Groom outfit ideas can range from classic menswear pieces to bold, custom options. It’s important to find styles that fit the formality of your wedding, your body’s unique shape, and your personal style.
Over the past few decades, groom outfit ideas were often limited to traditional suiting options ranging from tuxedos to classic, tailored suits. However, menswear rules are fast changing—and many to-be-weds are pushing the boundaries when it comes to their wedding wardrobe. Dressing up in the perfect ensemble that fits their personality and style is now a major part of a groom’s wedding day checklist.
Whether you want to learn how to find a perfectly tailored suit or push the boundaries with a creative, custom look, we break down everything to know about groom attire ahead.
Modern Rules of Groom Attire
“I would almost say there are no rules,” shares Tanner Fletcher designer Fletcher Kasell of the modern groom’s wedding attire. “We get grooms of all kinds: some people are more over the top, and some want to dabble in a little ruffle here and there. I always recommend that grooms go just a touch outside of their comfort zone.”
The only real fashion rules will be the ones you set yourself as the dress code. If the event is black tie, it’s likely you would like to follow suit in a tuxedo. However, the to-be-weds are the stars of the show and can always breach the rules for their own wardrobes. Don’t be afraid to stand out in something a little different from your guests.
Groom Outfit Ideas for Every Style
For his Pasadena nuptials, groom Kyle Robiskie donned a true classic—a Ralph Lauren Purple Label tuxedo in black with a white collared shirt and black bow-tie. The clean, sharp silhouette of the tuxedo makes it an easy choice for a black-tie ceremony, while the lack of studs on the shirt helps lend the look a more modern edge.
Just as many brides are choosing to wear multiple looks throughout the wedding day, grooms are also following suit. As dancing began, Kyle swapped into a white shawl-collar dinner jacket in silk shantung to signal they had entered into a more carefree, yet still elevated part of the evening.
Groom attire can go far from black and white. When tying the knot at San Ysidro Ranch, groom Owen Huelsbeck decided to wear an all-brown ensemble—down to his espresso-hued shirt. To give his rich suit an extra pop, he accessorized with a gold brooch that echoed the greenery surrounding them at the venue.
Don’t be afraid to play with texture and shape at your nuptials. Groom Miles Johnson found himself drawn to the pleated suit designs of designer Issey Miyake when on the search for his wedding day attire. The skier often wore baggy clothes in his day-to-day life, so he echoed that aesthetic by finding an oversized pleated jacket and pants in a looser silhouette that would help him feel like an elevated version of himself down the aisle.
Just as many brides have traditionally played with pattern, texture, and ruffles for their white wedding gowns, grooms can also play with these details. At actor Johnny Link’s wedding, he wore a custom Tanner Fletcher ensemble featuring an ivory jacquard suit with covered buttons, along with a shirt with ruffles at the collar and sleeves. Navy accents with the bowtie and ruffle trim help add contrast to the look.
His fiancé Matthew felt coordinated, yet individual with his wedding day attire. The grooms both wore a jacket in a similar cut, yet Matthew opted for a clean, untextured wool suit with a wider pant silhouette. A silk ruffled shirt added a looser feel to his ensemble.
In the warmer months, it’s never a bad idea to choose softer hues and lightweight, breathable fabrics for summer wedding suits. For a wedding weekend on an island in Greece, groom Mattias Grandury opted for a custom-made Italian suit in a light tan shade for his outdoor ceremony. A crisp white shirt, a Brunello Cucinelli tie, and a fresh flower boutonnière help pull the look all together. As a sentimental touch, he had his suit lined with a silk starfish print from his wife’s fashion brand Buggy.
Another chic silhouette to try is a double-breasted suit. At his Iceland wedding ceremony, Nigerian singer Mr Eazi wore a Saint Laurent suit featuring a double-breasted jacket and a high collar. A shimmering brooch on the lapel added an extra touch of elegance to the look. Bride Temi Otedola aptly said, “Eazi’s suit was so classic yet modern.”
Play with your proportions and consider pairing high-waisted pant with a bold cropped jacket. Take note from Mr Eazi, who swapped his look for an Alexander McQueen ensemble featuring a short white jacket with an angular closure.
Who said trains are reserved for brides? For his Brooklyn wedding, designer William Stautberg created his own wedding jumpsuit, complete with a detachable train with buttons down the back that adhered to the shoulders. His husband also pushed the boundaries with a Louis Vuitton suit featuring a criss-crossed lapel.
As jackets come off during the night, you might want to think about wearing a shirt underneath that makes a statement. At their New York wedding, actors Ben Platt and Noah Galvin each chose to wear short-sleeve crochet shirts beneath their custom Arel Suits that would look chic in wedding white when worn alone.
Other Tips
Curating your wedding wardrobe goes far beyond just finding an ensemble you like. Ensuring proper fit is one of the most important things you can do to help you feel your best on your wedding day. Kasell advises that great suiting often comes down to proportions. For example, he advises those with longer torso to choose a flat-front pant and those with longer legs to select pants with pleats.
Of course, creating a tailor-made groom suit or working with an alterations specialist is the most helpful way to fine-tune your look. As Kasell says, “Maybe it’s not something you would do if it wasn’t your wedding, but I think it’s worth it to go the extra mile.” When all else fails, the designer notes, “Keep it simple in silhouette, then have more fun with the material or the embellishments.”
Customizing fabric details of your suiting or throwing in a unique accessory can take your wedding day attire to the next level. “I always like something a little sentimental,” shares Kasell. “We’ve had people take buttons off of their mom’s wedding dress and put them on their cuffs. We're making a classic suit and layering lace panels from the groom’s mom's wedding dress all over the suit. It's really beautiful to include something that’s special and important to you.” Many grooms will often choose to have their wedding date embroidered below their collar or wear a watch from a loved one.
Kasell notes that placing brooches or boutonnières on the lapel is always a great idea to accessorize. If you are thinking of doing a boutonnière, be sure to coordinate with your floral designer to craft a special piece that matches the wedding palette. Kasell adds, “On your wedding day, it should always be fresh flowers.”
