What Should the Groom Wear? Suits by Wedding Style

Emerald velvet dinner jacket for a groom

The short answer: the groom should wear the most formal outfit in the wedding party, chosen to suit the venue and time of day. A dark suit or tuxedo works for formal and evening weddings, a lighter suit for daytime and garden weddings, and a linen jacket for the beach. Below are outfit ideas for six common wedding styles.

Dressing the groomsmen too? Start with our complete guide to wedding suits for grooms and groomsmen.

Classic church or formal reception

Navy windowpane check slim fit suit

A well-fitted dark suit is the safest choice for a traditional wedding. Navy and charcoal look sharp in a church and still feel right at the reception. Add a waistcoat to make it a three-piece and set yourself apart from guests.

Evening or black-tie wedding

Black satin peak lapel dinner jacket

If the invitation says black tie, wear a tuxedo or a black dinner jacket with black trousers, a white dress shirt and a bow tie. A wing collar shirt adds an extra formal touch.

Pair a dinner jacket with black trousers. For full tuxedo suits, see the tuxedo options in our wedding suits guide.

Statement look for a modern wedding

Emerald velvet dinner jacket

For a groom who wants to stand out, a velvet or patterned dinner jacket over black trousers makes an instant impression, especially at evening receptions. Keep the rest simple: a white shirt and a black bow tie.

See all dinner jackets.

Garden or daytime wedding

Grey formal plain slim fit suit

Daylight and greenery call for lighter colours. Grey, fawn and soft blue look fresh in outdoor photos without looking too casual.

Beach or destination wedding

Ivory linen sport jacket

On the sand, a full dark suit is too hot and too formal. A linen jacket in a light colour keeps you cool and still looks dressed up. Pair it with light trousers and an open-collar shirt, and skip the tie.

Rustic, country or winery wedding

Chocolate formal plain slim fit suit

Earthy tones suit barns, vineyards and country venues. A brown suit with a matching waistcoat looks warm and relaxed in natural light.

How to stand out from the groomsmen

Whatever the style, the groom should be easy to spot in photos. Wear a different jacket (a dinner jacket while the groomsmen wear suits), add a waistcoat when they don't, or choose a different tie or bow tie. For ways to dress the groomsmen around the groom, see Groomsmen Suits: Matching vs Mix and Match.

Finishing touches

  • Shirt: white is the safest choice; a wing collar suits black tie. Browse dress shirts.
  • Tie or bow tie: match it to the wedding colours or keep it black for evening.
  • Shoes: black for dark suits and tuxedos, brown for lighter and earthy suits. See our dress shoes.
  • Small details: a pocket square, cufflinks and a classic watch finish the look.

Get the timing and fit right

Order at least four weeks before the wedding so there's time to try everything on and use our 14-day exchange window if you need a different size. Remember that slim fit runs one size smaller: if you wear XL in regular fit, choose XXL in slim fit. Delivery is free Australia-wide.

Frequently asked questions

Should the groom wear a tuxedo or a suit?

Wear a tuxedo for black-tie and formal evening weddings. For daytime, garden, beach and most semi-formal weddings, a suit is the better fit.

Can the groom wear a different colour from the groomsmen?

Yes. A different colour or a dinner jacket is one of the easiest ways for the groom to stand out. Keep one element in common, such as the tie or shirt colour, so the wedding party still looks coordinated.

Should the groom match the wedding colours?

A touch is enough. Bring the wedding colour in through the tie, waistcoat or pocket square rather than the whole suit, unless the couple wants a bold colour-themed look.