Choosing the Right Outfit for a Wedding

Choosing the right outfit for a wedding can be a challenge for guys depending on its style, location and the time of year. The invitation should give you a good indication of dress code but here are some more tips.

Summer Wedding

Certainly, avoid black and other dark colors. You will also want to avoid wool and other heavy fabrics typically worn in fall and winter. Choose a lighter colored suit in cotton, linen, or seersucker. Many designers continue to come out with suits in fabrics other than wool. Also, a cotton or linen suit with a bit of stretch added will help retain its shape and give it a slightly more polished look. If it is an evening wedding, black would be acceptable, but go for cotton to beat the heat.

Winter Wedding

Obviously dark colors are appropriate, as is as wool. Suits and blazers with nice trousers, or perhaps a cashmere v-neck sweater with a shirt and tie underneath would all be nice choices. A dress shirt, tie and dress pants are acceptable on their own if that’s all you have, but dress them up with a sweater or blazer if you can.

Evening Wedding

A dark suit is always appropriate and a tuxedo is the only thing to wear if you know it is a formal affair, but remember tuxedos are not to be worn before 5:00 pm. If you know it will casual or semi-formal, you can always wear a blazer and slacks with a tie, but try not to look like you’ve just come from the office. Opt for a tie, shirt or both that look more stylish and dressy than your usual office attire.

I recommend checking out Men's Warehouse for formal tuxedo rentals. You can choose to customize your look or rent any of their pre-styled looks.

To Be Avoided at All Costs

• Too casual of a pant such as cargo pants or worse, jeans (unless specified)
• Birkenstocks
• Out-dressing the wedding party
• Wrinkled clothes and unpolished shoes
• Wild colors and prints

The above rules don't exactly apply if you have been invited to a beach, Vegas, or some other out-of-the-ordinary wedding. In those cases, unless otherwise directed by the wedding party, anything goes.