The complete guide to men's wedding suits

The wedding suit is one of the few garments a man will be photographed in more than any other. It needs to look right in the morning, in the afternoon light, and under flash at the reception, and it needs to feel comfortable from the ceremony to the last dance.

Start with the dress code

• Morning dress — top hat and tails, traditional for formal daytime weddings before 4pm.
• Lounge suit — the most flexible choice; a well-cut navy or grey suit fits almost any venue.
• Black tie — dinner suit for evening weddings and receptions after 6pm.
• Smart casual — linen or tweed separates for barns, gardens and less formal celebrations.

Cloth and colour

Navy and mid grey are the safest colours for a lounge suit. Morning dress is black or charcoal with striped trousers. Black tie means midnight blue or black barathea. For summer, pale grey, linen or lightweight wool keep you cool. For winter, tweed, flannel and velvet add warmth and texture.

Timing

Order four to six months before the wedding. A made-to-measure suit takes approximately 4–6 weeks to make, but you will want time for cloth selection, fittings and any adjustments, especially if groomsmen are being fitted too.