Every bride spends long months choosing the most beautiful wedding dress. Even the other invited ladies have at least two outfits ready. Gentlemen, on the other hand, sometimes tend to underestimate the preparation and only start tackling it shortly before the big day. Which suit should one choose? What is actually worn? Dark, light, with a waistcoat or without? As the ceremony draws near, the questions pile up and the tension grows. Sometimes the groom has an advantage, because the bride likes to have everything under control and keeps nudging her beloved along. But what about the fathers, the witnesses and the other guests – what does etiquette prescribe for them?
Three golden rules to follow, whether you are the groom or a guest
1. One attends a wedding in a suit. Aside from completely informal "meadow" weddings and unconventional, extravagant occasions, it is good form to wear a suit to a wedding. By doing so you show respect to the bride, the groom and all the other guests.
2. Clean clothes and shoes. You may be surprised, but it often happens that gentlemen take their suit out of the wardrobe only on the evening before the event. Allow at least a week for the dry cleaner and for laundering the shirt. Pay attention to your formal shoes as well.
3. Clothes that fit you properly. And here we are again – do not leave the wedding outfit to the last minute. It is wonderful that you have a formal suit in the wardrobe, but if you do not take it out regularly, try it on well in advance.
Have you discovered stains that cannot be removed, or does the suit no longer fit?
Then it is time to set out for a new one. And here the key factor is how much time remains until the wedding. If it is several weeks, you are in good shape. You can choose between off-the-peg tailoring and a made-to-measure suit. Ready-to-wear garments can be of excellent quality, but nothing compares with a suit made to measure for you and your needs. It can take into account broader athletic thighs and shoulders as well as your height. If only a week or even less remains, hurry to the shop – ideally one that can offer expert advice.
Choose both the fabric and the cut of your suit with care
Slim-line suits are among the most popular trends of recent times. A slim silhouette suits most men, while the Extra Slim cut is best reserved for genuinely very slender gentlemen. For passionate athletes and men with less conventional figures, the Relax silhouette is a great choice as it leaves more room.
A high-quality woollen fabric is the best choice for a wedding suit. Depending on the season, choose either a warmer woollen cloth that will keep you comfortable or, on the contrary, an airy lightweight fabric designed for hot summer days. You will appreciate a quality woollen suit from the very first moments. The cloth sits comfortably on the body and breathes. There is no need to worry about sweat-soaked underarms or a damp shirt. Blended fabrics that give wool additional properties are also worth considering. It is better to forget man-made materials altogether – you will quickly start to sweat in them and you will not avoid discomfort and an unpleasant odour.
The groom and bride take centre stage
At the wedding they should look their very best and no one should outshine them. The bride's dress is a chapter in itself, but the groom too must look superb. He can choose between a two-piece and a three-piece suit, which adds a waistcoat to the trousers and jacket. The waistcoat, however, is not obligatory.
Opt for a suit fabric of high quality. Insist on natural materials and good craftsmanship. At the wedding you want to be thinking about your beloved and your big day, not about sleeves that are too long or feeling too warm.
Choose more restrained colours. Suits in dark shades of grey, blue, brown and black are the typical choice. A discreet woven pattern, ideally tone-on-tone, makes for a lovely accent.
For the summer months you can reach for lighter colours. Take care, however – white and very pale suits do not suit everyone. If you are fair-haired with pale skin, consider choosing a more pronounced shade.
The bride's or groom's father holds a place of honour at the wedding. His suit should be in darker colours. The darker the shade, the more gravitas it lends the wearer. Light colours are best left to the groom – they do not suit the other wedding guests. Once again, choosing a natural material is a safe bet. A comfortable, well-fitting cut is essential.
Are there any special rules for the best man's suit?
Being the groom's or bride's witness is an honour, and your wedding outfit should reflect that. A perfectly fitting suit in dark tones made from natural materials is a foolproof choice. You can enliven it with a pocket square and a tie. Remember that no one at the wedding should outshine the two main protagonists. It is therefore wise to find out what the groom will be wearing and choose accordingly. Turning up in a noticeably more luxurious suit would be bad form.
The same applies to all the other men – they should wear a suit in darker tones so that the groom remains the star. There is no room for fashion extravagance at a wedding. On the contrary, you will demonstrate a sophisticated sense of elegant style through a perfectly coordinated outfit and an interesting pocket square in the lapel.
So what does the ideal wedding suit look like?
Nejoblíbenější
Labels