How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (2024)

Table of Contents
Bonobos Italian Stretch Linen Suit Bonobos Italian Stretch Linen Suit Banana Republic Luxury-Touch Performance Polo Banana Republic Luxury-Touch Performance Polo Polo Ralph Lauren Reynold Leather Driver Polo Ralph Lauren Reynold Leather Driver J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket J.Crew Ludlow Slim-fit Unstructured Suit Pant J.Crew Ludlow Slim-fit Unstructured Suit Pant Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Long-Sleeve Poplin Shirt Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Long-Sleeve Poplin Shirt Charles Tyrwhitt Stain Resistant Polka Dot Silk Tie Charles Tyrwhitt Stain Resistant Polka Dot Silk Tie Beckett Simonon Dunham Derbies Beckett Simonon Dunham Derbies Theory Clinton Blazer Theory Clinton Blazer Zara Textured Trousers Zara Textured Trousers Cos Regular-Fit Poplin Shirt Cos Regular-Fit Poplin Shirt Thom Browne 4-Bar Tie Thom Browne 4-Bar Tie Dr Martens 1461 Mono Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes Dr Martens 1461 Mono Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes Kingsman Harry's Navy Pinstriped Super 120s Wool Suit Kingsman Harry's Navy Pinstriped Super 120s Wool Suit Bonobos The Desk to Dinner Shirt Bonobos The Desk to Dinner Shirt Gucci Bee Pattern Silk Pocket Square Gucci Bee Pattern Silk Pocket Square Giorgio Armani Formal Leather Derby Shoes Giorgio Armani Formal Leather Derby Shoes Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Wool Barathea Peak Tuxedo Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Wool Barathea Peak Tuxedo Indochino Helston Plain-Front White Tuxedo Shirt Indochino Helston Plain-Front White Tuxedo Shirt Tom Ford Self-Tie Satin Bow Tie Tom Ford Self-Tie Satin Bow Tie References
How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (1)

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The height of wedding season is July to September, typically. I know what you're thinking: July is so far away, so why should you even bother getting your wedding fit ready now? I'll tell you: it's because if there's one occasion that you do not want to fumble, it's being the guest at a wedding.

Seriously! All eyes will initially be on the happy newlyweds, sure, but for the rest of the afternoon/night, you're on mingling duty, baby. People are going to be looking at—and judging—what you're wearing. Photos are going to be taken more often than you can even count. And at the end of it all, when you're tired and tipsy, you're going to be beyond glad that you thought ahead with your outfit, and wore something stylish yet comfortable, lightweight yet classy. Which is why you need to start shopping now for pieces you can wear, and rewear, and rewear—all wedding season long.

Whether it's an elegant, black-tie affair, a beach wedding, or something more laidback, we've got options galore for you below.

Beach Casual: The Linen Suit

Bonobos Italian Stretch Linen Suit

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (2)

Beach Casual: The Linen Suit

Bonobos Italian Stretch Linen Suit

Nothing says beach vibes more than a linen suit. And in green! You're sure to be one of the sharpest dressed men at the wedding, and you get bonus points for not opting for a boring neutral tone, too. Plus, linen is the perfect summer fabric to keep you cool and breezy under the sun.

Beach Casual: The Perfect Polo

Banana Republic Luxury-Touch Performance Polo

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (3)

Beach Casual: The Perfect Polo

Banana Republic Luxury-Touch Performance Polo

If the wedding's at the beach, chances are a polo shirt is going to do the trick instead of a long-sleeve button-down. Choose something simple that looks good with your suit jacket but is also versatile enough to rewear for different occasions.

Beach Casual: The Leather Loafer

Polo Ralph Lauren Reynold Leather Driver

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (4)

Beach Casual: The Leather Loafer

Polo Ralph Lauren Reynold Leather Driver

Loafers and leather are a match made in heaven. And isn't that what weddings are all about?

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Dressy Casual: The Unstructured Suit Jacket

J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (5)

Dressy Casual: The Unstructured Suit Jacket

J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket

If you're going to a dressy-casual wedding, you need to know where to amp up the elegance and where to tone it down. An unstructured suit does both for you, with minimal effort. It's still a suit, sure, but not as stiff and formal as a structured one.

Save yourself the trouble and hassle and just get the suit pants that go with the jacket, yeah?

Dressy Casual: The Easiest of Shirts

Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Long-Sleeve Poplin Shirt

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (7)

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (8)

Dressy Casual: The Easiest of Shirts

Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Long-Sleeve Poplin Shirt

Now 15% Off

It's summer, and there's a good chance at some point in the course of the wedding, your suit jacket is coming off. Therefore, a poplin shirt that still looks good with your pants is the hero you need.

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Dressy Casual: The Patterned Tie

Charles Tyrwhitt Stain Resistant Polka Dot Silk Tie

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (9)

Dressy Casual: The Patterned Tie

Charles Tyrwhitt Stain Resistant Polka Dot Silk Tie

Now 49% Off

Go for a tie with a little bit of pizzazz to up your look.

Dressy Casual: The Matching Derbies

Beckett Simonon Dunham Derbies

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (10)

Dressy Casual: The Matching Derbies

Beckett Simonon Dunham Derbies

...And when you match your shoes to your tie, you're hitting the nail of dressy casual on the head. Derbies are an infallible option that toe the line between elevated and everyday.

Semiformal: The Dark Blazer

Theory Clinton Blazer

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (11)

Semiformal: The Dark Blazer

Theory Clinton Blazer

Now 40% Off

The dress code for a semiformal wedding allows for a bit more room for interpretation, but to be on the safe (and fashionable!) side, go for a dark blazer. The good news, though, is that your blazer and pants don't have to be a matching set.

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Semiformal: The Trousers

Zara Textured Trousers

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (12)

Semiformal: The Trousers

Zara Textured Trousers

Pleated trousers are your best option here. And if you went with a dark jacket, you have a wealth of options to choose from.

Semiformal: The Crisp Shirt

Cos Regular-Fit Poplin Shirt

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (13)

Semiformal: The Crisp Shirt

Cos Regular-Fit Poplin Shirt

Now 40% Off

Keep it simple, classic, and timeless with a white (or light blue) poplin shirt.

Semiformal: The Designer Tie

Thom Browne 4-Bar Tie

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Semiformal: The Designer Tie

Thom Browne 4-Bar Tie

A semiformal wedding still means you should wear a tie! You have to have the formal in there somewhere, after all. It doesn't have to be something ridiculously elegant, but we do recommend something recognizable, whether by logo or design, just to show you went the extra mile in dressing up.

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Semiformal: The Oxfords

Dr Martens 1461 Mono Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (15)

Semiformal: The Oxfords

Dr Martens 1461 Mono Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes

You don't have to go crazy with the shoes, here. Something simple, clean, and black should do the trick. If you have a pair of classy Docs in your closet already, pull 'em out for this wedding.

Cocktail: The Elevated Suit

Kingsman Harry's Navy Pinstriped Super 120s Wool Suit

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (16)

Cocktail: The Elevated Suit

Kingsman Harry's Navy Pinstriped Super 120s Wool Suit

Ah, the cocktail attire wedding. Scary! But it doesn't have to be. There's a good chance this dressier wedding will take place at night, so you don't have to worry about overheating in the summer sun. A wool suit is the perfect way to elevate your look, and pinstripes only add to the elegance.

Cocktail: The Dress Shirt

Bonobos The Desk to Dinner Shirt

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (17)

Cocktail: The Dress Shirt

Bonobos The Desk to Dinner Shirt

Keep it classically handsome with a plain (but fitted!) semi-spread collar dress shirt, and let the accessories do the rest of the talking.

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Cocktail: The Pocket Square

Gucci Bee Pattern Silk Pocket Square

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Cocktail: The Pocket Square

Gucci Bee Pattern Silk Pocket Square

Speaking of accessories—a cocktail event is the perfect opportunity to bust out a pocket square. It's classy. It's cool. It's very James Bond, really.

Cocktail: The Fancy Shoes

Giorgio Armani Formal Leather Derby Shoes

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Cocktail: The Fancy Shoes

Giorgio Armani Formal Leather Derby Shoes

And, for a cocktail occasion, you can pull out the nice shoes. It's time. Hell, even get them polished beforehand.

Black Tie: The Ultimate Tuxedo

Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Wool Barathea Peak Tuxedo

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (20)

Black Tie: The Ultimate Tuxedo

Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Wool Barathea Peak Tuxedo

So you've been invited to a black tie wedding. Depending on the kinda guy you are, this is either going to be very exciting or very terrifying. Either way, you can't go wrong with our black tie fit. It all starts with the perfect tuxedo—clean, elegant, timeless.

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Black Tie: The Cleanest White Shirt

Indochino Helston Plain-Front White Tuxedo Shirt

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (21)

Black Tie: The Cleanest White Shirt

Indochino Helston Plain-Front White Tuxedo Shirt

You can't just wear any white button-front under a tuxedo! Look for a tuxedo-specific shirt. This one looks stellar.

Black Tie: The (No Longer) Dreaded Bow Tie

Tom Ford Self-Tie Satin Bow Tie

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (22)

Black Tie: The (No Longer) Dreaded Bow Tie

Tom Ford Self-Tie Satin Bow Tie

If you know how to tie a bow tie, congrats on being better than everyone else. If you don't—you should probably learn, because a self-tied bow tie looks a hell of a lot more impressive than one that comes tied.

How to Be the Best-Dressed Guest at Any Wedding (2024)

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