For many of us, our wedding day is considered to be the most special day of our lives. Whether you’re spending hundreds of thousands on a lavish ceremony or you’re keeping things relatively simple with backyard nuptials, the way in which the wedding party is dressed matters.
If you want to create picture-perfect memories, dressing the father of the bride, the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, and every other member of the wedding party will be a top priority. While every wedding is different, there are certain considerations that are relatively universal. Still, you might have some questions surrounding the best choices in attire for your loved ones.
One of the most common inquiries we hear pertains to dressing the father of the bride — specifically, whether his suit should coordinate with the suits of the groomsmen. We’re answering that question in today’s post, along with providing some basic information about father of the bride suits, to help you expand your knowledge and help you feel confident in the choices you’re making for your upcoming wedding.
What Do Father of the Bride Suits Normally Include?
Your budget, the style of your wedding, and other considerations may impact the specific elements when dressing the father of the bride. But typically, father of the bride attire includes:
- A dress shirt
- A tie
- A suit jacket or tux
- Dress pants
- Dress shoes
- A boutonniere
You are, of course, welcome to take some creative liberties with the attire worn by your wedding party. However, covering these basics will often serve you well, especially if you’re not overly familiar with menswear.
Should the Father of the Bride Match the Groomsmen?
Now that the outfit basics are covered, it’s time to select specific pieces. This is when the coordination question usually comes up. In most cases, you’ll want the father of the bride to look like he belongs as part of the group without being an identical match for the groom or the groomsmen.
This means that, at the very least, you should aim to match the level of formality of others in the bridal party when dressing the father of the bride. In other words, the father of the bride should wear a suit that’s at least as formal as what the other men in the party will be wearing. Even if the colors or styles differ a bit, putting formality first will ensure everyone looks like they’re part of the same event.
If you want to take things a bit further, you can certainly coordinate colors and styles between the father of the bride and the groomsmen. In some cases, the father of the bride might wear the same style and color of suit or tux as the groom or the father of the groom. The groomsmen may also wear the same style of suit, though many couples opt to have the groomsmen look a little more distinctive (either by wearing ties in a different pattern or in eschewing suit jackets).
One good example to keep in mind when dressing the father of the bride is to have him wear a tie in the same color of the bridesmaids’ dresses, just like the groomsmen, but to choose a different pattern or style of tie to differentiate him from the others. In some cases, this could mean that the father of the bride’s tie will match the color of the groomsmens’ vests, but this may differ based on the other wardrobe choices.
Simply put, there’s no rule that the father of the bride has to match the groomsmen when it comes to what he wears. While many people prefer to have some kind of coordination in terms of color and style, it’s really up to the couple to decide. Most experts recommend that you keep the level of formality in mind and have some kind of enduring theme, like a color or a particular pattern.
How Can I Find the Best Wedding Formalwear For Men?
Dressing the father of the bride — or anyone in your wedding party, for that matter — isn’t always easy. Luckily, we’re here to help. Annual sales of menswear grew by 17.4% between 2010 and 2015, and now that live events are taking place again, it’s time to start planning. For more information on how your loved ones can look their best on your big day, please get in touch with us.
