through the thighs and hips, and they sit lower on the waist.

Step 6: Choosing Your Suit Color

You have to consider various factors when choosing your suit color. You will need to coordinate with the wedding dress code, your soon-to-be spouse and the wedding party. You also need to consider the weddings' location and the season. Lighter colors are great for summer or beach weddings, while darker colors work well for winter weddings. A dark suit is also a great choice for grooms with a larger build because darker colors have a slimming effect on appearance. 

You should also consider the following wedding suit color combinations:

  • Black: A black suit is the most formal option, and grooms typically wear this suit color for black-tie weddings.
  • Navy: Navy is classy but not overly formal, and it pairs well with a variety of colors. A navy suit matches well with a white dress shirt and pocket square and a black bow tie. 
  • Blue: Blue is a little less formal than navy, but it is a cheerful and flattering color for wedding suits. This is a great option if you and your partner want to incorporate a brighter color into your wedding. 
  • Gray: Gray can match any color scheme and it can fit both casual and formal weddings. Lighter shades are great for more casual weddings, while darker shades are perfect for formal weddings. The darker the shade the more formal it is.
  • Brown or green: Brown and green suits are good choices for fall or daytime weddings. 
  • Burgundy: Burgundy and maroon are formal but creative. Match it with a black bow tie and white dress shirt for a fun alternative to the traditional black suit.
  • Beige or white: Beige and white are good options for a beach wedding. Beige also works for daytime or less formal weddings.

Step 7: Choosing Your Suit Fabric

The ideal fabric for your suit depends on which season you will get married and how comfortable you want to be. If you're getting married in the winter or having an outdoor fall wedding, you'll want a heavier fabric to keep you warm. Textured fabrics like corduroy, tweed and velvet and heavier fabrics like worsted, wool and wool-blended, are warm enough to keep you comfortable if your wedding will take place during a colder month.

A summer or beach wedding requires a lighter fabric to keep you cool. Light, breathable fabrics such as linen, polyester and cotton will keep you comfortable during a ceremony in warmer temperatures. Polyester and cotton are also budget-friendly, and they work for many occasions.

Step 8: Choosing Your Accessories

Choosing a suit is just the first step. You will also need to choose which accessories you want to complete your look. 

Shoes

The shoes you wear on your wedding day should be as formal as your suit, and they should match the color and style of your suit. For a playful twist, you and your groomsmen can get matching socks to wear on your big day, which makes for fun photos.

Belt

You can't wear a belt with a tuxedo, but a belt can enhance your look if you choose to wear a suit. A formal leather belt that matches your shoes can pair well with a suit, but a belt is not necessary. As long as your suit jacket and pants fit well, you can choose to skip the belt.

Tie

Ties come in many options. Neckties come in different sizes, and wider neckties are the most traditional option. Thinner neckties are more modern and trendy, but if you want to be even trendier or shoot for a western look, you can opt for a bolo tie with braided leather or a cord.

Tuxedos require bow ties, but you can also wear a bow tie with a suit for a more formal look. Four popular bow ties include the classic butterfly shape, the taller wide butterfly shape, the slimmer and narrower batwing shape and the diamond tip with pointed ends.

Watch

A dress watch can complement your wedding day look. A black leather dress watch pairs perfectly with a tuxedo, but you can wear a different kind of watch as long as it matches your suit. Make sure it is unadorned and simple. It should also be slim, so it fits under your cuff without bulging or sticking out.

Pocket Square

Pocket squares are square cloth pieces you tuck into your jacket's breast pocket. A pocket square can add a touch of color to your suit and help you tie your look in with the wedding party. Similar to pocket squares, boutonnieres are flowers that you attach to your lapel. These can match the wedding colors or your partner's flower bouquet. 

Cufflinks

Cufflinks fasten the sides of shirt cuffs together. They're usually decorative, and they can add a splash of sophistication to your suit. Choose cufflinks that are discreet but match your personality and style. Cufflinks are best for single-cuff or French cuff dress shirts.

Lapels

Lapels are the folded pieces of cloth on the front of a jacket. The shawl, the notch and the peak are the three types of lapels. The most common lapel type, the shawl, forms a continuous curve down the jacket. It is best for grooms with slimmer body types. 

Notch lapels feature a slit or "notch" that forms an angle where the lapel top meets the collar bottom. A notch lapel is a good option for any occasion, body type and single-breasted jackets. The peak lapel is the most formal option, and it features edges that point toward the shoulders. Peak lapels have a slimming effect, and they work best on double-breasted jackets.

Classic Wedding Suit Options

Classic Wedding Suit Options

A black tuxedo is the perfect classic look for black-tie weddings and other formal wedding styles. For a wedding that's not quite black-tie but still formal, a blue three-piece suit is a classic choice. Dark blue, solid blue, cobalt blue and midnight blue are classic color options that you can choose. Opt for a single vent suit with three buttons, jetted pockets and four sleeve buttons to complete this classic look.

Modern Wedding Suit Options

If contemporary or modern is more your style— or your partner's preferred style for the wedding there are many options to choose from. Modern looks are popular for beach weddings. Suits for this wedding style can be beige, white, light blue or light gray. A cotton and linen blend can give you a relaxed, casual look, while a wool and silk blend can give your look a little shine.

Many modern wedding suit ideas also leave room for creativity. Maroon or burgundy suits can give off a unique modern vibe, and brighter colors can add a trendy cheerfulness to your wedding attire. 

Get the Perfect Wedding Suit at Penner's

Find Your Perfect Wedding Suit at Penner's

As a groom, choosing your wedding attire is an important part of your big day. If you're in the San Antonio area, you can visit Penner's to browse our wide selection of wedding suit options, many of which you can purchase for the same cost as renting.  

Call us at (210)-226-2487 to learn more about our affordable wedding suit packages. We provide quality service and on-site tailoring to help you find the wedding suit that's right for you.