Our 2024 guide to wedding attire for men answers every prenuptial style question. Get advice on choosing men’s wedding attire, from guests to the groom.
Whether you’re trying to choose wedding attire for groom or for groomsmen, or just need some help with men’s wedding guest attire, we’ll point you in the right direction. Need a shortcut to the perfect look? Check out the chart below and read on to get expert tips for selecting wedding attire for men.
If you’re the groom (or helping plan the groom’s look), you might feel the need to create a wedding outfit men will admire for generations. We call that feeling “pressure.” Luckily, you’re in the driver’s seat, because a dress code, wedding theme, venue choice or the timing of your vows can dictate the wedding attire for your big day.
As a wedding guest, it’s important to pay attention to the cues the couple is providing. Learn what to wear to a wedding now using any wedding details you have, and save yourself tedious hours of untagging photos later.
Table of Contents
Wedding Attire by Dress Code
Wedding Attire by Season
Wedding Attire by Venue
Wedding Attire by Time of Day
Wedding Attire by Wedding Theme
Wedding Attire by Dress Code
Many couples include a dress code on the invitations, setting clear wedding attire expectations for their guests. While these dress codes are often short on detail, following our suggestions will make choosing men’s wedding attire simple.
Black Tie Men’s Wedding Attire
What It Means: Stick to this specific list: black bow tie, black tuxedo, white tux shirt. Bright colors and neckties are riskier, but there are several ways to set yourself apart. For example, a tux shirt with a fold-down collar creates a modern look. Accessorize in small ways: add a pocket square, suspenders, or button studs to your outfit. Black tie wedding attire for men is all about low-key personalization.
Recommended Men’s Wedding Attire: Black Tuxedo, Black Bow Tie, White Tuxedo Shirt, Cufflinks, Button Studs, Linen Shoestring Pocket Square, Black Patent Leather Shoes, and Suspenders.
Black Tie Optional Wedding Attire
What It Means: The black tie in “Black Tie Optional” isn’t entirely optional. Basically, wedding guests are off the hook if they absolutely cannot wear a tuxedo. A dark suit and tie is acceptable black tie optional wedding attire, but we recommend wearing a tuxedo if possible. If you prefer to dress it down, consider a black satin necktie or a bow tie in a pattern. Or to really mix it up, wear a midnight blue tuxedo rather than classic black.
Recommended Men’s Wedding Attire: Black Tux or Midnight Blue Tuxedo, Black Satin Bow Tie or Necktie, White Tux Shirt or Dress Shirt, Cufflinks, White Pocket Square, and Black Patent Leather Shoes.
Creative Black Tie Wedding Attire
What It Means: Creative Black Tie keeps the wedding vibe somewhat formal, but the rules are flexible. A tux is still the way to go, but you can branch out a little, too. Dinner jacket looks—a contrasting jacket with black tux pants—are a great choice, and both neckties and bow ties are welcome in patterns or low-key colors. You could also wear a colorful suit for this dress code.
Recommended Men’s Wedding Attire: White Dinner Jacket Tuxedo, White Tux Shirt or Dress Shirt, Cufflinks, Black Silk Pocket Square, and Patent Leather Shoes or Velvet Slip-On Loafers.
Cocktail Wedding Attire
What It Means: Imagine your work attire is business casual, but you’re going out for cocktails (get it?) and can’t stop home to change your outfit first. Cocktail attire is that versatile dress code that covers all your bases, and a medium dark suit is usually best. This outfit should show a little more personality than your standard 9 to 5 look—a punchier necktie, a unique pocket square, or some killer shoes would do the trick.
Recommended Men’s Wedding Attire: Navy Suit or Blue Suit, White Dress Shirt, Burgundy Necktie or Bow Tie, Necktie Clip, Cufflinks, White Pocket Square, and Black or Brown Leather Shoes.
Casual Men’s Wedding Attire
What It Means: Seeing the word “casual” on an invitation can be confusing for the uninitiated, but most adult humans know better than to wear shorts or denim to a wedding. Casual wedding attire for men requires dress pants and a blazer at minimum, but a suit with a dress shirt and dress shoes is better. Weddings are a big deal, so a “casual” look should mesh appropriately in a relaxed atmosphere while respecting the gravity of the event.
Recommended Wedding Attire: Light Grey Suit, Blue Dress Shirt, Navy Silk Necktie (optional), Linen Pocket Square, Brown Suede Shoes, Cufflinks (optional), and matching Suede Belt (optional).
White Tie Wedding Attire for Men
What It Means: First of all, just know that you simply cannot burp during this event. Hold it in. This is the most formal dress code, which means tails on the jacket, and possibly a monocle on the eye (just kidding… sort of). Our version below comes close to checking the boxes, but if you get an invite to a White Tie event, you should probably seek stylist guidance.
Recommended Men’s Wedding Attire: Black Tuxedo (or Tailcoat), White Bow Tie, Wing Tip Tuxedo Shirt, Button Studs, White Waistcoat, and Black Patent Leather Shoes.
No Dress Code
What It Means: If you’re the one planning this wedding, we recommend offering guests a dress code to help them prepare with confidence. If you’re a wedding guest, proceed with caution—you don’t want to outshine the wedding party. A tuxedo could be overdoing it, so aim somewhere between a casual and cocktail attire dress code outfit. You could also check the wedding venue for clues on how to dress.
Recommended Men’s Wedding Attire: Charcoal Suit or Navy Suit, White Dress Shirt, Patterned Necktie, Bow Tie, or no tie. White Pocket Square, Cufflinks, and Brown Leather Shoes.
Wedding Attire by Season
If there is no dress code to work from, take seasonal cues and work them into your wedding attire in subtle ways.
Fall Wedding Attire for Men
We all love to bundle, but on any given day, fall can serve up temps from 48° to 84°. The key is layering. Wear a vest that you can easily lose if it gets too warm. If the dress code is casual, let the colors of the season play into your outfit. Choose a pocket square and tie in complementary colors, and find a nice pair of brown leather or suede shoes.
What to Wear: Navy Suit and Navy Vest, White Dress Shirt, Black Watch Tartan Bow Tie, White Linen Shoestring Pocket Square, Brown Suede Belt, and Brown Suede Shoes.
Men’s Winter Wedding Attire
We’re not sure there’s still such a thing as “winter,” but we do have seasonal suggestions for your look. Many winter weddings are formal, and the warm texture of velvet brings festive cheer to an otherwise low-key black and white tux.
What to Wear: Velvet Jacket Tuxedo, White Dress Shirt, Black Pin Dot Bow Tie, White Pocket Square, Black and White Cufflinks, and Grosgrain Loafers.
Spring Wedding Attire for Men
Weather-wise, spring is a lot like fall—it could be warm or it could be chilly, maybe in the same 24-hour span. If the forecast looks warm, add some color to your look with accessories, and wear a light colored suit. If it looks to be a colder day, try a grey or blue suit.
What to Wear: Light Grey Suit, Pink Dress Shirt, Grey Cotton Necktie, Banana Leaf Pocket Square, Brown Belt, and Brown Leather Shoes.
Men’s Summer Wedding Attire
SPF does not stand for Suit Pants-Free. The summer heat means a light colored suit or a white dinner jacket to combat the rays. Also, try to add some texture to your outfit with accessories in chambray, linen, or seersucker, and feel free to skip the socks.
What to Wear: Tan Suit, Blue Dress Shirt, Seersucker Necktie, Navy Plaid Linen Pocket Square, Brown Suede Shoes.
Wedding Attire by Venue
Some locations lend themselves to a very casual atmosphere. If all you have to go on is the venue or location of the wedding, here are your best moves.
What to Wear to a Beach Wedding
If you’ve been to a beach wedding, you know it’s pretty much the Superbowl of tan or khaki suits. There’s nothing wrong with joining that crowd (although a tan suit at the beach might as well be camouflage), but if you want to do your own thing, consider a light grey or blue suit.
What to Wear to a Cruise Ship Wedding
Depending on the formality, a cruise ship wedding is the perfect time to wear a white dinner jacket. The ivory jacket was actually invented for use in tropical climates, where, we’ve heard, cruise ships tend to sail. But even off the coast of Alaska, a white jacket will stand out among the penguin suits at a cruise ship wedding. If the dress code is relaxed, dress accordingly: Lighter suit colors for warm weather, darker suit colors for cool weather.
What to Wear to a Mountain Wedding
You won’t feel like you’re climbing Everest—unless you’re actually climbing Everest—but temps will drop the higher you go. Stick to dark colors, and a 3-piece suit isn’t a bad move for some extra warmth. Then add a tie with an appropriately rugged texture to complete your look.
What to Wear to a Garden Wedding
The obvious move here is a floral tie with a light colored suit, but try to find a tie with a subtle floral pattern—if such a thing exists. Otherwise, a not-too-dark suit in grey or blue is a good base to work from, and those suit colors will complement almost any accessory or tie you can throw at them.
Men’s Wedding Attire by Time of Day
Time is on your side when you’re choosing wedding attire. If you know when the wedding starts (and you probably will if you’re attending), you can dress accordingly.
Daytime Wedding Attire for Men
Black fabric will soak up the sun’s heat, so wearing a tuxedo in the daytime can get toasty and roasty. That’s not to say a tuxedo is completely off-limits for daytime wedding attire, but the later in the afternoon the better when it comes to a tux. If the wedding is earlier in the day, a lighter colored suit is a safe, smart bet.
For daytime weddings, we recommend:
Nighttime Men’s Wedding Attire
Night time is the right time for a dark suit and tie. Night time is also the right time for greasy after-hours snacks, but let’s focus on your outfit. If you’re the groom, or you know the couple’s style, a tuxedo might even be a safe option, but a charcoal or navy suit is always a good choice for evening wedding attire.
For nighttime weddings, we recommend:
Attire by Wedding Theme
If you’re new to weddings, there’s often a wedding theme that is incorporated into both wedding attire and decor. We’ve covered the most popular wedding themes below, but there are so many different ways a couple could go. Work with the details you have to use a wedding’s theme to choose your look.
What to Wear to a Rustic Wedding
If the couple is planning a rustic wedding, they likely have a passionate love of wood (and ideally, each other). You can and should use this detail in creating the perfect outfit. Incorporate varying textures into your look, like a wool necktie, or a simple plaid linen bow tie. Don’t forget the shoes–this is a great opportunity for a footwear flex. Consider something in brown suede, or a simple black leather shoe.
For a rustic wedding, we recommend:
What to Wear to a Nautical Wedding
There are a few guidelines here, including a strict policy against using phrases like “Ahoy, matey!” Just say “hello,” and let your clothes do the talking. Work some stripes into your outfit, and make sure to build your look from the colors navy, blue, and white. But if you were thinking about wearing boat shoes with a suit? Well, you’d be better off tossing those in the stokehold (hey boat guys).
For a nautical wedding, we recommend:
What to Wear to a Vintage Wedding
Wrangling the chaos of an upscale vintage flea market into an orderly, coordinated event takes a lot of careful consideration. It won’t take nearly as much effort to put together a look that honors the aesthetic of the day. Vintage weddings invite color and pattern in ways very traditional weddings do not. This is also an opportunity to bust out unique accessories, like your grandfather’s cufflinks or a funky boutonniere lapel pin. Think of your outfit like an old turntable console: Play your favorites, but don’t play them too loud.
What to Wear to a Vintage Wedding:
What to Wear to a Festive Wedding
Festive or holiday weddings work best when they include reminders of the day’s festive motifs—the same goes for your outfit. Holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day should inform your look, but don’t go full Santa suit. Don’t even go Santa beard you lucky, beard-growing machine. Instead, consider a full emerald suit or similar.
For a festive wedding, we recommend:
Men’s wedding attire on demand.
In a perfect world, each of us would have wardrobes overflowing with high-end suits and tuxedos for every possible occasion. If you live in that world, take me there.
The rest of us might need to rent from time to time, so we’ve made it simple. Whether you need that suit for a week or forever, we’ll deliver it to your door with the perfect fit.