A Simple Guide to Men’s Fashion for Weddings and Formal Events

Last updated on February 8th, 2025

Image Credits: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-standing-with-an-umbrella-27349269/

Introduction

When we think of fashion, more often than not, the choices for women outweigh the options for men. While it might seem easy to don the same attire for every occasion, you don’t have to let your fashion sense die. If you’re a man getting ready to attend a wedding or any other formal event soon, here’s a simple guide that will help you navigate the labyrinth of creating an appropriate and fashionable ensemble for every occasion.

Men’s Fashion Wear: Things To Remember

Look At The Theme And Venue

Before you start reaching out for your old blazer in the closet, look at the demand of the venue. Are you going to be surrounded by water at a yacht party or are you going to find yourself in a beautiful banquet hall in LA? The venue and theme often tell you all that you need to know in order to dress and impress, so pay attention to the next invitation card.

Understand The Dress Code

And if you can’t figure it out with the theme, no need to fret. Most invitation cards also mention the dress code for the party. While you do not need to follow the instructions to the letter, take this into consideration while creating your personalized look. Maybe a chic modern dress code can be flared up with an interesting choice of cufflinks. Feel free to play around with the tone of dress code. As long as you match the theme of the party, you’re good to go.

Make A Note Of The Season

Season can drastically influence your choice of outfit for a wedding or any other formal event. So, before finalizing your outfit for the day, take a look at the weather report. Based on the season and whether you’re going to be spending a day outdoors, there are many fashionable accessories that you can supplement your outfit with to make it more appropriate. For instance, a crisp black blazer donned on top of a white buttoned up shirt for a chilly day outdoors will be a perfect fit for your outfit.

Define Your Personal Preferences

Last but not least, defining what style works for you is very important. Know your body and what looks good on you. Try different colors, accessories, shapes and styles until you figure out what makes you look fashionable and feel confident. Having a few options in your go to capsule wardrobe is also a great way to ensure that you look well put together, no matter the occasion. Just keep experimenting and picking outfit styles that suit you.

Men’s Fashion: Wedding Guide

Formal Wedding

A formal wedding, as the name suggests, is a black tie affair. The best option for such an event includes a tuxedo or suit. You can pair it up with a classic white dress shirt, leather shoes, and a black tie or bow tie. Best shades for a formal wedding fashion suit includes navy, charcoal, black, and gray. Complete your ensemble by adding cufflinks and a pocket square to your attire.

Modern Wedding

A modern wedding is all about upholding traditions in a minimalistic way. So while you still have to wear a suit, you no longer need to be stuck with the dark colors. Try wearing pastel shades and combining them with patterns. Keep the look crisp and sharp with a simple tie and dress shoes. If you want to add a touch of sophistication to the look, you can add a simple waistcoat to your ensemble.

Beach Wedding

If you’re going to be a part of a fun beach wedding, going a little beyond your suit and tie is important to make a fashion statement. Beach weddings are usually more laidback and so is the dress code. Ditch the suits and blazers and pair up a beautiful linen dress shirt in pastel shade with lightweight trousers. Feel free to experiment with different patterns and fabrics. Dressy sandals and loafers are the perfect match for creating a fashionable look for a beach wedding. If it’s a more casual event, you can accessorize your look with plugs and septum piercings, sunglasses and hats.

Vintage Wedding

A vintage wedding is all about timeless class. If you want to look sharp for a wedding of this style, go for a three piece suit, with a double breasted jacket. Wear rounded club collar dress shirts, a classic bowtie, and brown or black oxfords. Complete the ensemble with a vintage watch, cufflinks, suspenders, and tie clips. Remember, 1940s can also be as vintage as 1920s. Since men’s fashion also changes every decade, it’s important to take note of which era you’re going to witness, and dress to impress.

Rustic Wedding

Rustic weddings are held in venues nestled in the beauty of nature, hence the style of the event also stays more natural and organic. Whether you’re attending a wedding on a ranch or a farm, you need to wear a vest for a rustic charm. Pick suits in earthy tones and pair them with checkered shirts. Loafers, bow ties, and suspenders are perfect for such occasions. Don’t forget to add a rustic style boutonniere for a classic touch. Remember to keep the look a little rough around the edges. Primping and polishing is best suited for a city wedding as compared to a simple thinking, high living countryside ceremony.

Bohemian Wedding

Bohemian weddings are the most chic event of every season. Keeping it light and effortless is the only way to look like you know your way around the wardrobe. So pick a neutral hued shirt, pair it up with an unstructured blazer, preferably in softer tones or earthy colors. A pair of breathable chinos will add the allure of boho chic vibe to your ensemble. If you have any tattoos or earlobe piercings, this might be a great time to show them off. A fun scarf and loafers can be added for a touch of whimsy. But if you want to keep it understated, just slap on a floral boutonniere and a wide brimmed hat.

Men’s Fashion: Formal Events

There are many types of formal events such as fundraisers, corporate events, and board meetings among others. While there is no harm in experimenting with a few fashion choices here and there, it’s better to create a capsule wardrobe that you can use anytime you need to attend a formal event that has no guidelines on how to dress.

Since the term is self explanatory, start with more formal elements of your attire such as a tuxedo for networking events, and a suit for meetings. Add a pair of sophisticated, neutral shade dress shirts to your closet. Have a few dark colored ties without any patterns on them.

A pair of polished black shoes, preferably oxfords, are a great option. Then you can start accessorizing with french cuffs, a black cummerbund, and a formal watch, to keep it sophisticated with a touch of classy.

It’s A Wrap

Men’s fashion wear is equally important as that of a woman. Whether you’re attending a wedding, or participating in formal events, making fashionably smart choices can help you look and feel more confident. This is the beginning of what a basic outfit should look like. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to stick to the basics. Take these tips as a starting point to create an outfit that includes parts of your personality sprinkled throughout to make it a perfect fit for you.