Get tips for creating daytime and evening semi-formal wedding attire looks, and learn how to use a semi-formal dress code for your wedding.
Semi-formal attire is, well, somewhat formal. Men are expected to wear an outfit that’s appropriate for the time of day of the wedding. In that way, the semi-formal dress code is smart wedding attire wording for couples who want to offer guests some outfit guidance while allowing them the flexibility of choosing their own “version” of semi-formal wedding attire.
WHAT DOES “SEMI-FORMAL WEDDING ATTIRE” MEAN?
You’ll need to wear a suit and tieāit’s still a formal-ish wedding dress code. However, daytime weddings call for casual suit colorsālight grey, tan, and blueāand more freedom to wear bright or colorful accessories. If the wedding is planned for late in the day or early evening, a darker suit with simple accessories is the right move.
Whether you’re a guest, groom, or the best man, you can show a lot of personality while following this dress codeāand we’ll show you how, whether the wedding is in the daytime or the evening.
Table of Contents
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire for Grooms
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire for Wedding Parties
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire for Guests
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire
for Grooms
The groom shouldn’t feel limited to a simple suit on their wedding day, and the options below infuse more color into the groom’s outfit. But the more colorful the suit, the more subtle the accessories should be.
DAYTIME OUTFIT
This emerald suit could work well for both day and evening weddings, but a little daylight really makes this suit color pop. The brown leather shoes and gold accessories bring visual warmth to the look. Pair it all with our wedding party outfit recommendation (below) for a coordinated effort that lets the groom shine.
EVENING OUTFIT
Paired with black leather shoes and black silk pocket square, the fabric of this blue suit actually looks more vibrant. For contrast, pair with a streamlined fly-front shirt and classic ivory bow tie (because there’s nothing wrong with the groom out-dressing everyone else).
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire
for Wedding Parties
Some couples like to use wedding colors in their groomsmen outfits, and some prefer a classic color scheme that’s agnostic of those colors. We have semi-formal attire recommendations that cover each approach below.
DAYTIME OUTFIT
A light grey suit is a breezy choice that won’t draw too much attention away from the groom, but can complement any color. The groomsmen ties are a traditional place to highlight one of your wedding colors, but be careful not to match too perfectly with their pocket squares. Skip the belt and keep those pants exactly where they belong with suspenders.
EVENING OUTFIT
If you’d rather leave the color to the groom, a navy suit is the perfect formal evening look for your wedding party. Keep the look tidy with a matching navy vest, black and white accessories, and black dress shoes (trust usāblack looks great with navy).
Semi-Formal Wedding Attire
for Guests
Guests can be a little more playful with their attire, so be sure to make the most of a semi-formal wedding dress code. Don’t be afraid to pass on a white dress shirt in favor of a more colorful option.
DAYTIME OUTFIT
Tan suits aren’t as common as a full wedding party look, so you don’t have to worry about crowding the crew when suiting up as a wedding guest. Black and white accessories are an unexpected choice with tan (that’s good), and work very well paired with a light blue shirt.
EVENING OUTFIT
You don’t need to go all the way to the dark side to look right for an evening semi-formal wedding. Leave navy and charcoal to the wedding party and opt for a medium grey suit. Make it colorful with a monochromatic look in pink and burgundy, and use pattern to avoid your accessories looking too planned. Add dancing shoes and you’re set.
The Right Fit for Your Wedding
Understanding the semi-formal dress code can help you choose the right wedding outfit, but the suit you choose needs to actually fit you, too. That’s why we design modern suits and tuxedos with a better fit, and make it easy for everyone to arrive looking their best on the big day.
If you’re planning a wedding and need to make sure your look is perfect, you can check the style and fit of our suits in person at our locations across the country. Book your showroom appointment here.
Want to do it all online? Answer a few simple questions to find your sizes right now.