Choosing men’s wedding attire can feel complicated and tedious, but we're here for you with solutions to every prenuptial style dilemma you'll face in 2025. Whether you’re trying to choose wedding attire for the groom or for your groomsmen, or just need help understanding men’s wedding guest attire, we're here to point you in the right direction.
Our approach to wedding attire takes cues from dress codes, themes, venues, and more, so we'll cover a lot of ground. Need a shortcut to the perfect look? Take a peek at the decision tree below, or read on for our full guide to selecting men's wedding attire.
Table of Contents
Wedding Attire by Dress Code
➤ White Tie
➤ Black Tie
➤ Black Tie Optional
➤ Creative Black Tie
➤ Cocktail Attire
➤ Casual Attire
➤ No Dress Code
Wedding Attire by Wedding Theme
Men's Wedding Attire by Dress Code
Before you plan your wedding guest outfit, do yourself a favor and check the invitation. Most couples include a dress code for their big day, setting expectations around the wedding attire men should wear. Some wedding dress codes are specific and rigid, while others leave a lot up to you.
If you’re a groom (or the one planning this), you're in the driver's seat. Many wedding guests want to be told what to wear to a wedding, and setting a dress code is the most polite and direct way to do that. It's actually a loving act, and a totally normal not controlling thing to do.
Let's get a feel for what each dress code really means for both guests and the wedding party.
White Tie Wedding Attire
What It Means: This is the most formal dress code, which means tails and possibly a monocle. Our slapdash version below comes close to checking all the boxes, but honestly... if you get an invite to a White Tie event, you probably have a stylist on staff. Good for you.
What to Wear to a White Tie Wedding
- Black Tailcoat
- White Bow Tie
- Wing Tip Tuxedo Shirt
- Button Studs
- White Waistcoat
- Black Tuxedo Pants
- Black Patent Leather Shoes
Black Tie Wedding Attire
What It Means: This is a formal and specific dress code—think of a classic tuxedo. Bright colors are off the table and so are neckties, but there are plenty of ways you can make your tuxedo unique with accessories like pocket squares (in black and white), cufflinks, button studs, suspenders and cummerbunds. Black tie wedding attire for men is all about tradition.
What to Wear to a Black Tie Wedding:
- Black Tuxedo Jacket & Pants
- Black Bow Tie
- White Tuxedo Shirt
- Suspenders or Cummerbund
- Cufflinks & Button Studs
- White Pocket Square
- Black Patent Leather Shoes
Black Tie Optional Wedding Attire
What It Means: In a pinch, a dark suit and tie would be fine for wedding guests, but try to follow the black tie dress code. The wedding party and most guests will almost certainly wear tuxedos, but there's more flexibility in the "optional" version of black tie—for example, you could wear a black satin necktie or a bow tie with a subtle pattern. Grooms may wear a white dinner jacket, or swap the black tuxedo for one in midnight blue—the other dress-code appropriate alternative.
What to Wear to a Black Tie Optional Wedding:
- Midnight Blue Tuxedo
- Low-Cut Vest
- Black Satin Bow Tie
- White Tuxedo Shirt
- Cufflinks & Button Studs
- Black Patent Leather Shoes
Creative Black Tie Wedding Attire
What It Means: This is a more playful, expressive version of the black tie dress code. It's still formal and you'll still need a tuxedo, but you can consider more colorful options for creative black tie weddings. A dinner jacket paired with black tuxedo pants, or a full colorful tuxedo both great choices, and you can choose any neckwear you'd like. And please, get creative (it's right there in the name) with your shoes and accessories.
What to Wear to a Creative Black Tie Wedding:
- Contrast Shawl Jacket Tuxedo
- White Tuxedo Shirt
- Cufflinks
- Pocket Square
- Patent Leather Shoes or Velvet Loafers
Cocktail Wedding Attire
What It Means: You need an outfit that could, in theory, transition seamlessly from your business attire office to an event—or cocktails—in the evening. Cocktail attire (sometimes "semi-formal") is a versatile dress code that covers many bases, and it's very popular for weddings. A medium dark suit is the best wedding attire for men attending this sort of event. This outfit should show more personality than your standard 9 to 5 look—a punchier, patterned necktie, a unique pocket square, or your favorite dress shoes would do the trick.
What to Wear to a Cocktail Attire Wedding:
- Blue Suit
- Solid Dress Shirt
- Patterned Necktie
- Tie Clip
- Cufflinks
- Pocket Square
- Brown Leather Shoes
Casual Wedding Attire
What It Means: Weddings are a big deal, so a casual wedding attire look should mesh appropriately in a relaxed atmosphere while respecting the gravity of the event. For men, this means dress pants, dress shoes, and a blazer at minimum, but a suit is better. Consider choosing more casual fabrics, lighter colors, and patterns. This is a popular dress code for outdoor weddings because it gives you the permission to dress comfortably, and neckwear is optional.
What to Wear to a Casual Attire Wedding:
- Light Grey Suit
- Dress Shirt
- Necktie (optional)
- Pocket Square
- Cufflinks
- Brown Belt
- Brown Leather Shoes
When There's No Dress Code
What It Means: This couple did not take our advice, and you'll need to do this by feel. We would recommend wearing a dark suit and keeping it simple. You could also keep reading our sections on men's wedding attire by season, venue, and theme for clues on how to dress.
What to Wear When There's No Dress Code:
- Charcoal Suit
- White Dress Shirt
- Patterned Necktie
- White Pocket Square
- Cufflinks
- Black Leather Shoes
Men's Wedding Attire by Season
If you don’t have a dress code to work from, you can take cues from the season and work those vibes into your wedding attire in subtle ways. Specifically, we'll show you how to think seasonally about about the fabrics and materials you use in your outfit, from color and pattern, to weight and texture.
Spring Wedding Attire for Men
Spring is a shoulder season, so it could be warm or chilly, and maybe both within the same 24-hour span. Lean into the forecast with cooler tones (think a light blue suit) for a colder day, and warm tones (earthy oranges and pinks) for higher temps.
What to Wear to a Spring Wedding:
- Light Blue Suit
- Dress Shirt
- Grey Cotton Necktie
- Pocket Square
- Brown Belt
- Dress Shoes
Summer Wedding Attire for Men
The summer heat means SPF and a light colored suit or tuxedo to combat the rays. Add some texture to your outfit with accessories in linen or seersucker, and feel free to skip the socks (provided you've let the sun hit below the shins this season).
What to Wear to a Summer Wedding:
- Tan Suit
- Cotton or Linen Dress Shirt
- Linen or Cotton Tie
- Linen Pocket Square
- Loafers
Fall Wedding Attire for Men
The key to fall wedding attire is layering. Wear a vest that you lose if it gets too warm. For a relatively casual dress code (Casual Attire or Cocktail Attire), let the colors of the season play into your outfit—both warm and cool earth tones. Choose a pocket square and tie in complementary colors, and find a nice pair of brown leather or suede shoes.
What to Wear to a Fall Wedding:
- Navy Blue Suit
- Vest
- Dress Shirt
- Black Watch Tartan Bow Tie
- White Linen Shoestring Pocket Square
- Brown Suede Belt
- Brown Suede Shoes
Winter Wedding Attire for Men
Many winter weddings are formal, and velvet is a warm texture that can even bring some festive cheer to an otherwise low-key black and white tux. Formal also usually means darker colors, but if you want merry and bright, just ask for it—the rarely used "Festive Attire" dress code is a lot like Creative Black Tie with a dash of hygge. But if you're worried a velvet jacket is overdoing it as a guest, a dark suit and tie are always a safe bet.
What to Wear to a Winter Wedding:
- Velvet Jacket Tuxedo
- White Dress Shirt
- Black Pin Dot Bow Tie
- White Pocket Square
- Black and White Cufflinks
- Velvet Loafers
Wedding Attire by Venue
Some locations lend themselves to a casual atmosphere, while others hint at higher formality for wedding guest outfits. If all you have to go on is the venue or location of the wedding—or you'd like the venue to inform the men's wedding attire for your party—here are a few ideas.
What to Wear to a Beach Wedding
Beach weddings are the Super Bowl 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 light blue suit.
What to Wear to a Cruise Ship Wedding
Formal cruise ship weddings are the perfect time to wear a white dinner jacket, which was invented for use in tropical climates. For more relaxed dress codes like Cocktail Attire and Casual Attire, vibrant suit colors are encouraged—and feel free to skip the tie.
What to Wear to a Church Wedding
Traditional wedding venues call for traditional outfits. For a religious ceremony or venue, we recommend a formal look for the groom and wedding party—by dress code, Black Tie, Black Tie Optional, and Cocktail Attire are the best options. As a guest, a dark suit and tie with a white dress shirt and dress shoes is a smart choice. There's also something that feels dangerous about wearing a black suit in a church.
What to Wear to a Garden Wedding
The obvious move here is a floral tie (groundbreaking) 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
You know what time the wedding starts, and that's all you really need to know to dress right.
Daytime Wedding Attire
It's pretty rare that you'd be expected to wear a tuxedo in the daytime (too hot), so you should plan on a suit. The versatile medium grey suit is a safe, smart bet.
Evening 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, and it's so much harder to see those burger drippings on a navy suit.
Wedding Attire by Wedding Theme
New to weddings? You'll be shocked at the depth and breadth of wedding themes—it's often incorporated into the men's wedding attire and wedding decor, and it ain't always subtle. We’ve covered the most popular wedding themes below, but this is not an exhaustive list, so we'll try to describe how we arrived at each idea. This is one of those give a man a fish vs. teach a man to fish situations.
Fair warning: There is such a thing as leaning into the theme too hard.
What to Wear to a Rustic Wedding
This couple is likely to have a passionate love of wood, and ideally, each other. Wood is brown, so the move is obviously to wear brown. Vests can also read as rustic and folksy, so if you think you could use an extra layer in the fall or winter, do it.
What to Wear to a Nautical Wedding
This couple definitely loves sailing and boat culture, and nothing says "Ahoy" like stripes. Striped jackets, neckwear, and accessories are a formal wear staples, but don't go overboard (it was right there). Limit yourself to one striped item or garment. Colors like navy, blue, and white are also a great idea. NO boat shoes, though.
What to Wear to a Vintage Wedding
This couple found their centerpieces at a flea market, and there's never been a more perfect moment to wear like your grandfather’s cufflinks or a funky boutonniere lapel pin.
Now, let's say your grandfather transported cattle by truck from Kansas to Long Beach to make a living and his nicest suit was a pair of Key bib overalls... and didn't wear cufflinks. In this case, perhaps it's time to establish your own family heirloom—personalized cufflinks for example. As for the main event, our double-breasted linen suit harkens back to a bygone era of classic tailoring.
What to Wear to a Festive Attire Wedding
This couple? This couple hates January 2nd. Festive or holiday weddings work best when they include subtle reminders of the day’s festive motifs, and the same goes for your outfit. We love the way a traditional tartan looks on a necktie or pocket square.
Modern men’s wedding attire on demand.
In a perfect world, each of us would all have wardrobes overflowing with gorgeous, high-end suits and tuxedos and never need to think twice about wedding attire. The rest of us might need to rent from time to time, which is why we make it simple.
Whether you want that suit for a week or buy one to add to your rotation, you can find the perfect sizes and order entirely online, or visit us in person at one of our showrooms. We’ll deliver your outfit to your door—and to your wedding party, if you have one—no tux shop required.
