Don't make these wedding suit mistakes

Over the years we've helped countless couples find the perfect look for their wedding. Sometimes couples come with a fully-formed vision for the style, but more often it's a bit of a process to get there. And we love that process! It's totally fine to start the consultation with just some vague ideas and an open mind. We'd much rather help guide clients toward the best options—and away from these common wedding suit

mistakes.

1. Formality mismatch. Many couples ask for a black suit, assuming that's the default option for every groom. Then they tell us they're having a daytime garden wedding with a pastel color palette and it quickly becomes clear that a black suit is the wrong choice. It's just too formal for the setting. Maybe a sky blue or neutral tan would blend in better.

   
   

   The suit's color, fabric, and styling should complement the overall aesthetic of the wedding, not clash against it. A breezy linen suit for a beach wedding, a classic tuxedo for a historic hotel ballroom, warm earth tones for a mountain cabin. Let the venue and vibe guide the suit selection.

   
   

2. Groomsmen don't coordinate with bridesmaids. Suits for the wedding party are often chosen for versatility and affordability, which is totally understandable, but sometimes that's detrimental to the big picture. Make sure to consider how the groomsmen will look alongside the bridesmaids (and the groom, for that matter), since they'll be in all the photos of your wedding. Balance the colors and styles of the parties to ensure a cohesive appearance on both sides.

   
   

3. Bad fit. This won't be a problem with a Mathias Custom suit, obviously, but many off-the-rack suits just don't fit very well. On the one day of your life that you absolutely want to look your best, that's not going to cut it. At the very least, take your suit to an experienced tailor for fitting. Expect to spend $150-500 on alterations, depending on how much adjustment needs to be made.

   
   

4. Dress code confusion. Your guests want to show up dressed appropriately, so be clear about your wedding's dress code. Traditional dress codes (e.g. Black Tie or Cocktail Attire) should be easy for guests to interpret, but it's still helpful to specify what is and isn't allowed. Adding a mood board on your wedding website is a convenient way to give everyone a quick visual guide. If you'd like guests to dress in a certain theme or color palette, try to make the range of options as broad as possible--we've assisted customers over the years who were frustrated trying to find the correct shade of emerald green on short notice. Check out our guide to dress codes for more tips.

   
   

5. Last minute stress. Planning a wedding is a lot of work, but don't make it harder than it already is. Allow plenty of time for all the details to come together. For the suit, that means starting a minimum of two months before the wedding to make sure it's ready in time. If you're taking advantage of our discounted Wedding Package, get started 3-6 months ahead so that every member of the wedding party has time to schedule their fittings.