Let’s start this advice with a big old pinch of salt. If you’re getting married, you can wear whatever the hell you like. Before we get into details about lapels or cufflinks, let’s make one thing really clear: it’s your day (equally with the person you’re marrying) – so wear what you’ll feel amazing in. I stumbled across a few articles covering etiquette for grooms, or a rather cringeworthy “how should I dress my groom for the wedding?” – and that’s not what we’re about here.

Above anything else, if you’re getting married you should feel as special, as confident and as comfortable as you possibly can. You’re popping on an outfit – perhaps a suit, perhaps not – to spend what’s meant to be the best day of your life in. There’ll be photos your family will look at for generations to come. Whatever you wear, let it be something that makes you and your personality shine!

That said, we’re here to be helpful and most grooms want to wear a suit with accessories to make their look fit a wedding. Often, it’s the accessories that add sparkle and joy, while the suit itself will tick boxes for smartness, comfort and style.

Choosing a wedding suit: a simple guide for grooms

It’s pretty important to give yourself time to shop for your wedding suit. (ChatGPT suggests 4-6 months, but we think it’s wise to start browsing around 12 months.) If you’re buying locally and having a suit made to measure, visit a few shops early doors. Ask for fabric swatches and see if you like the salespeople. (If the service is off, leave and find somewhere else!) Look at some suits. How’s the quality of the stitching, the fabrics – and do you like the style?

Half an hour online here and there can be a big help when comparing overall style between brands. There are a few leaders in wedding suits – but you’re not limited to brands that sound weddingy! (For the record, neither should you need to hire suits – if you can afford to buy one, this is your opportunity to get something that makes you feel the bee’s knees. Ideally, have your groom’s suit made to measure. It’s worth it for how amazing you’ll feel on the day, and for eliminating any last minute stress with suit hire specialists.)

There are different styles of weddings, and a larger occasion can tend to be more formal than a smaller event. Consider your venue. If you’re marrying in a stately home the vibe will be different from, say, a barn wedding. For a festival style wedding, you have all the choice in the world from jeans to sequins and as flamboyant a style as you’d like! For a marquee at a country manor, perhaps you’ll feel more comfortable in a tie. For winter season weddings, a waistcoat and blazer adds style and cosiness.

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Blogger’s tip: if you’re not sure how formal to go with your wedding attire, chat to your partner and have a look at your photographer’s social media if they’ve done weddings at your venue before. What did other grooms wear? Take a cue from them if it helps!

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We spoke to TM Lewin’s Head of Buying, Matthew Stallard, for some tips about what grooms and guests can look out for when shopping for wedding outfits.

“For grooms, the fit is everything, even with relaxed summer fabrics like linen.

If you choose linen, make sure the suit is well cut and fits properly. Pair it with a crisp white shirt and smart loafers. Linen naturally feels more laid back, but this combination keeps the outfit looking smart and wedding ready rather than too casual.”

Even Vogue prioritises comfort for groom’s suits: “What a groom wears on their big day should be comfortable, great-fitting, and personal.” (They go on to recommend white braces for $190, and include a couple of full dress tail suits in their suggestions, but still! We got the important bit!

Add subtle personality to your wedding suit

Suit shopping online for a wedding, you’d be forgiven for worrying the suits you see “don’t look very weddingy”. We get it – you want something special.

Your wedding suit only needs to be stylish, to suit your personality, and to be comfortable (so you feel great on the day). It’s the accessories you add which will take it to what we call wedding level.

Matthew told us, “Accessories can help tie the look in to the tone or theme of the day. A patterned pocket square or a linen tie in a seasonal colour adds interest without overwhelming the outfit.”

Colours are absolutely key. Just don’t feel tied in to wherever you’re buying your suit from: they’ll likely have a rainbow of ties to choose from – but Etsy and online retailers might offer far, far more.

If you’re having floral buttonholes – known as boutonnieres – make sure any tie or pocket square will look good alongside these. Colours are really key, and it’s common in the wedding industry to get fabric swatches for ties, bridesmaid dresses and even ribbons and table linens so you can make sure it all goes together beautifully. (This is optional: it’s much simpler and frankly more modern to have a palette of tonal colours (e.g. greens or pinks) that work nicely together)

Accessories to bring groom’s suits up to wedding level include cufflinks, buttonholes, pocket squares, ties and bowties, suit and waistcoat linings (check out this unmissable wedding for bespoke waistcoat inspiration!), shoes, socks, braces, embroidered stitching, watches and pocket watches, tie clips, hats, belts and – essentially – fragrance. If you’re in the US, you can add suspenders to the list. If you’re a UK groom, perhaps avoid those(!)

Advice for wedding guest attire

We asked TM Lewin for their advice on wedding guest outfits for men in 2025. Here are their tips:

1. Match your linen to the wedding

• For an outdoor countryside wedding, opt for lighter tones and softer relaxed tailoring.
• At a city wedding, you can go for darker shades and more structured tailoring to create a sharper look.

2. Mix and match

• A relaxed linen blazer worn open and over a tucked in shirt creates an effortless but put together feel.
• Pair it with tailored trousers and smart shoes to create the right balance between smart and not being too formal.
• For a more structured jacket opt for a linen/cotton blend.