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Suitable wedding outfit?

(29 Posts)
Mamma66 Fri 18-Oct-24 02:33:37

My niece is getting married soon. The groom and groomsmen have been asked to wear black tie, but the other men have been asked not to do so. Hubby has a very nice grey suit, but I suspect it is rather snug at the moment. He also has a couple of checked / tweed jackets. Lovely, but they won’t go with the rest of the attire of the wedding party. He also has a grey waistcoat and trousers, which he tends to wear with either a black or grey shirt. If he got a black blazer would this work, or would it look odd? Photo of waistcoat and trousers below…

Sago Fri 18-Oct-24 05:33:26

A white shirt would improve the look immeasurably.

Ashcombe Fri 18-Oct-24 06:34:54

I like what is being worn in the photo but would suggest adding a tie in a mix of lighter grey shades, perhaps, along with the black blazer you suggested, Mamma66.

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 18-Oct-24 07:18:38

I don’t think you need to consider what the Wedding Party are wearing unless you are on the top table and included in the Wedding Party photos.

Smart slacks and a blazer will be fine as would a grey suit.

J52 Fri 18-Oct-24 08:07:28

I’d suggest wearing the grey suit with a lighter shirt and mid tone tie. People do dress more casually at weddings these days, unless it’s a very formal occasion.

foxie48 Fri 18-Oct-24 08:36:57

I agree withOopsadaisy and be comfortable and warm enough, there's often lots of hanging around.

NotSpaghetti Fri 18-Oct-24 09:01:27

^ I suspect it is rather snug at the moment^
IS it snug or do you just think it will be?

If it IS snug, is it the trousers? If so, has it got any fabric to let it out an inch or so?
Most men's suits I've seen seem to have extra fabric in the trousers.

The jacket doesn't need to button up if it still sits well otherwise.

Are you close to your niece/nephew?

Black tie is formal attire - even for the groomsmen, so why not ask them how formal they want you to be? You say the other men have been asked not to wear black tie but what else has been said?

You want your husband to be comfortable in whatever he chooses to wear and only you and he know how bothered he might be to be different.

Ali08 Fri 18-Oct-24 10:05:10

I can only see the one photo of your husband and that is him in the snug waistcoat.
I really don't think that shirt goes with the waistcoat, tbh.
I'd suggest a less formal attire, as it's just the groomsmen wearing black ties. So your husband could wear a suit without the waistcoat, maybe with a shirt to match a colour that is in the brides bouquet or theme of the wedding. Or to match something you're wearing!

It would be best if you could speak to the bride to ask what colour theme they're going for?

I think a normal suit, a white or pale coloured shirt and a tie to match sounds alright.

Most of all, something your husband will be comfortable wearing!!!

TheWeirdo Fri 18-Oct-24 10:10:36

He's very handsome and the suit looks lovely just as it is!

eazybee Fri 18-Oct-24 10:18:15

Sorry, but black ties are worn for funerals or does'black tie' signal Dinner Jackets?
He will surely wear a jacket, if not a suit.

Jaxjacky Fri 18-Oct-24 10:33:34

I think what he’s wearing is fine, the focus will be elsewhere on the bridal party.

Athrawes Fri 18-Oct-24 10:44:53

My granddaughter is getting married next year and so far we've not got as far as what the menfolk will wear - whatever is smart and comfortable sounds good to me as the focus will be on the bride, the bridesmaids and the groom I would imagine. We shall no doubt be discussing it at some point!

Kim19 Fri 18-Oct-24 10:50:49

Much too casual if he were my husband.

NotSpaghetti Fri 18-Oct-24 10:58:40

Lots of weddings these days have "black tie" groomsmen I discovered last year, easybee. It's a bit of a trend.

My daughter in law wanted everyone black tie even though it was before 4pm (though it was 4 by the time we had the wedding breakfast!). So having (some years ago) disposed of both white and black tie clothing to Oxfam, my husband had to have a new dinner jacket, trousers, tie, dress shirt etc!

You may find a new suit is as affordable as a new jacket if he's a fairly standard size.
M&S suits (for example) in tailored or regular cut are about £80 upwards.
It depends what you want to spend of course - and what he will feel comfortable in.

The one thing we noticed from our shopping trips was how much men's styles change. The different fits on the shoulders, the lapels, the way they hang, the fit at the back... and then the trousers.... when the outfits were sent to Oxfam they were already very dated.
Neither of us "follow fashions" as we keep our outfits for years - but and there are lots of subtle differences that seem to update the "look".

Norah Fri 18-Oct-24 11:11:47

Perhaps a white shirt, nice tie, and black blazer?

I'm not a fan of dark shirts, nor open shirts without ties - just me.

aonk Fri 18-Oct-24 11:33:53

Have you thought of seeing if you can have the suit let out at all? Tight clothes are unflattering and uncomfortable. A grey suit sounds ideal for a wedding. I feel that it’s better to be dressed too formally rather than too casually.

RosiesMaw2 Fri 18-Oct-24 11:36:12

Why a black blazer?
When you say “black tue” - do you mean “black tie do” ? Guests need not be restricted to that, just smart is fine.
Dark navy with grey trousers would be fine or, as suggested, could the suit not be let out?

Mamma66 Fri 18-Oct-24 12:46:45

Thanks for the comments, what he was wearing in the photo was just for a meal out. He will be wearing a tie for the wedding. He has two dinner suits; a winter and a summer one, but the regular male guests have been asked specifically not to wear dinner suits. I will get him to try his grey suit, but unless he stops eating for the next two weeks, he hasn’t got a hope in hell, I might use the tie though. Thank you for the comment about him being handsome, he is lovely inside and out - I am very lucky. I will go for a white shirt I think. He had a lovely check jacket and new brogues for another of my nieces weddings a couple of months ago, but it was much more boho, whilst this is a formal affair.

Norah Fri 18-Oct-24 12:59:16

Mamma66

Thanks for the comments, what he was wearing in the photo was just for a meal out. He will be wearing a tie for the wedding. He has two dinner suits; a winter and a summer one, but the regular male guests have been asked specifically not to wear dinner suits. I will get him to try his grey suit, but unless he stops eating for the next two weeks, he hasn’t got a hope in hell, I might use the tie though. Thank you for the comment about him being handsome, he is lovely inside and out - I am very lucky. I will go for a white shirt I think. He had a lovely check jacket and new brogues for another of my nieces weddings a couple of months ago, but it was much more boho, whilst this is a formal affair.

Perhaps you could look inside the back of the waist of the trousers - typically there is a couple of inches on each side of the back seam. Unpick the stitches, iron flat, make a new shallow seam.

Visgir1 Fri 18-Oct-24 16:21:26

I like the black shirt and grey waistcoat, he could add a Black tie with silver thread. My OH has a couple similar and everyone comments how nice it looks.

Allira Fri 18-Oct-24 16:28:30

He looks just right in the second photo!

We're going to a winter wedding, I have no idea what to wear. DH will wear his usual smart suit and tie plus a wool overcoat, as for me, no idea.

Shelflife Fri 18-Oct-24 16:51:06

Second photo - perfect!

Debbi58 Fri 18-Oct-24 19:04:11

My niece got married last year , the groom and best man etc all wore black suits and ties . Must be a trend , my hubbie wore a grey suit and white shirt. Looked very smart

Sara1954 Fri 18-Oct-24 21:53:10

My daughter got married this year, and apart from the bridesmaids and groomsmen, dress code seemed to be quite casual, I wore a long silk dress, not at all mother of the bride-ish. My husband bought an outfit to match the bridesmaids, again very unconventional, all the guests wore anything from smart to casual, it was lovely, wear whatever you feel good in

Mamma66 Sat 19-Oct-24 02:27:57

NotSpaghetti

Lots of weddings these days have "black tie" groomsmen I discovered last year, easybee. It's a bit of a trend.

My daughter in law wanted everyone black tie even though it was before 4pm (though it was 4 by the time we had the wedding breakfast!). So having (some years ago) disposed of both white and black tie clothing to Oxfam, my husband had to have a new dinner jacket, trousers, tie, dress shirt etc!

You may find a new suit is as affordable as a new jacket if he's a fairly standard size.
M&S suits (for example) in tailored or regular cut are about £80 upwards.
It depends what you want to spend of course - and what he will feel comfortable in.

The one thing we noticed from our shopping trips was how much men's styles change. The different fits on the shoulders, the lapels, the way they hang, the fit at the back... and then the trousers.... when the outfits were sent to Oxfam they were already very dated.
Neither of us "follow fashions" as we keep our outfits for years - but and there are lots of subtle differences that seem to update the "look".

Thanks for the suggestion about M&S suits NotSpaghetti, I’ve been online and found a perfectly smart navy suit for £85. They had a gorgeous one for £229, but with it being so close to Christmas I’ll buy the cheaper one and see what it’s like.

I did think of getting his really good grey suit adjusted, but his weight fluctuates and it fits him to a T when he loses a bit of weight.

He has a ridiculous amount of clothes, as I have trousers in 34, 36 and 38 for him. He hasn’t been 38 for a while, but I know if I give them away, he’ll put weight on again! His 36s are getting too big so I will have to dig out his 34s again. I wish I had his willpower though. He gets up one day and says, “I’m getting too fat” and loses 2 stones.

Thanks again for the suggestion 😀