WEDDING SUITS

 

Norton & Townsend have already fitted and delivered 43 bespoke wedding suits in 2009.

 

N&T Managing Director Austen Pickles gives his Top 10 Tips for Grooms Attire.

 

1.TIME

 

Allow lots of it.

 

Research suggests your wedding will cost around £20,000. Under the circumstances it is foolish to be tight about your attire and hire a suit at the last minute because you will NOT look your best.

 

The groom is at the centre of the wedding and in just as many photos as his bride who probably have spent months thinking about her dress and spent a fortune……

 

Start thinking about what you are going to wear at least 3 months before the day.

 

 

2.MORNING SUITS

 

Weddings traditionally took place in the morning, hence the Morning Suit and Wedding Breakfast afterwards.

 

Etiquette suggests Morning Coats should be black in the morning and grey in the afternoon. Trousers should be striped.

 

But tradition is not always appropriate and a good tailor can make your Morning Suit from whatever fabric you like – consider matching coat and trousers plain grey or navy as an alternative.

 

 

3. BLACK TIE, DINNER SUITS, TUXEDOS

 

These are usually reserved for formal evening attire but are becoming more popular particularly in the USA .

 

 

4. LOUNGE SUIT

 

A beautifully made and well fitting lounge suit is a more contemporary look for your Wedding day and can be equally smart but less formal.

 

 

5. SHIRTS

 

Shirts should be white or ivory although pale pink or blue work well if you are shunning tradition. It should fit properly across your shoulders, ie without wings under your arms, should not be too baggy round your middle and you should not be able to get more than 2 fingers ease between your neck and collar.

 

Ideally you should look for two fold cotton, a double cuff. A cravat really requires a wing collar shirt, a tie looks best against a cutaway collar, particularly a wider tie or scrunchie.

 

 

6. TIES & CRAVATS

 

Your neckwear is one of the only opportunities to tie (pun) your outfit in with the general colour theme of the Wedding. Traditionally Morning suit wearers can wear a cravat but this should really be limited to the Groom and Best Man. The others in the Morning Suit party should wear ties. Plain neckwear works best but always go for silk. Easy to clean polyester is great for the hire companies but looks cheap.

 

An excellent way to enhance the outfit and bring together the Wedding Party scheme is to have ties and cravats made in the same fabric as the Bridesmaids dresses.

 

 

7. WAISTCOATS

 

Traditionally a plain dove grey waistcoat will suffice. Recently there has been an influx of fancy jacquard waistcoats, particularly to hire, that will dazzle and ultimately in my opinion cheapen the whole outfit. A well fitting waistcoat made from a plain or subtle stripe suiting fabric will always look best. If you want to make an impact, save it for the lining which will form the back of the waistcoat.

 

 

8. SHOES

 

Traditionally and safest option is a black leather toe cap oxford shoe. If you have a more relaxed feel and are wearing lounge suits then brown shoes can look good with navy.

 

Most important is to wear them for a day or two before the Wedding Day and polish them properly so that the ‘out of the box’ laquered look is long gone.

 

 

9. BUTTON HOLES

 

The flower you wear should be the same as the brides bouquet. If you are wearing a properly tailored suit, the button hole flower should go through your lapel hole and then the stem will go through the flower loop that should be sewn into the back of the lapel. Otherwise pin it carefully.

 

 

10. MY TOP TIP – A GOOD TAILOR

 

A good tailor will help you with all these decisions and take away the stress.

 

Give him at least a couple of months and he will work with you to ensure you choose the correct wardrobe for YOUR Wedding.

 

He will make sure your jacket, trousers, waistcoat, tie or cravat look and fit perfectly and that they co-ordinate properly.

 

 

NORTON & TOWNSEND tailors have years of experience and have helped hundreds of Grooms and their Groomsmen, taking away all the stress of what to wear on the big day...

 

 

 

 

…..leaving you plenty of time to worry about the speech and the honeymoon!