Has The Wedding Dress Code Ever Confused You? Carl Navè Explains What is What
There are many different types of weddings but in my experience, most fall into four main categories; the Country or Garden wedding, the Beach Wedding, The Cocktail Party Wedding, and the Black-Tie Wedding. No matter which type of wedding you decide to host, as the groom, you must ensure that your attire is one level above the dress code of your guests.
Words Carl Navè
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The Garden Wedding
If you’re taking a more relaxed approach to your wedding but still want a touch of elegance, then a relaxed-looking suit is the way to go. Stay away from your classic business colours like navy blue and charcoal and opt for something a little more seasonal. If it’s a Spring wedding, go for soft pastel colours and a cloth that has a bit of texture. Wool, linen and cotton blends are great for garden weddings. You may even consider a sports jacket with a pattern, such as a bold check or a woven texture and then pair it back with a contrast trouser, perhaps a tailored cotton chino. You may also want a less structured looking jacket. I always like the groom to wear a crisp white shirt on his wedding day, it's elegant and allows that tie to pop more.
If you are invited to a garden wedding, smart casual to semi-formal is usually the dress code. Jeans are never acceptable, but tailored chinos, a sports jacket and an open-collared shirt will do the trick. Leave the tie for the groom to wear.
The Beach Wedding
Whenever I think of a beach wedding, I always think of linen. It’s perfect for warm weather and although it does crease, there is a simple beauty to the way the fabric drapes and a touch of elegance about it. If you don’t want to embrace the wrinkle factor that linen gives, there are plenty of options with a linen and silk blended cloth. It gives the appearance, and texture of linen without the creasing. A beach wedding can be as formal or as informal as you like, but when it comes to colours, I like beachy tones such as white, sand, sky-blue and turquoise.
If it’s a beach wedding you are invited to, this does not mean swimwear is allowed, in fact, the dress code may be similar to that of a Garden Wedding, but colours and fabrics can be more summer appropriate.
The Cocktail Party Wedding
Cocktail is another word for formal or evening, but might not include a sit-down dinner, therefore the dress code for a cocktail party should still be regarded as formal. For the groom, a lounge suit in deep charcoal or French navy is acceptable but to ensure that you stand out from the crowd you may consider a tuxedo or dinner jacket with a bit of flair. Remember you want to be the best-dressed man in the room at all times. Accessories can help with this also; a bow tie will instantly elevate your appearance.
If the wedding you are attending is a cocktail party, then a lounge suit is perfectly acceptable. Your classic navy blue or charcoal two-buttoned jacket will do the trick. Be sure to wear a crisp white shirt and an elegant tie.
The Black Tie Wedding
The Black-Tie wedding is the most formal of weddings. If your dress code is Black Tie it is expected that all men wear a tuxedo and women wear gowns. Black Tie weddings have become more popular of late and it isn’t uncommon for a man to own a tuxedo. Therefore, if you are hosting a Black-Tie Wedding, you, as a groom need to step it up a notch. The best way to do this is for the groom to wear an off-white dinner jacket with contrast black trousers. This will ensure you are not dressed like every other man in the room. Alternatively, you could opt for a velvet dinner jacket if you are getting married in the cooler months, or perhaps a beautiful brocade or paisley dinner jacket if you want to stand out.
As a guest at a black-tie wedding, you are required to wear a tuxedo, with a dinner jacket and a black bow tie. This doesn’t mean a navy-blue lounge suit.
Carl Navè is part of the Mr Theodore family and can be viewed on the directory by clicking HERE.
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