Wedding attire for men seems pretty cut-and-dry, right? It’s either a stylish suit for a formal affair or a tuxedo for the black-tie soirée. Beaches and backyard ceremonies may call for something even simpler, veering into casual territory that discards the jacket and rolls up the sleeves. But for the everyday groom, chances are you’re going to find yourself suiting up and eying accessories that will make or break your entire look.
As you and your better half make decisions regarding shoes, suspenders, pocket squares, socks, clips and cuffs, there is one element that you’ll find literally ties everything together. Yes, pun intended — but can you really blame us?
Trey Krauss, owner of Carlton’s in Rehoboth Beach, gave us a rundown of what’s currently trending in the world of men’s wedding attire and a selection of ties to help guide your choices. Keep in mind that what the men are wearing is just as important as the women’s gowns. When orchestrating wedding attire on the men’s side, Krauss said that, while the bride and bridesmaid gowns bring that pretty, softer side to the wedding party, “The men can be a solid foundation to tie it all together.”
For the strict black-tie dress code, a classic black tuxedo with black bowtie always wins, with your groomsmen opting for a long tie and a black vest in the same material. Cummerbunds may fit into the category of “old-fashioned,” but Krauss said there’s been a steady uptick in their appearances. If you do choose this route, make sure your cummerbund matches the material of your lapels.
Much like today’s bridesmaids, grooms and their groomsmen don’t have to wear the same suit. What brings everything together is color and texture. But the details are what make it clear who’s who in the wedding party. Unless you’re going for the dark and dressy look, the wedding colors generally make an appearance in the ties, and more often than not, these colors will match the bridesmaid dresses.
A note on bowties: While black may be the traditional choice, floral brocades and other patterns are an opportunity to create an eye-catching textured look.
If you’re looking to follow the trends, gray is going away, and blues are in for both tuxedos and suits. We’re talking midnight and navy, not cobalt, though. On the more formal end, tux lapels and bowties in black really class this look up. For suits, blue is highly versatile and works with most accent colors. It pairs incredibly well with peaches and corals for spring and summer weddings, and really makes jewel tones pop in the fall and winter.
For beach ceremonies, we can’t forget the classic seaside attire of khaki pants paired with a white shirt. To keep the groom standing out, add a matching vest. Ties are optional at this point, especially for a laid-back wedding. However, if you really want that look, Krauss suggested sticking with softer colors, such as yellows, pinks, corals, ice blues and light greens — although this is also a chance to bring in a playful touch with ties that have fun elements, such as tiny marlins, or fishing bobbers, as a nod to your guys and their hobbies.
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