What Color Suit To Wear To A Wedding As A Guest In 2023?
If you're invited to a wedding event, there are lots of things you need to know about the dress code. But how do you make sure that you look your best while keeping things simple and classy?
The answer: with a suit in the perfect color!
There are a lot of ways to go wrong when picking out an outfit for an event—you could be too casual or too formal, or maybe even just plain awkward. But when it comes to weddings, there's no need for any of that if you can nail down the right suit color.
We have put together this guide to help you find the perfect suit color for any wedding in 2023. We've researched and compiled some of the best suit colors for every season of the year, so you can pick a look that's perfect for your wedding.
Mind the Wedding Attire
First, you should always check the invitation to see if there's any specific dress code, then try to follow that as closely as possible. If there's no mention of wedding attire at all, then stick with semi-formal attire: a dark suit (navy or charcoal) with a white shirt and tie, or a light-colored suit (pale blue or tan) with an open-collar shirt and no tie. If the wedding is casual or semi-formal, consider wearing a black suit with a tie in the same color as the tie on your jacket. This will allow you to fit right in without looking overdressed or underdressed for the occasion.
Suit color for summer wedding
The most important thing to consider when choosing a suit for a summer wedding is how hot it will be on your big day. If temperatures are high and there's no air conditioning in sight (or if they don't let you wear a suit), consider going with lighter and neutral colors. Light grey or light blue are both great options for summer weddings, as well as off-white or cream suits. You can look at guides to beach wedding attires for men.
Suit color for spring wedding
Spring weddings are great because they come with warmer weather (and warmer colors!)—but stick with muted tones like burgundy, brown, or navy blue suits instead of bright reds or yellows that might clash with your bridesmaids' dresses.
Suit color for winter wedding
Winter weddings are beautiful—but they can be tricky when it comes to picking out an outfit! Make sure you don't wear anything too dark (like black or navy), because those colors will make everyone look washed out in photos. Go with something lighter like gray instead!
Suit color for rainy season
If you get an invitation to a rainy-season wedding, it's probably because your friend has been planning it for months and is getting married in a park or somewhere with lots of green space. This kind of setting calls for a suit that's more formal than most suits worn during the rest of the year—so think gray or navy blue.
Suit color for casual wedding
If your friend's getting married on a warm day in their backyard (or if they're just really laid back), then it's time to break out some casual suits! Feel free to go with pink or green if those are your favorite colors—just make sure they're not too bright. You want something that fits well and looks good without drawing too much attention away from the bride.
Suit color for semi formal wedding
If you're a guest at a semi-formal wedding, you'll want to wear a suit in black or navy. If you're not sure which one is better, we recommend going with the classic navy suit. It's traditional and sophisticated—and if you opt for a dark shade of navy, it will look like you've put more thought into your look than if you went with black. A good tie combination with navy suit will elevate the look.
Suit color for formal wedding
If you're attending an evening or black-tie wedding, there are three options: black or white tie. Black tie means that men should wear a tuxedo, while white tie means they should wear tails and white bow ties (or cummerbunds). We recommend white tie over black tie because it's more formal and has more history behind it—but if that sounds too stuffy for your taste, go with black tie instead!
Black-Tie Wedding Attire for guests
The black tie dress code is the most formal dress code of them all. It means that you should be wearing a tuxedo, which includes a full-length black jacket with a white or light-colored shirt and bow tie. You should also wear black shoes, socks and cufflinks.
White-Tie Wedding Attire for guests
If you're invited to a white-tie wedding, you'll want to make sure that you're dressed appropriately. White tie is the most formal dress code, and it requires a tuxedo with a white bow tie and cummerbund. The suit itself should be made of wool or another fabric with a matte finish. It should not be shiny or shimmery.
How to choose accessories to complement the suit
One of the most important things to understand when choosing a suit is what accessories you should wear with it. The right accessories can take a good outfit and make it great, but the wrong ones can ruin an otherwise perfectly acceptable outfit.
There are many different types of accessories you can choose from, but some of the most popular are belts, ties, socks and shoes. Here's some advice on how to choose each of these:
* Belts - The color of your belt should match your shoes or pants if possible. If it's not possible, then choose something in between these two colors. If you're wearing a black suit with black tie and black shoes, then your belt should match at least one of those items (preferably all three).
* Ties - Choose a tie that compliments your shirt color or suit color. If you're wearing a white shirt with an ivory-colored suit jacket, then a white tie would be best for this combination because it will complement both colors without clashing with either one. Another option would be to wear a blue button-down shirt with navy blue pants/suit jacket; here too there would be no conflict between the colors so either could go well together.
*Pocket square: Pocket squares add a bit of flair to any outfit! They are a great way to add color or texture while still being subtle enough not to distract from the rest of your outfit. They're also super easy to fold into different shapes and sizes so you can experiment with how they look in different situations.
*Cuff links: Cuff links are another way to add some extra flair while still keeping it simple and classy! You don't want anything too flashy here either—you want something that complements your other accessories without stealing the show.
Shoes
Choosing the right shoes to complement a guest wedding suit for men is a little bit tricky, but we're here to help!
First things first, you want to make sure that your shoes are polished and clean. After all, you don't want to be caught with scuffed up heels in the middle of the ceremony.
Second, pick a shoe that compliments your suit color. If you're wearing white pants and a black tie, then a brown or burgundy shoe will look great. If you're wearing black pants and a grey tie, then maybe try some nice tan shoes. And if you're wearing brown pants and an ivory or light blue tie, then go ahead and pick up some dark navy blue shoes while you're at it.
Thirdly, consider what sort of occasion this wedding is: Are they having an outdoor reception? An indoor reception? Is it going to be formal or casual? All of these things can affect how formal your look should be—and how formal your footwear should be as well.
What suit colors to avoid at a wedding
If you have been invited to a wedding and want to look great in your suit, it's important that you know what colors complement each other—and what colors don't. If you go with a color combination that doesn't work well together, it can make your whole outfit look off-balance and uncoordinated.
So what colors should you avoid? Here are some tips:
*Don’t match the couple: Well, first of all, it's important to remember that the bride and groom's color palette is going to be their top priority. They're going to want everything from the flowers on down (except maybe their own clothes) to match their own style. So if they've chosen green as their favorite color, everything will probably be some shade of green (or neutral), including your suit. If they chose red and yellow flowers for all the arrangements, then think about avoiding those colors when choosing your outfit as well.
*White suits: If there's one color that should be avoided at all costs it's white. Even if it's not a formal wedding and the bride and groom are dressed in simple white outfits, wearing something white can give off an air of "I'm here because I was invited." It may seem like common sense, but don't wear white unless you're actually getting married yourself!
* Red suits: This color can clash with almost any other color of clothing or accessory—even if they're both red! Stick with muted tones instead; they'll look more elegant and classy than anything else.
* Orange suits: Again, this is another color that clashes with most other shades. Stick with something like black for an elegant look that will match any wedding guest's attire.
*Blue suits: If possible, avoid blue suits as well—they just don't go well with most weddings themes (unless it's an ocean theme).
FAQs
- What color should a man wear to a wedding?
A: The best color for you to wear to a wedding depends on the time of day and what kind of event the wedding is. If it's early in the day, stick to lighter colors like white or light blue. If it's later in the day, go with darker colors like black or navy blue. However, mindfully choose the shirt color for the black suit.
2. What color is disrespectful to wear to a wedding?
A: For the most part, you can wear any color you want! If you're worried about offending the bride and groom, though, remember to avoid white unless you are specifically asked to don that color by the bride and groom. More traditional couples may also have an aversion to black, so check with someone close to the couple before choosing an all-black ensemble for an afternoon wedding.
- What should I wear to a wedding as a guest?
A: Dress up! It's not just about the bride and groom—you are celebrating the union of two people, so that means it's your chance to look glamorous too! If there's a dress code (like "black tie"), then do that. But otherwise, feel free to wear anything that makes you feel like a million bucks.
4. Is it OK to wear black suit to a wedding?
As a general rule, it's fine for a male guest to wear black to a wedding, unless the wedding is going to be exceptionally informal - black suits read as more formal than the same suit in blue or grey.
5. What should a male guest wear to a casual wedding?
Wear chinos or suit pants. Chinos or khakis are a great option for casual weddings especially those that take place in the summer. You can also dress them up with some colorful socks and loafers.
Wear a printed shirt. A printed shirt in plaid, stripes, or all-over pattern is a great option for a casual wedding. Add color to your look by pairing it with jeans instead of dress pants.
6. Can you wear a suit without a tie to a wedding?
While it's fine to wear a suit without a tie if you have to (say you're going on an interview or something), it's generally frowned upon at weddings. If you want to be extra cautious, ask someone who knows what they're doing and whether it's OK before you go out in public wearing just the suit.
7. Is it OK to wear red to a wedding?
Yes! A lot of people think wearing red at a wedding is rude or disrespectful, but it's not true—it's actually considered good luck in some cultures.