Introduction
It’s coming up to that season once again. The time when it feels like everyone you’ve ever known has decided to get hitched just to remind you how truly alone you are. And although a winter wedding is an easy event to dress for, once the sun comes out and invitations start flying through your letter box, it’s a completely different story. During the winter there really are only two options a guy has to choose from: a tuxedo or a dark neutral suit. That’s all there is to it. I tend to go with navy during the day and grey during the evening, with a tuxedo if the dress code dictates. As long as the suit is made from high quality medium-weight wool and you keep the details simple and classic, you can’t go wrong. However, what makes dressing for a wedding during the winter months so easy is the exact same reason dressing for one in the summer is so hard: trying not to upstage the groom. Because as much as you want to make sure your suit says “meet me at the bar”, rather than the office, you don’t want it to say “look at me, not the guy at the altar”. Or even worse, “look at me, not the woman at the altar”. Trust me when I say that last one will always get you in trouble. So, essentially, the question is this: how do you stay stylish without crossing the line? Because as much as I’d love to rock up to my mate’s wedding in a Gatsby-inspired pink linen suit or a madras blazer from Gant, I’m pretty sure he won’t appreciate it. As always, the devil is in the details…
Dressing For A Wedding Guidelines
Lookbook Inspiration
Before we start, some lookbook inspiration in order to get the creative juices flowing:
Seasonal Is Not Optional
Let’s face it, as soon as the ceremony is over it’s time to get on it. And as someone who is truly committed to cutting a rug at any wedding he attends, believe me when I say that wearing something seasonal is a must. Stick to linens, cotton or tropical wools to avoid being the sweatiest guy at the reception.
- Stone Cotton Linen Mix Slim Fit Suit
- Asos Slim Fit Stripe Blazer
- Vito Seersucker Blazer
- He By Mango Striped Cotton Blazer
- He By Mango Linen-blend Suit Trousers
- Topman Blue Flecked Skinny Suit
- Topman Blue Seersucker Skinny Blazer
- Gucci Piece-dye Poplin-cotton Shirt 147352
Get Creative With The Details
Again, this is a nice and subtle way of upping your style points at any event this summer. By opting for ties and pocket squares in interesting colours, patterns and textures you will breathe new life into even the stuffiest of nine-to-five suits. Great for those who haven’t got the funds for a whole new outfit. Gingham checks in monochromes, colourful polka dot or anything made from chambray are ideal for creating that ‘twist on a classic’. Just remember to keep everything else simple and refined to show that you understand the dress code but still want to have a bit of fun.
- Twin Pack Chambray Tie And Bow Tie Set
- J.crew Gingham Check Cotton Tie
- Topman Burgundy Chambray 6cm Tie
- Turnbull & Asser Polka-dot Silk Pocket Square
- Alexander Olch Check Woven-cotton Pocket Round
- Austin Reed Viyella Blue Circle Neat Pocket Square
Final Word
So there you have it, a few basic guidelines that I tend to follow when I’m putting together my outfit for a summer wedding. The key is to be mindful of the bride and groom – it’s their day after all – and, as tempting as it may be, showing them up is not the best of wedding gifts. Just get them some plates instead; they’ll appreciate it a lot more. As always, I want to hear what you have to say, so leave a comment below. What do you tend to wear to a wedding, be it summer or winter? Are you as considerate to the groom? Any cautionary tales that you can share? Let us know. Next week’s article will be about what it’s like from the other side of the fence ? how to dress if it’s your own wedding.
