Groom Style
The finishing pieces that make a groom look put together, sorted by the style of the wedding. Written for him, and for the bride or mother quietly shopping on his behalf.
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Jump to: Formal · Rustic or garden · Beach or summer · Gifts · Styling tips
Most of these come in several colors or sizes; you choose on the Amazon listing.
Formal and black tie
For an evening ceremony, a church or a ballroom. Strict black tie means a tuxedo with a black bow tie; these pieces finish a tuxedo or a dark suit.
Pre-Tied Bow Tie, Pocket Square and Cufflinks
An adjustable, pre-tied bow tie with a matching pocket square and cufflinks, in a gift box. Choose black for true black tie, or a shade such as sage or dusty blue to match the bridesmaids. Nothing to tie on a busy morning.
Cufflinks and Tuxedo Studs Set
One pair of cufflinks and six shirt studs in a gift box. Studs need a tuxedo shirt with stud holes, and cufflinks need French cuffs, so check his shirt before you order.
Solid Necktie, Pocket Square and Cufflinks
A classic-width tie with a matching pocket square and cufflinks, offered in many solid colors. The simplest way to put the groom and groomsmen in the same shade without guesswork.
Rustic or garden
For a barn, a vineyard, a garden or a forest. Texture and softer colors belong here, and the jacket is optional. For a summer wedding in real heat, skip the tweed and see the summer section below.
Suspenders and Bow Tie Set
Adjustable clip-on suspenders with a matching woven bow tie, in a wide range of colors. Most buyers are happy, though a few say the clips can slip, so have him wear them for an afternoon before the day.
Paisley Tie, Pocket Square and Cufflinks
A patterned tie with a matching pocket square and cufflinks, in a gift box; you choose the paisley or floral design on the listing. A softer pattern suits a garden or boho wedding, where a plain black tie can feel too formal.
Ivory Rose Boutonnieres, Set of 6
Six artificial ivory rose boutonnieres with pins, enough for the groom and his groomsmen. They will not wilt in the heat, which makes them a sensible backup for an outdoor summer ceremony.
Slim Fit Three-Piece Suit
A jacket, vest and trousers sold together as one set, in more than twenty colors including dark green, navy and light gray, the shades that suit a garden. Buyers like the look, but many say the sizing is unpredictable, so read the size chart, order early and plan on a tailor.
Herringbone Tweed Vest
A notch-lapel herringbone vest with working pockets and an adjustable back strap. Worn over a crisp shirt with no jacket, it suits a barn or vineyard wedding in autumn or winter. Buyers love the look; reviews on long-term durability are mixed.
Beach, desert or summer heat
For sand, a desert afternoon, or any outdoor wedding in high summer, including a June vineyard. Breathable fabric matters more than formality.
Cuban Guayabera Shirt
A lightweight rayon shirt with the classic guayabera pleats, cut to be worn untucked. Far cooler than a suit for a beach or desert ceremony, and it still looks deliberate in photos.
Linen Blend Trousers
Cotton and linen trousers with a little stretch and a drawstring waist. Dressy enough for a barefoot beach or desert ceremony with the guayabera or a white shirt; for anything more formal, choose a tailored trouser. Expect the natural creases linen always has.
Gifts for the morning
Something from the bride, his mother or the mother of the bride to open while he gets ready. For a keepsake, a local jeweler can engrave a plain tie bar with the wedding date.
Tie Clip Set, 6 Pack
Six tie bars, three shiny and three matte, in a gift box, and buyers say they look far more expensive than they are. One for the groom and the rest for his groomsmen. A vest buttoned over the tie hides the clip, so this suits a jacket-only look.
Groom Socks
Tuxedo-pattern socks with GROOM printed on the soles. A small, cheerful present to open on the morning, and a nice detail for the getting-ready photos.
Buying for all the groomsmen? Our bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts guide has flasks, whiskey glasses and valet trays, with how many to order.
How to put the groom’s look together
Start with the venue and the time of day
An evening ceremony in a church or ballroom calls for a tuxedo or a dark suit, a bow tie or a plain silk tie, and polished details. A garden, barn or vineyard wedding gives more room: lighter suits, texture such as tweed or linen, and a vest with no jacket all look right. On a beach or in summer heat, comfort leads. A breathable shirt and lightweight trousers will photograph better than a wool suit and a groom who is visibly too warm.
Colour by season
Spring and summer suit lighter shades: light gray, tan, sage, soft blue. Autumn and winter suit deeper ones: navy, charcoal, forest green, brown tweed. Green suits in sage, olive and emerald look especially good against garden greenery. Navy and charcoal remain the safest choice if he wants something he will wear again.
Coordinate with the bridal party, without matching exactly
Choose one color from the bridesmaids’ palette and repeat it in the groomsmen’s ties or pocket squares. Colors shift between fabrics and screens, so compare a swatch or a daylight photo of the bridesmaid dress before ordering. The groom usually stands apart in one small way: a different tie, a vest the others do not wear, or a slightly different boutonniere.
Shirt color beside her gown
With an ivory or champagne gown, an ivory or soft white shirt sits more gently beside her in photos than a bright optical white. With a bright white gown, a white shirt is the natural match.
Match the boutonniere to the bouquet
Ask the florist to build the groom’s boutonniere from one flower in the bride’s bouquet. It ties the two of them together in every photo. The boutonniere goes on the left lapel, over the heart, pinned from behind so the pin does not show. Artificial boutonnieres are a good backup for a hot outdoor ceremony, or for groomsmen when the flower budget is tight.
The small rules worth knowing
- Tuxedo studs need a tuxedo shirt with stud holes, and cufflinks need French cuffs. Check the shirt before buying either.
- A tie clip sits between the third and fourth shirt buttons and should be narrower than the tie.
- Suspenders replace a belt. Never wear both.
- A jacket fits when the shoulders lie flat and a quarter to half an inch of shirt cuff shows below the sleeve.
- A matching tie and pocket square set is the easy route. A pocket square in a related shade, rather than an exact match, is the other good option.
Buy or rent?
| Rent | Buy | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A tuxedo he will wear once; groomsmen spread across several cities | A suit he will wear again; a color rental shops do not stock |
| Fit | Fitted from stock sizes, with limited alterations | Can be fully tailored to him |
| Timing | Measurements in advance, pick up a day or two before, return soon after | Order early enough to allow for alterations |
| Afterwards | Nothing to store | He keeps it for anniversaries and other weddings |
Measuring him without him
If you are shopping as a surprise, borrow a shirt and trousers that already fit him well. Lay them flat and measure the collar from the center of the button to the far end of the buttonhole, the sleeve from shoulder seam to cuff, the chest across from armpit to armpit and doubled, the trouser waist across and doubled, and the inseam from crotch seam to hem. Then compare those numbers with the size chart on the listing.
If he buys online, order two to three months ahead, read the seller’s size chart rather than guessing, and budget for a local tailor. Accessories can wait until about a month out. Have him try on the full outfit, shoes included, a week before the wedding.
Common questions
What does a groom wear to a beach wedding?
Lightweight fabrics in light colors: a linen or rayon shirt, linen-blend trousers, and no jacket or an unlined one. Loafers or sandals are fine on sand. Skip the tie or choose a light, textured one.
Should the groom match his groomsmen?
He should look like part of the same group, with one difference that marks him out. A different tie color, a vest, or a boutonniere taken from the bride’s bouquet is enough.
Who buys the groom’s accessories?
Anyone can. Cufflinks, a tie clip or a pair of groom socks are a common getting-ready gift from the bride or from either family.
Is it safe to buy a wedding suit on Amazon?
It can be, with time on your side. Choose a well reviewed listing, measure him properly, order early, and plan for tailoring. If there is no time for a tailor, renting is the safer choice.
Planning the rest of the morning? Our getting-ready checklist covers the whole wedding party.