Calling all grooms! It’s time to choose your wedding look, but where to start? Choosing a suit for your big day is an important decision, and you want to find the perfect balance of style, comfort, and cost. So trust us, taking the time to carefully search for and select the perfect suit style will be well worth the effort.
Today on the blog, we have Menswear Designer Lauren Larsen, from Atelier by Ensemble, here to share her top 7 tips for choosing a suit for your wedding day. A must read before you start the search for your perfect suit!
one.
Quality and Fit Matter
photo: Neil Slattery Photography
When choosing a suit for your wedding, it is important to consider the quality, style and overall fit of the suit. Suits are definitely not all made equally. A cheap suit may look ‘fine’ on a mannequin or on a model, but usually is more likely to rip, will wrinkle easily, will not fit the body perfectly, and will not have future longevity.
Ensuring the tailor making your suit understands how you want it to fit is an extremely important factor. Ideally, a suit should fit the contours of your body perfectly, and be snug without feeling tight or restrictive. Another thing to consider – a poor quality suit with a poor fit will definitely have a negative impact on the photos – and the photography is an investment in itself. This is your big day, and you deserve to look and feel your very best, in a suit that can be worn for years to come.
two.
Custom or Off-The-Rack?
There are two suiting options available – custom or off-the-rack. If you have a standard body type, off-the-rack might be a viable option for you. You’ll likely need minor alterations to ensure the pants, sleeves and waist fit properly, but overall, you may be able to get away with this option.
If your body type is not-so-standard (it’s ok, this is the norm), or if you have ideas for your suit that are beyond your typical blue, grey or black, custom is likely the best option. You can ensure not only that the suit fits your body perfectly, but also that you’re getting the exact fabric, style, colour and details that you’ve dreamed of.
photo: Nicole Ashley Photography
three.
Choose a Style That Suits the Vibe and Season of the Wedding
photo: Tim + Court Photo and Film
Ensuring the style of your suit aligns with the vibe of the wedding is important for consistency and cohesiveness. If you’re planning a classic and elegant wedding at a formal venue, and you want to stick with the formal black tie vibes, the best suit choice is normally a traditional tuxedo, a black or nearly black suit made from a high-end fabric (such as a silk, mohair or cashmere blend), or a dinner jacket made in a jacquard, white or velvet fabric.
Alternatively, if you’re planning a less traditional, casual, or boho wedding, it might make sense to do something a little different, like a light brown/tan suit, separates, or a bold colour.
Considering the season is also important when choosing a suit for your wedding. If it is a fall wedding, you may want to look at a heavier fabric, like a tweed or English flannel. A summer wedding, you may want something lighter in colour and weight.
four.
Budget
When talking about budget, it is important to remember that you get what you pay for. If the price of the suit seems a little too good to be true, it probably is. You may end up with a wrinkly, polyester, ill-fitting suit that definitely won’t stand the test of time.
We recommend budgeting to spend between $1,000-$2,000 on your suit. This price point will get you a custom made suit in a proper Italian wool, that is fitted perfectly to your body, and is of high quality – something that you will feel good in, and will last.
five.
Ensure You’re Aligning With and Complementing Your Groomsmen, If You’re Not Planning on Matching
photo: Corrina Walker Photography
If you don’t plan on wearing the same colour suit as your groomsmen, you should definitely focus on ensuring that whatever they are wearing complements your attire.
- If you’re wearing a tuxedo, they should be in black, dark grey, or midnight blue suits.
- If you’re all wearing the same colour of navy blue, perhaps you add a vest to your ensemble to stand out.
- If it’s a casual wedding and you don’t want the groomsmen in suits, perhaps they’re in pants and suspenders and you’re wearing something that complements perfectly.
There are so many different options here, so it is important to ensure whomever is helping with the styling of the suits is on the same page as you. This is where a consultation can come in handy.
six.
If You’re Going With A Colour, Consider the Photographer’s Style
This one is a little bit unexpected, but if the way the suit is going to look in photos is important to you, then you have to consider the photographer’s editing style.
There are many different ways to edit photos – true to colour, cool, warm, light, dark, etc. – each of which is going to affect how the suit will show up in a photo. Black obviously is an exception here, but if you want a very specific shade of blue, it is best to check with the photographer. We’ve seen medium blue suits look almost black, and soft brown suits look slightly orange.
photo: Joel’s View Photography
seven.
Add a Little Personality
If you’re going the custom route, take advantage of the little things you can incorporate into the suit to really make it special.
Changing the lapel size, deciding whether you want double or single breasted, two-piece or three, adding your name, a nickname, a liner in your favourite colour or pattern, are all ways to make the suit unique to you, and one-of-a-kind. A knowledgeable suit designer will be able to help you with these details.
Tips from the Pros
From Contributor,
Lauren Larsen of Atelier by Ensemble
I’m Lauren, the founder and lead designer of Atelier custom suiting. With a background in menswear styling, I’ve used my experience and knowledge to create a suiting experience unlike anything else.
My goal is to make my clients feel heard, appreciated, and valued, while providing them with a suit that fits their body perfectly, and to their exact specifications. I strive for perfection, and will not stop until I achieve it. My favourite thing is seeing the look on my client’s face when he/she sees themselves in the mirror for the first time. My mission is to elevate confidence through a sophisticated perspective on men’s style from the eyes of a woman.
Cover Photo Credits: Photographer: Virginia & Evan
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