Key Takeaways:
- Bespoke wedding suits should balance exceptional style for your big day with lasting wearability for future formal occasions.
- A three-piece wedding suit offers versatility—wear it complete for the ceremony, then as a two-piece suit afterwards.
- Contemporary fabric options now include interesting colors like dark purples, pinks, greens, and aubergines beyond traditional blues and greys.
- When designing your suit, choose either bold patterns with classic cuts or distinctive cuts with conservative fabrics—not both.
- Double-breasted waistcoats maintain formality when you remove your jacket, making them ideal for warm-weather weddings.
- Details like pearl buttons, cream lining, and grosgrain lapels elevate your suit to wedding-appropriate formality.
Bespoke Wedding Suits: Balancing Style and Wearability
Bespoke wedding suits represent one of the most important clothing investments you'll make. Many grooms approach their wedding suit differently than their everyday office wear. While your work suit functions like a set of overalls, wearing it daily until it becomes shiny, your wedding suit deserves more consideration. You want something special that looks exceptional on your big day, but the question remains: how do you ensure it remains wearable afterwards?
The key lies in finding the right balance. Your suit needs to look outstanding for your wedding while serving you well at future formal events and other weddings you'll attend. This is where working with an experienced tailor makes all the difference. Rather than choosing something so distinctive it only works once, you can select custom wedding suits that combine style with versatility.
What separates a wedding suit from your everyday wear? Many grooms opt for a three-piece configuration for the ceremony, then wear it as a two-piece suit afterwards. This simple approach gives you that formal wedding look without limiting future wearability. The fabric choice also plays a crucial role. Do you go for classic plains or explore bolder patterns? The answer depends on your overall approach to the suit's cut and style.
When you're investing in a suit that marks such an important milestone, shouldn't it reflect your personal style while remaining practical? The following sections explore the key considerations that will help you make the right choice for your wedding suit.
Contemporary Wedding Suits: Fabric Options Beyond Traditional Blues and Greys
The fabric market has transformed dramatically in recent years. Merchants have adapted to changing demand, moving away from the endless navy and grey options that once dominated their books. Where you used to find only herringbones and bird's eyes in traditional colors, you now discover dark purples, pinks, greens, and aubergines. This shift reflects a broader change in how men approach formal wear, particularly for weddings.
Holland and Sherry offers particularly interesting options for grooms seeking something different. Their books contain interesting color ranges alongside unique textures and patterns. These slightly more contemporary fabrications work beautifully for wedding suit fabrics that stand out without becoming unwearable. The colors remain sophisticated rather than garish, giving you options that photograph well and age gracefully.
Bateman and Ogden provides another excellent source for wedding suit fabrics. Their range includes options that balance interest with wearability. The key is finding a fabric that complements your chosen style. If you're selecting a distinctive cut that already makes a statement, you might prefer a more classic fabric. Conversely, if you're going with a traditional cut, the fabric can provide the visual interest.
Plaid patterns have become particularly popular, though the bright, peacock-style plaids from a few years ago have given way to more nuanced options. Modern plaids feature interesting tones and well-balanced colors that work for weddings without looking costumey. These patterns prove that you can choose something visually engaging while maintaining the formality a wedding requires. The fabric you select sets the foundation for everything else, so take time exploring options that genuinely excite you rather than settling for safe choices that leave you underwhelmed.
The Versatility of a 3-Piece Wedding Suit
A 3-piece wedding suit offers practical versatility that extends well beyond your wedding day. The configuration works beautifully for the ceremony itself, providing that extra level of formality a wedding deserves. Afterwards, you simply remove the waistcoat and wear the jacket and trousers as a two-piece suit for other occasions. This adaptability makes the investment significantly more worthwhile.
The three-piece approach proves particularly valuable for destination weddings or ceremonies in warmer climates. When you're getting married in Italy or another warm location, you can remove your jacket during the reception while maintaining complete formality. The waistcoat keeps you looking elegant and put-together, something the Italians took a long time to appreciate. They abandoned waistcoats after the 1950s and only recently rediscovered their value, arriving at the conclusion just a bit late as they often do.
Certain waistcoat styles work especially well for weddings. A single-button jacket with a peak lapel paired with a double-breasted waistcoat creates a look reminiscent of morning dress. This combination delivers real formal impact while remaining surprisingly conservative. When you remove your jacket, those elegant double-breasted wings continue providing visual interest and structure.
The details matter enormously in wedding suits. Pearl buttons and cream lining instantly telegraph wedding-appropriate formality. These elements connect your suit to traditional formal dress codes while keeping the overall look fresh and contemporary. Even cloth-covered buttons lean toward formality, making them ideal for wedding wear. These thoughtful touches transform a well-made suit into something genuinely special for your big day, while the three-piece structure ensures you'll continue getting use from it for years to come.
Statement Wedding Suits: Bold Patterns vs Classic Cuts
You face an interesting choice when planning your wedding suit: bold pattern with classic cut, or classic fabric with distinctive styling. Both approaches work, but they create very different results. Understanding this balance helps you make decisions that align with your personal style and comfort level.
Some grooms gravitate toward statement wedding suits featuring interesting patterns or unusual colors. If this appeals to you, pairing that bold fabric with a more traditional cut often produces the most wearable results. The fabric provides visual interest while the conventional styling keeps everything grounded. This combination photographs beautifully and gives you something distinctive without venturing into costume territory.
The alternative approach involves selecting a conservative fabric and expressing your style through the cut itself. A well-executed bespoke cut already differs noticeably from standard ready-to-wear options. When you choose a tailor known for a particular silhouette or house style, that distinctive cut becomes the statement. The classic fabric ensures the suit remains versatile and appropriate for various occasions beyond your wedding.
Consider how different elements work together. A six-button double-breasted jacket has more edge than traditional city-wear double-breasteds, even in a plain fabric. Similarly, choosing a bolder style on conservative cloth creates a very wearable look that still feels special. The key is deciding which element—fabric or cut—will provide the interest, then letting the other element provide balance. This thoughtful approach produces suits that stand out on your wedding day without becoming so distinctive they only work for that single occasion.
Double Breasted Waistcoat: Staying Formal Without Your Jacket
The double breasted waistcoat solves a common wedding dilemma. When temperatures rise during your reception, you want to remove your jacket without losing formality. A well-cut waistcoat maintains that elegant, put-together appearance even when you're in shirtsleeves mode. The double-breasted style particularly excels at this, providing visual interest and structure that single-breasted versions can't match.
One particularly effective combination pairs a single-button jacket with Y-shaped pink lapels with a double-breasted waistcoat. This configuration creates an almost morning-dress aesthetic while remaining appropriate for various wedding styles. The formality comes through clearly, yet the look stays elegant rather than stuffy. When you shed your jacket later in the evening, those lovely double-breasted wings continue working visually.
The details on your waistcoat contribute significantly to the wedding-appropriate feel. Pearl buttons immediately signal formality and connect to traditional wedding dress codes. Cream lining adds another refined touch that guests notice when you move. These elements transform a functional garment into something that genuinely enhances your overall appearance. Even the choice between self-fabric buttons and cloth-covered options affects the formal register of your suit.
This approach proves especially valuable for destination weddings in warmer climates. Getting married in Italy or similar locations means you'll likely spend significant time without your jacket. A thoughtfully designed waistcoat keeps you looking sharp throughout the day and evening. The Italians eventually figured this out, though it took them decades to return to waistcoats after abandoning them following the 1950s. Their eventual return to this practical garment proves its enduring value for formal occasions in warm weather.
Black Tie Wedding Suits and Cocktail Suits for Weddings
The popularity of black tie wedding suits fluctuates over time. American clients particularly favor dinner suits—or tuxedos as they call them—for weddings. When executed thoughtfully with contemporary details, a dinner suit offers a stylish way to express personality at formal events. The key lies in adding distinctive touches that prevent you from looking like every other man in a standard rental.
Contemporary cocktail suits provide an interesting alternative to traditional black tie. More vibrant colors combined with individual styling details create something fresh and modern. Flared cuffs add a distinctive element that immediately sets your suit apart. Back details like panel construction contribute visual interest from every angle. These touches give your suit a contemporary cocktail feel while nodding to the rat pack aesthetic of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Grosgrain lapels work better than satin for most men. The texture provides subtle visual interest without the shine that can photograph poorly or look dated quickly. Midnight blue represents another smart choice over traditional black. In artificial light, midnight blue actually appears darker than black while photographing more richly. Add a gold lining and those distinctive flared sleeves, and you've created something genuinely special.
Once you invest in a well-made dinner suit with contemporary details, you own your black tie solution for decades. This becomes your go-to for formal events, weddings, and evening occasions. Rather than looking like a businessman in his work suit or worse, like a penguin in a generic rental, you present yourself as someone who understands and respects formal dress codes while maintaining individual style. The investment pays dividends every time you wear it, making it one of the smartest wardrobe choices you can make.
Design Your Wedding Suit with Westwood Hart
At Westwood Hart, we understand that your wedding suit represents more than just another garment. We've built our reputation on creating unique wedding suits for men that balance exceptional style with lasting wearability. Our online configurator puts complete control in your hands, letting you explore fabric options, styling details, and customization choices from anywhere.
We offer an extensive selection of premium fabrics from the world's finest mills. Whether you're drawn to contemporary patterns or classic weaves, our collection includes options that suit every preference and wedding style. Our configurator guides you through every decision, from lapel width to button stance, ensuring your suit reflects your personal taste while maintaining the formality your wedding deserves.
The beauty of working with us lies in the flexibility we provide. Design a three-piece suit for your ceremony that transitions seamlessly into a two-piece for future occasions. Choose distinctive details like peak lapels, double-breasted waistcoats, or unique buttons that make your suit genuinely yours. Our team brings decades of experience to every commission, ensuring your vision translates into a perfectly executed garment.
Start designing your wedding suit today using our online configurator. Explore our fabric ranges, experiment with different styling options, and create something that captures exactly how you want to look on your big day. Your wedding deserves a suit as individual as you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose a bold pattern or a distinctive cut for my wedding suit?
Both approaches work well, but they create different results. If you select a bold pattern or unusual color, pair it with a more classic cut for better wearability. Alternatively, choose a conservative fabric and let a distinctive bespoke cut provide the statement. The key is deciding which element will provide interest while the other provides balance.
Why is a three-piece suit recommended for weddings?
A three-piece suit offers exceptional versatility. It provides the formality appropriate for a wedding ceremony, but you can wear it as a two-piece suit afterwards for other occasions. For destination weddings in warm climates, you can remove the jacket while maintaining elegance with a well-cut waistcoat underneath.
What fabrics work best for wedding suits beyond traditional blues and greys?
Modern fabric merchants now offer interesting colors including dark purples, pinks, greens, and aubergines. Holland and Sherry provides contemporary fabrications with interesting color ranges and textures. Bateman and Ogden also offers excellent options. The key is selecting fabrics that photograph well and remain sophisticated rather than garish.
What makes a double-breasted waistcoat ideal for weddings?
A double-breasted waistcoat maintains formality when you remove your jacket during the reception. The double-breasted wings provide visual interest and structure that single-breasted versions cannot match. Combined with details like pearl buttons and cream lining, it creates an elegant look reminiscent of morning dress.
Should I consider a dinner suit for my wedding?
Dinner suits work beautifully for formal weddings when executed with contemporary details. Choose grosgrain lapels over satin, consider midnight blue instead of black, and add distinctive touches like flared cuffs or panel back construction. These elements create a stylish formal option that you'll wear for decades at black tie events.
How do I ensure my wedding suit remains wearable after the ceremony?
Focus on balancing special details with versatility. A three-piece suit worn as two-piece afterwards offers immediate adaptability. Choose interesting but not extreme fabrics or cuts. Avoid anything so distinctive it only works once. The goal is creating something that looks exceptional for your wedding while serving you well at future formal occasions.