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Late spring through summer is undisputedly peak wedding season, so chances are you've currently got at least one of them penciled in on your calendar. Now it's time to ask yourself: what to wear to the celebratory occasion?
For women, the rules are pretty easy: just don't wear white, so as to not upstage the bride. But for guys, style as a wedding guest is not so obvious. Should you wear a suit, or is a sport coat acceptable? Can you get away with wearing a black suit, rather than a black tuxedo, at a black tie wedding? Here are some guidelines for what men should wear to a wedding.
When attending a daytime wedding, it is important to consider the overall feel and ambiance that the wedded-couple-to-be were trying to create when they planned morning or afternoon nuptials. These are often light, airy, flowery events.
Generally speaking, they tend to be a tad less formal than evening affairs. A suit in a shade of navy, gray, beige or brown is appropriate. Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, referred to as analogous colors, pair well together for an attractive look.
For example, a blue suit would look nice with a blue-green shirt and a green tie. You can also select contrasting tones for a polished appearance; try pairing two dark elements with one light element. For example, if you have a khaki colored suit, try a white shirt with a dark blue pin stripe and a dark blue tie.
If the wedding you are attending is at an outdoor setting, such as on the beach, you will probably be taking off your suit jacket, at least for a little while. So while a crisp white button-down shirt is always appropriate, you may wish to consider a shirt with a subtle pattern, or in a color.
In an outdoor setting, do not assume that the dress is casual unless the invitation specifies "casual attire." Men should always wear a suit and tie to a wedding, unless different dress is requested. Don't forget about a nice belt, and yes, it should match your shoes. The general rule is: shoes to match the belt, socks to match the pants.
The tone of an evening wedding that goes from 7 pm to 11 pm is certainly going to differ from one that goes from 11 am to 3 pm. Make sure you dress for it in the proper sophisticated manner. A crisp black suit is a choice that you can't go wrong with.
An evening wedding also calls for an elegant tie knot, such as the Full Windsor. This tie knot is typically reserved for special occasions, and was popularized by the Duke of Windsor in England.
If you are invited to a black tie wedding, this means that you are expected to wear a black tuxedo and a black bow tie. You can get away with wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, if you wish, as this often looks more polished than a rented tuxedo. If a well-tailored tuxedo is available to you, this is undoubtedly the most appropriate choice.
A "creative" black tie wedding means that you, as a gentleman in attendance, have creativity in terms of the tie, shirt and accessories you wear. You should still stick with the black tuxedo, as it is meant to be a formal affair. Perhaps snaz it up a bit with an interesting vest or pocket square. Don't forget to polish your shoes, as shoes can make a huge difference between looking shabby and looking stylish.