Wedding Style Guide: Planning Suits for Grooms, Groomsmen & Wedding Parties

Published on January 19, 2025

Here’s the thing about wedding suits: they’re not just outfits–they’re statements. They set the tone for the entire day, show off who you are as a couple, and look amazing in photos for decades to come. But figuring out what the groom, groomsmen, and wedding party should wear can feel intimidating with a sea of endless options. Classic tux? Something bold and modern? And how does it all tie in with your chosen wedding theme, whether bohemian, pastel, vintage, or beyond?

But planning wedding suits doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re dreaming of relaxed, earthy tones for a laid-back day, timeless black-and-white for a classic wedding aesthetic, or something totally nontraditional (hello, velvet suits and bold patterns!), this guide will help you pull it all together. Let’s make sure you and your wedding party look as amazing as the celebration feels.

Key Takeaways

Choose between a suit and tuxedo based on your wedding’s dress code and theme, with tuxedos offering a more formal option and suits providing versatility.
Match groomsmen accents like ties and pocket squares with bridesmaid dresses, stick to a color palette, and use similar fabrics for a polished, unified aesthetic.
Ensure your suit fits like a dream – shoulder seams should align with your shoulders, jacket sleeves should end just past your wrists, and pants should rest at the top of your dress shoes.
Pocket squares, ties, cufflinks, and boutonnières are essential for personalizing your look while maintaining wedding-day elegance.
Start suiting preparations 6-9 months before your wedding to allow time for adjustments and avoid last-minute stress.

Understanding Suiting Basics

Picking the right wedding suits or tuxedos for the newlywed and groomsmen is no small task – it’s about balancing style, comfort, and the ambiance of the big day. From choosing the perfect men’s suits to coordinating with your fun wedding theme, there’s a lot to think about. Are you going for classic and elegant, bold and modern, or something totally unique? Regardless of your choice, we’re breaking it all down to make the process straightforward and fun.

Weddings Suits vs. Tuxedos

So, what’s the real difference between suits and tuxedos? It’s all in the details. Tuxedos are the more formal and fancier option when it comes to suiting, with satin accents on the lapels, buttons, and pockets that make them perfect for black-tie and upscale events. Suits, on the other hand, ditch the satin and go for versatility, allowing them to be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

When deciding between the two, consider the formality of your wedding. A tuxedo fits seamlessly into a black-tie or elegant dress code, and requires key pieces, such as a plain white dress shirt, bow tie, and patent leather shoes. Suits, on the other hand, work well for nearly every dress code, from formal and semi-formal weddings to themes like bohemian, beach, and rustic weddings. No matter what, the types of suits you pick should match the overall vibe of your day.

Suit and Tuxedo Styles

When it comes to suit and tuxedo styles, there’s a lot to unpack. To start, it’s important to understand the difference between double-breasted vs. single-breasted suits. Single-breasted suits are the go-to for most weddings, characterized by a sleek front closure with a single row of buttons, often featuring a peak or notch lapel. Double-breasted suits add a little drama for those who want a standout look, constructed with two parallel columns of buttons on the front and peak lapels that ascend toward the shoulders.

Understanding these different lapel types, such as notch, peak, or shawl, allows you to find a suit or tuxedo that matches your personality. Shawl lapels are often found on tuxedos due to their rounded appearance that lends well to elegant affairs, while notch lapels are versatile and suitable for nearly any occasion, with peak lapels adding a touch of formality by creating a more structured look.

Fit is also crucial when it comes to finding the suit or tuxedo style for your big day. Today, suits and tuxedos that are designed for comfort with a sleek, trim, and tailored look are the preferred choice. Suits that create a slim, not skinny, and never baggy appearance are timeless yet current, allowing newlyweds to create a look that never goes out of style.

At SuitShop, we offer slim fit and modern fit suits that achieve this look but for different body types. Slim fit suits and tuxedos are crafted for those with more athletic builds, characterized by broader or muscular shoulders and larger drops, which refers to the chest-to-waist ratio. Slim fit suits also feature more tailored pants for those with leaner waists and legs. Modern fit suits and tuxedos feature a straighter shape with more proportional chest, waist, and hip areas to accommodate grooms and marriers with more muscular builds, offering more room in the legs and jacket for a comfortable fit.

Wedding Dress Codes

After you make your suiting choices, the dress code for your wedding can match. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different dress codes:

Black-tie wedding attire: Black-tie wedding attire is always tuxedo territory. Keep it classic with a black or midnight blue tuxedo, and don’t forget the bowtie. Groomsmen and wedding guests can match or opt for a slightly simpler style, such as black tie optional attire, to allow the marriers to shine.
Formal wedding attire: When it comes to formal wedding attire, a dark suit or tuxedo works here. Think navy, charcoal, or black with polished accessories.
Semi-formal wedding attire: Suits are definitely the star with semi-formal wedding attire, and you can get creative with colors, like styling an olive green suit or a piece in gray or soft blue. One important note is to make sure everything’s well-tailored.
Casual wedding attire: If you’re going for casual, this is your chance to relax. Light fabrics, softer colors, and a more laid-back vibe are perfect. A tan suit or even a blazer with dress pants fits right in.

Don’t forget to keep the men’s wedding guest attire in mind – your suiting look will set the tone for everyone else. When sending out invitations, state your wedding’s dress code and consider creating a lookbook or style guide that guests can follow to nail the look of your wedding theme.

Seasonal Considerations

Syncing your suit with the season will help you nail both comfort and style on your wedding day.

Warm weather suiting: Stick to lightweight fabrics like linen, cotton, or lightweight wool to stay cool. Soft tones like beige, light gray, or pastels are perfect for spring and summer, especially for outdoor or beach weddings. Pair men’s summer wedding outfits with relaxed accessories like floral ties or tan loafers for a fresh, breezy look.
Cold weather suiting: Heavier fabrics like tweed, velvet, or wool work best for fall wedding guest attire and winter suiting. Opt for rich colors like burgundy, forest green, or navy to match the cozy, refined vibe. Layering with a vest or adding accessories like velvet bow ties completes the polished look.

Wedding Themes

Your wedding theme is another major factor when choosing suiting. Here are some ideas:

Earth tone wedding theme: If you want your guests to wear earth tone wedding attire, go for browns, tans, or muted greens. Natural fabrics like tweed or wool would be great for your suit and perfect for rustic or outdoor weddings.
Beach wedding theme: For men’s beach wedding attire, gravitate towards lightweight suits in sandy beige, light gray, or even white.
Elegant wedding theme: A sleek tuxedo or a classic black suit with polished details will bring the glamour, especially if you want everyone to have formal wedding attire.
Vintage wedding theme: Go retro with a three-piece suit, a double-breasted jacket, or a velvet tuxedo in colors like burnt orange or burgundy.
Bohemian wedding theme: Soft colors, relaxed fits, and textured fabrics like linen or cotton create an effortless suit look for the marrier.

Color Palettes

Your wedding color palette ties everything together, from florals to decor – and your suits should be no exception. For an earth tone wedding attire vibe, think shades like olive, terracotta, or cream that complement natural settings. A pastel wedding color palette brings soft blues, pinks, and lavenders to life, while jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, or ruby add richness to formal settings.

Coordinating wedding party suits with bridesmaid dresses is key when sticking to your chosen color palette. An essential tip for matching the bridal party with the groomsmen is utilizing accessories. Dress groomsmen in socks, ties, and pocket squares that feature the primary color of the bridesmaid dresses. If the bridesmaids are wearing blush, for example, try navy or gray suits for contrast with a blush pink tie and a boutonnière featuring florals like a pink rose.

Coordinating your wedding decor with your color palette is also important. Choose linens and stationary in similar hues for a cohesive look, and leverage unique floral displays to anchor table settings. For an elegant wedding theme, for example, choose classic red roses as centerpieces paired with white linens and menus featuring gold embellishments. Or, for a wedding with a jewel tone color palette, add pops of color in your seating chart and subtle details like napkins, food and beverage signs, and florals. Whatever palette you choose, your wedding suits and bridal dresses should enhance the whole aesthetic – and maybe even steal the show.

Grooms: How to Choose a Suit for Your Wedding

Your wedding day is all about you, so make sure your suit or tuxedo feels just right. Start by matching your look to the dress code—black-tie calls for a tuxedo, while semi-formal or casual weddings work perfectly with a suit. Consider a made-to-order suit for a customized fit that nails your wedding’s vibe and theme. Think seasonal fabrics like linen for summer or velvet or tweed for winter, and align your color choice with your wedding palette. A navy or charcoal suit is a safe, timeless pick, but don’t shy away from lighter tones or bold textures if they fit your vision.

A perfect fit is key—shoulders should align, the jacket should cover your seat, and sleeves should show just a touch of shirt cuff. Pair your look with standout accessories like a tie or pocket square in your wedding colors, and don’t forget the finishing touches, like adding cufflinks or pinning a boutonnière, to make your outfit uniquely yours. Need extra guidance? SuitShop’s Fit Guide can help you lock in a flawless fit so you’re ready to take center stage on your big day.

Wedding Party: How to Coordinate Groomsmen and the Wedding Party with the Groom

Your groomsmen’s look should complement yours while still making you stand out as the star of the show. Think of their suits as a supporting cast—they should match the vibe of your suit or tuxedo without overshadowing it. For example, if you’re rocking a navy suit, your groomsmen can wear a slightly lighter blue or a coordinating neutral, like gray.

Accessories are where you can tie the whole look together. Matching ties, pocket squares, and boutonnières create a polished, unified aesthetic while contrasting slightly with your own to highlight your role. Make sure their suits also complement the bridesmaids’ dresses and the overall color palette for a cohesive wedding party look. It's all about balance—different enough to let you shine but coordinated enough to look picture-perfect as a group.

Wedding Suit FAQs

To pull off a cohesive wedding party look, match bridesmaid dresses with groomsmen accents like ties or pocket squares. Stick to a consistent color palette or wedding theme, and choose similar fabrics for a polished vibe. For example, if your bridesmaids are in blush pink, complement it with rose-toned ties for the groomsmen. Keep the groom’s look distinct but harmonious—think a bolder shade or unique accessory to help him stand out.

Renting may seem cheaper upfront, but owning a suit you can re-wear often proves more cost-effective. Plus, rentals can complicate wedding day logistics, especially for destination weddings, where return deadlines can be tricky.

Wedding suits to buy tend to offer a better look for photos (which last a lifetime) compared to rental wedding suits, since everyone in the wedding party gets their exact sizing rather than whatever sizing happens to be available.

The biggest reason people sometimes opt for renting wedding suits for their groomsmen is the price. But with brands (like SuitShop) offering affordable suits to own, often at the same price as rentals, your wedding party can get all the benefits without the hassle by purchasing their wedding attire.

Research suiting companies to compare options, but don’t overlook the convenience of having your groomsmen and wedding party members own suits for your big day—and beyond.

Some wedding suit brands like SuitShop are able to accommodate any timeline to help outfit shorter engagements, last-minute wedding planning, and more.

In general can be recommended to start shopping for your wedding suit about five or six months before the big day. This timeline gives you plenty of room to find the right look, make adjustments if needed, and avoid last-minute stress.

If you’re buying, this also allows enough time to ensure your perfect fit and look, plus extra time for tailoring if you want to further personalize your fit.

Accessories can take your wedding suit to the next level. For a sharp, put-together look, add pocket squares, ties or bow ties, tie clips, cufflinks, and boutonnières. Play with colors and patterns to match the wedding theme, or let your accessories subtly contrast for a touch of personality.

The groom can shine by wearing a tuxedo, while the groomsmen stick to suits. The newlywed can also opt for a unique suit color or add standout accessories like a custom boutonnière or a statement watch. A velvet jacket or bold tie can also set the groom apart while keeping the look cohesive with the rest of the party.

Achieving the Final Look: Everything to Know About Wedding Suiting

From deciding between a suit or tuxedo to coordinating your wedding party and nailing the perfect fit, every detail matters. Accessories, seasonal fabrics, and color palettes tie it all together, ensuring your look is as unforgettable as the day itself.

When it comes to finding wedding suiting that checks all the boxes, SuitShop makes it easy. With options like our convenient and free Wedding Group Management dashboard, Fit Finder, and made-to-order suits, you’ll find the perfect style, size, and look for every member of your party. Affordable, timeless, and tailored to perfection, SuitShop is your go-to for a stress-free suiting experience.