8 Style Inspiration Tips for the Fashion Forward Groom
This post is for all of the fashion forward grooms out there. The grooms who start thinking about their wedding day look months in advance, who want to put their best foot forward, and really have fun with their style on one of the biggest days of their lives. From classic black tuxes and bow ties, to Italian loafers and cropped trousers, to maroon velvet smoking jackets, I’ve been lucky to photograph some amazing groom style! After photographing hundreds of weddings from Toronto, to Muskoka, to Niagara, I’ve compiled just a few of the top groom style ideas I’ve seen over the years. Enjoy the inspiration, click through the vendor links, and remember to have some fun with your wedding day style!
1. Have a custom suit made that really suits you. (pun slightly intended)
While we see a lot of classic black or blue suits these days, don’t feel confined to these two colours! Consider having a custom suit designed and made for you that pulls on a colour, pattern, or cut that you already know works well for you. This groom channeled his inner NPH in a dark green patterned suit that he had custom made. Paired with four groomsmen in classic black tuxes and bow ties, he truly looked like he was off to host the Tony’s in style after his ceremony. Guests asked all night where he found his suit, and he absolutely owned it!
Scott had a custom suit designed for his wedding in deep green with a silky black buttondown, bowtie, and black velvet loafers.
2. Make a statement with your boutonniere.
Most grooms aren’t excited about wearing a boutonniere pinned to their suit, OR don’t even realize they’ll be wearing one until it comes time to pin them on! This is part of YOUR wedding day style as a groom, so remember to have some input into it in advance! This groom designed a boutonniere that suited him perfectly and fit well with their ‘beer and bikes’ themed wedding. Their creative florist dried hops months in advance, and incorporated a dried hop into this boutonniere to make a statement for this craft beer loving guy. Pro tip, if you have no idea what you might want as your boutonniere, trust your florist to design one for you, just stay away from big heavy flower heads like roses that will break after a few minutes of hugging guests, and maybe don’t choose a phallic shaped bloom, they always droop sadly after a few hours in the heat, and well………….
A custom boutonniere designed with dried hops to fit the style of a beer and bikes themed wedding.
John’s boutonniere with dried hops suited him and his love for craft beer perfectly.
3. Sport a European suit cut.
Don’t shy away from suit styles that you haven’t worn before! There’s a reason European suit designers are renowned for their fashion sense, and I’ve never met a groom who didn’t look great in cropped cigarette trousers and a lined jacket. If you’ve never worn a different suit cut before, at least go and try a few on. You may surprise yourself and find a style that’s way more flattering to your shape and physique than a traditionally cut north American suit!
Matt chose a suit with more on an Italian cut. Tighter pants with a shorter hem let him show off his striking patent leather shoes.
Matt’s suit was classic and cultured, in a deep blue with black lapels to match his bow tie, finished with white suspenders
Abby and Matt were the picture of European inspired style at their chic wedding day in downtown Toronto.
4. Don’t forget to choose some shoes with style!
Shoes are arguably one of the most important elements of your groom style, so don’t leave them to the last minute and end up wearing your old brogues from your university formal again! Try different styles and colours with your suit, and allow yourself to splurge on a good pair. I promise you will wear them again if you buy a pair you truly love!
Slip on loafers are a fun and stylish choice for any groom’s style.
This groom matched his groomsmen with a red soled loafer to match the red stripe on the back of their shoes.
5. Choose a seasonally appropriate suit fabric.
No matter what season you’re getting married in, make sure you choose a fabric that suits the season AND that you will be comfortable in! Hosting a winter wedding? Consider a luxurious velvet for your suit, either the jacket itself or just the lapels, these are always striking. Conversely, if you’re getting married in the fall, then this is the time for you to get that beautiful woolen tweed you never thought you’d get to wear.
Fall weddings are the perfect occasion to choose a suit style and fabric different from your usual.
Neil chose the perfect suit fabric for his fall wedding, a light grey tweed with pink pin stripes.
Dom’s winter wedding was the perfect occasion to wear a dark maroon velvet blazer.
Your wedding is the perfect chance to get that suit jacket look you’ve secretly always wanted to try.
6. Don’t forget your shades if you’re having a summer wedding!
If stylish shades are a key part of your summer style, then incorporate them into you summer wedding look! While you definitely won’t be wearing your sunglasses all day (please please please remember to take them off for your ceremony!) it’s always fun to tuck them into your inner jacket pocket, and whip them out for some great shots with your groomsmen. Plus, you’ll look cool and collected in all your candid cocktail hour shots, instead of squinty and blinded by the sun while talking to your aunts.
These groomsmen all coordinated to bring their sunglasses for a group photograph.
Incorporating sunglasses into your groomsmen photographs always creates some fun shots!
7. You can’t go wrong with classic. Seriously.
If you’re absolutely at a loss as to what style you want to wear on your wedding day, go for classic. Everybody looks freeking amazing in a tailored black suit or tux, black bow tie, and freshly shined shoes. Full stop. There’s a reason everybody loves old bond movie styles, Casablanca goes down as one of the most stylish movies in history, and women fawn over vintage Tom Sellek. Go classic, you won’t regret it.
Ben and his groomsmen rocked classic black suits with bowties. They looked awesome.
Seriously, you can’t go wrong with a classic black suit and tux for your groomsmen!
8. Choose a statement accessory.
If you really want to stand out with a statement accessory, consider choosing a tie or bow tie with a floral print. These are hyper stylish, ooze confidence, and lend a really fun element to any wedding day look. If you’re into this look, you can’t go wrong, and they’re available at Loversland, a fantastic boutique wedding style shop on Ossington!
This groom had the chicest indie casual look, with a floral statement tie to polish it off.
Kate and Steve had the best boho style for their summer waterfront wedding look.