Groom and Groomsmen Attire

Menswear gets far less planning attention than the dress side of things, which is a shame, because there's more genuine choice than the default "everyone in matching grey suits" option suggests.

The main formal options for UK weddings:

• Morning dress (tailcoat, waistcoat, and striped trousers) - the most traditionally formal option, still common for register office and church weddings with a classic, formal aesthetic, though it's fallen out of default use for more relaxed venues.
• Lounge suits - the most common modern choice by far, flexible on formality depending on fabric and colour, and considerably more comfortable for a long day than morning dress.
• Kilts, for grooms and groomsmen with a genuine Scottish connection or simply a preference for it - see Highland wedding traditions for the cultural context, including clan tartan if there's a family link worth honouring.
• Black tie, generally reserved for evening or particularly formal weddings rather than a daytime ceremony.

On coordinating groomsmen, the same principle from bridesmaid dressing applies in reverse: exact uniformity photographs fine but isn't required. A shared suit colour with individual variation in tie, waistcoat, or boutonniere is a common and effective middle ground - distinguishes the groom subtly (a different tie colour, a different waistcoat) without anyone looking mismatched.

On hire vs. buy: suit hire remains genuinely sensible for groomsmen who won't reuse a formal suit often, and most UK high-street tailors and specialist hire chains handle group bookings well, including coordinated fittings. Buying makes more sense for the groom specifically, or for anyone likely to get real ongoing use from the suit.

On fit, the single biggest lever for how good a suit looks in photos: a well-fitted mid-range suit consistently photographs better than a poorly-fitted expensive one. If budget is tight, spend proportionally more on getting the fit right (tailoring, a proper fitting appointment) than on fabric quality - it's the difference guests and photos actually notice.

On timing: book group suit fittings with the same lead time you would bridesmaid dresses - hire slots for a specific date and group size fill up, especially for peak wedding season Saturdays.