For most UK weddings, a male guest should wear a well-fitting suit in navy, mid-grey or a seasonal colour, with a shirt, a tie and leather shoes. The invitation's dress code and the time of year change the details. This guide covers each dress code, each season and the questions guests ask most.
Start with the dress code
Black tie
A black or midnight dinner suit, a white dress shirt, a black bow tie and black shoes. A velvet dinner jacket is accepted at most black-tie weddings. Our black tie guide covers it piece by piece.
Morning dress
A morning coat, waistcoat and striped or checked trousers. It is usually asked for only at very traditional weddings, and the invitation will say so.
Formal or lounge suit
The most common UK code. A two- or three-piece suit with a tie. See men's suits and the wider tailoring range.
Smart casual or cocktail
A blazer with tailored trousers, or a suit worn without a tie. A knitted polo or roll neck under the jacket is fine at a relaxed reception. See blazers.
No dress code given
Wear a suit and tie. You can take the tie off later; you cannot put one on if you did not bring it.
Dress for the season
Spring
Mid-blue, light grey or sage. A lighter suit with a white shirt and a patterned tie. Take a layer; April receptions get cold after dark.
Summer
Stone, light blue or pale grey, in the lightest cloth you own. Loafers are acceptable at summer and destination weddings. See loafers.
Autumn
Brown, forest green, burgundy and navy. A three-piece or a textured cloth suits the season. Our tweed and three-piece suit guide goes further.
Winter
Charcoal or navy, a three-piece for warmth, and a proper coat for the photographs outside. A long overcoat over a suit looks far better than a puffer.
Colours: what works and what to avoid
- Safe: navy, mid-grey, charcoal, blue, brown, green.
- Avoid: a white or cream suit unless the couple ask for it, and anything that matches the groomsmen if you know their colour.
- Black suits: fine for an evening or winter wedding; a little severe for a summer afternoon.
Shoes, shirt and tie
Leather Oxfords, Derbies or polished Chelsea boots in black or brown. A white or pale blue shirt is always right. The tie is where you add colour; match its tone to the season, not to your partner's outfit exactly.
Check the fit a week before
The jacket should close without pulling, the sleeve should show a little shirt cuff, and the trousers should break once on the shoe. Our guide to how a suit should fit lists every point to check.
Questions answered
Can a man wear a blazer and trousers to a wedding?
Yes, when the dress code is smart casual or cocktail. For a formal or unspecified code, wear a suit.
Do I have to wear a tie?
For formal and black-tie codes, yes. For smart casual, an open collar or a fine knit under the jacket is accepted.
Can I wear trainers to a wedding?
Only when the couple say the day is casual. Leather shoes or boots are the safe choice everywhere else.
Ordering for a date? UK orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days with free tracked delivery, and UK returns are free for 30 days, so order with time to try the fit.
