5 min read
What Should the Father of the Bride Wear?
What should the father of the bride wear to a wedding?
The father of the bride should match the formality level of the groom and the wedding party — a tuxedo at a black tie wedding, a dark suit at a formal daytime wedding, lighter tailoring at a coastal or destination wedding — in a tone that is close to, but slightly quieter than, the groom's.
The principle
You are photographed constantly and standing beside the couple in the most important images of the day. The goal is to look unmistakably part of the wedding party without pulling attention from the groom.
In practice that means matching formality exactly, and stepping one degree quieter in color and detail.
By dress code
Read the invitation first, then the venue and start time.
- —Black tie: a tuxedo, black or midnight blue, with a bow tie
- —Formal / cocktail: a dark suit in charcoal or navy, silk tie
- —Daytime: mid-grey or navy, a lighter cloth, quieter tie
- —Coastal: lightweight tailoring in stone, light grey or soft blue
- —Destination: high-twist or wool-linen in a warm-weather tone
Coordinate before you commission
Speak with the couple and the father of the groom before ordering. Fathers who arrive in the same suit, or in visibly clashing tones, is one of the most common and most avoidable photographic problems of the day.
A garment you will wear again
Unlike the groom's tuxedo, the father's suit is usually a garment that returns to regular use. Commission it accordingly: a classic cut, an excellent cloth and a fit that will still be correct in five years.