The Head-to-Toe Attire Guide for Grooms

Grooms are expected to look just as good as the bride at a wedding, and that means you should know how to create attire for the groom that is appropriate for the wedding theme. Here are some tips that can make this task a lot easier.

Measuring. Regardless of what kind of clothing is chosen, the entire outfit must fit the groom to a tee. To avoid ill-fitting or baggy outfits, it's essential to take accurate measurements of the groom's upper body, waistline, arm length, hips and leg length. Consult these measurements when purchasing the items for the main outfit and for some accessories.

The Main Outfit

Formal. The tuxedo is what most grooms wear when they want to look sharp for their wedding. A tux is the ultimate formal attire for such a special occasion.

White Tie Tuxedo. This is the most formal look for a groom. The must have pieces for this outfit are a black tuxedo that includes perfectly matching tux coat and pants, a white dress shirt and a white bowtie. Shoes are always black with black laces.

Black Tie Tuxedo. Many grooms choose to wear a black tux, but the tux can also be another color such as dark blue, dark grey, burgundy or white. The tux is paired with a white dress shirt, black bowtie or black tie. Shoes are typically black patent leather with black laces.

High Quality Suit. The groom can skip the tux and opt for a tailored suit made with high quality materials. Suit colors, shirt, shoes and accessories are the same as they would be for the black tie tuxedo outfit.

Semi-Formal. Choose a nice quality suit in whatever color suits the wedding theme. The suit material and style should correspond to the season. Lightweight fabrics such as cotton and linen are appropriate for spring and summer weddings. Heavier fabrics such as corduroy, wool, wool blends, tweed and velvet are good choices for fall and winter. Keep things simple with a white dress shirt, black or dark solid colored tie and black or brown dress shoes.

Casual. When it comes to weddings, the groom's attire can be relaxed but not anything goes. A groom should always look well put together. There are no specific rules about color choices, so go with whatever looks best. An easy casual look is a nice pair of dress pants, a simple dress shirt and a pair of quality suspenders in a solid color or classy pattern. A bowtie is often worn, but this is an optional accessory.

The Shoes

Oxfords. Whole-cut Oxford shoes are the classic choice for formal weddings. Cap toe and plain toe oxfords are good choices for formal, semi-formal and casual weddings.

Derby Shoes. These open-lace shoes are a good alternative to Oxfords for semi-formal and casual wedding outfits.

Loafers. These are fine for casual weddings.

Dress Boots. This cool dress shoe alternative works best with suits.

Dress Sneakers. These are the ultimate comfortable shoes for semi-formal and casual wedding outfits.

Accessories

Dress Suspenders. Fine quality suspenders can be worn with a tux or a suit.

Multipurpose Suspenders. Solid color and stripes are popular but there are other patterns and materials such as leather, glitter, and novelty patterns that can work just as well depending on your overall theme and the desired effect.

Bowtie. There are many good bowtie color choices.