So you’ve found your dream wedding dress, picked your beautiful bridesmaids dresses, and now it’s time for the next part: choosing your groom and groomsmen’s outfits. Even though the tough parts are out of the way (feels good doesn’t it?) the groomsmen tuxes or suits aren't something you should wait on. Whether you're working together as a couple to select groom and groomsmen attire, or designating the job to one person, it's important to have a vision in mind! As with everything else in your wedding, start early. It can take longer than you expect to find your desired style, have your groomsmen measured, and get their orders in. And as is common in wedding planning, something always seems to go wrong. But you have plenty on your plate without stressing out about what suit matches which dress so we’ve taken that worry away from you! Here is a guide we compiled with how to choose the right styles and colors to match your ‘maids along with some other helpful tips!
How to Coordinate Your Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Like a Pro
First things first: the key to having a smooth groomsmen attire process is understanding that matching everything 100% is unrealistic. We totally get it, this is the big day you’ve been dreaming about for years and you want everything to be perfect. And that is very understandable! But sometimes the blush pink of your bridesmaid dresses isn’t the exact same shade as your groomsmen's bow ties. And that’s fine! No one will notice because they’ll be too focused on the love and happiness of the rest of the wedding. Plus, often the same exact color looks different in different fabrics. Think about it! The sheen of satin looks totally different from the matte finish of chiffon. Instead of stressing yourself out with making every detail match exactly, go in with the mindset of having everything coordinate not match. This will save you a lot of stress and make you a much happier bride-to-be!
Coordinating Colors for Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
There’s actually a lot that goes into picking your groomsmen’s outfits. The good news? Most places/sites make it fully customizable so you can create the perfect look for your men and your wedding! Our first piece of advice: start with your color. When you go in for your consultation we suggest bringing pictures of your bridesmaid dresses or a color swatch fabric so you can show the consultant. If you are shopping online this part is even easier because everything is right there for you! Certain bridesmaid dress colors coordinate better with certain suit colors than others. So start with your bridesmaid color, ask the advisor what they think, and go from there.
I talked with the menswear department manager at the Wedding Shoppe Inc. to learn the best tips and tricks to choose your perfect suit! Here are our top tips:
Choosing a wool suit/tux will definitely pay off. While polyester is cheaper, wool is softer, more comfortable, and much easier to wear. And while you may be thinking that wool is hot and itchy, this isn’t true! Wool is very breathable so you will be cool in the summer but still warm in the winter.
White or ivory suits are awesome. Jim’s Formal Wear often sees couples with a traditional wedding choose all white or ivory suits! White/ivory from head to toe matches the bride so this is a very classic and traditional look.
This groom and his groomsmen chose white suit coats with black bow ties to complement the bridesmaids who wore black dresses. They look stunning! | Scott & Hannah Photography
Light grey suits and tuxedos are very popular in the spring and early summer months. Light grey coordinates well with summer colors such as blush or french lilac and reflects the warmth of the season.
Kennedy Blue's bridesmaid dress Cameron in French lilac
Kennedy Blue ties (from top to bottom): striped tie in Dove, striped tie in French Lilac, and solid bowtie in Dove
Black suits or tuxedos are perfect for the traditional and classic couple. There is nothing more timeless than a black suit.
Kennedy Blue's bridesmaid dress Jade in Bordeaux
Kennedy Blue ties (from top to bottom): solid bowtie in Claret, striped tie in Bourdeaux, floral bowtie in Bourdeaux
Navy blue suits are very popular right now, and we absolutely love them. Navy blue suits are great for the modern couple. They stand out more than the traditional black tux and look really great on the groomsmen! Navy blue is awesome because it’s a warm color, it works with a variety of complexions, and it complements a ton of different bridesmaid colors.
Michael Kors Ultra Slim Sterling Wedding Suit from Jim's Formal Wear and Kennedy Blue's bridesmaid dress Madeline in Bordeaux are together a very modern combination.
Kennedy Blue's bridesmaid dress Elena in Fog
Kennedy Blue ties (from top to bottom): floral bowtie in Fog, striped tie in Fog, solid bowtie in Fog
Bridesmaid Dress Styles to Match Suits or Tuxedos
Now that you chose your suit color you can narrow down your selection and pick the best style. Choosing your suit style will really depend on your desired wedding “vibe.” Having a traditional wedding versus a destination beach wedding will mean totally different suits (and suit colors.) So here are our tips!
Totally lost on what look you want? That’s okay! What a lot of couples decide to do is have the groom and groomsmen all in the same suit/tux, with white or ivory shirts underneath, and either all have the same ties with slightly different pocket squares or have different ties with the same pocket squares. The groom usually matches his tie to his bride and the groomsmen typically complement their ties with their respective bridesmaids. Some parties decide to have the men in colored shirts or have fun, patterned ties. The unwritten rule is the more pattern, the more relaxed the wedding.
Want a more modern look? Slim fitting suits are the way to go. Unlike what you may expect, slim fitting suits actually look great on a variety of shapes and sizes. It can be hard to accommodate for everyone in your wedding party, which is why choosing a style that will flatter everyone is important. Slim fit suits look crisp and tailored, and will make for a very nice clean and cohesive look.
The new trend? Casual. The Wedding Shoppe men's formal wear manager told us that they are definitely seeing a trend towards more casual weddings. More men are foregoing the three piece suit in favor of bow ties and suspenders, which can be really fun. This look isn’t for everyone of course, but if your wedding theme calls for more of a casual groomsmen look then feel free to have fun with it! Mix and match bow ties, wear colorful suspenders, and have fun with crazy socks. The Wedding Shoppe manager suggested that the casual look works great for ushers as well.
While having a more casual approach is awesome, you might want to also keep in mind that your wedding will also be one of the few times in your life that you can wear a handsome three piece suit! It is important to weigh all your options.
With tan pants and suspenders, these groomsmen totally nailed the mismatched casual look | Tandem Tree Photography
Having a destination wedding or beach wedding? We suggest choosing a tan suit! This look is less traditional and complements the whole sand/beach theme really well.
The Tan Havana suit from Jim's Formal Wear and Kennedy Blue Lola bridesmaid dress in navy blue is a great beach wedding combination.
Having a mismatched bridal party? You can try to mismatch all the groomsmen to match their respective ‘maids and this can be super cute but also super complicated. What we suggest is putting the groomsmen in a neutral color shirt and suit and mismatching their ties or pocket squares. So if all your bridesmaids are in different shades of blue, put your groomsmen in a dark grey suit, white shirts, and a neutral blue shade vest that falls in the middle of your selected color spectrum. Then you can let them pick different blue pocket squares or ties! (Again, all of this is entirely up to you, your fiancée, and your wedding theme).
Coordinating Ties and Pocket Squares
More and more wedding parties are choosing to go away from patterned and striped ties and are instead choosing striped-texture ties. Striped-textured ties are simple and classic. They aren’t boring and you won’t regret them in 30 years!
The nice thing about pocket squares is that you usually don’t have to worry about them. At Jim’s Formal Wear, as with many other formal departments, they offer pre-selected and recommended pocket squares that will match the color you choose. You can make the final decision, but pocket squares are something you don’t have to stress about!
Other Tips
You may be feeling bored with thinking about all your groomsmen in the same exact outfit. No need to worry about that! Socks are the newest fun accessory to incorporate some personality into your wedding party. They are fun for the groomsmen and also super fun for photo opportunities. Even if you choose a more traditional wedding theme, you can still have fun with socks because you won’t see them unless you want to!
Have your groomsmen wear mismatched socks to add some personality! | LuMett Socking CO
Having a non-traditional wedding? Check out Jim’s Formal Wear! They cater to every couple and wedding. From western to rustic to camo to Renaissance weddings, Jim’s Formal Wear has seen it all.
Slate blue can be a tough color to match. But please, please don’t let that change your mind because slate blue is one of my absolute favorite bridesmaid colors! What the Wedding Shoppe recommends is choosing a patterned tie because there is a larger range of color possibilities. Luckily, Kennedy Blue carries multiple slate blue ties specifically to match one of our favorite bridesmaid colors. So forge ahead with slate blue!
Kennedy Blue's bridesmaid dress Allison in Slate Blue Kennedy Blue ties (from top to bottom): floral bowtie in Slate Blue, striped tie in Slate Blue, solid bowtie in Slate Blue
Renting Fast Facts
* As I said before, renting your suit/tux can save you a ton of money. If you buy your suit you can wear it again and again which is a huge benefit, but unless you can honestly picture yourself wearing the suit to work or to other events then you may just be paying for it to gather dust in your closet. You also have to pay for your own alterations, and if you gain or lose weight you may not even fit into your suit!
* Renting online can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! And there are a ton of benefits to renting online. All your alterations are included, Jim's Formal Wear will ship each suit to your groomsmen individually, and you can wear designer suits at an affordable price.
* You can even request a free fabric swatch from Jim's Formal Wear to test the quality of the material and see the color in person! JFW can also send you a complimentary tape measure.
* We recommend getting professionally measured before you order to ensure the best fit, but that's honestly the hardest part of the process! Just create an event, build your custom suit or tux, and see what you think! It's such a great option for busy guys or groomsmen who don't live in the area.
Let's Chat
With all the stress of wedding planning, you don't want to have to also worry about picking the best tux. There's a lot to consider such as color, fit, and style but once you start to narrow down your options it makes the whole process a lot easier. And in the end, your groomsmen are happy to be apart of your special day and will look handsome in whatever you put them in!
Are you a bride or groom who recently chose your groom and groomsmen suits or tuxedos? Are you currently trying to decide? What colors and styles do you like? Do you see any Jim's Formal Wear and Kennedy Blue combinations that you love as much as we do?? Let us know in the comments below!
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