The father of the bride & father of the groom suit
Updated July 2026 · by Sam Talkar
The fathers are in more wedding photos than almost anyone but the couple — walking down the aisle, the first dance, the family portraits. The father of the bride and father of the groom should look dignified, coordinated, and comfortable all day. Here’s how to dress the dads.
Coordinate, don’t match
The fathers shouldn’t wear the identical suit as the groomsmen, and they shouldn’t clash with them either. The move is to coordinate on formality and colour family while letting the fathers wear something slightly more classic and grown-up. If the party is in navy, the fathers in a deep navy or charcoal read as part of the same picture without looking like they joined the groomsmen. How the whole party coordinates →
Match the formality of the day
- Black tie / formal evening — the fathers wear tuxedos too. The custom tuxedo →
- Daytime / semi-formal — a well-cut navy or charcoal suit, tie coordinated with the party.
- Outdoor / relaxed — a softer suit, earthier tone, open to the party’s palette.
When in doubt, the fathers dress one notch classic — never louder than the groom, never more casual than the guests.
Why dads should skip the rental
Fathers are the builds off-the-rack fails most — a fuller chest, a shorter or longer rise, shoulders that have earned their shape. A rental fits none of that; it’s cut to an average nobody actually is. A made-to-measure suit is built to his proportions, so he’s comfortable through a long day and looks his best in the portraits. And he keeps a proper suit for every event after. Why off-the-rack fails certain builds → · Custom vs rental, honestly →
Measure the whole family together
The easiest way to keep the groom, groomsmen and both fathers coordinated is to measure them together. Sam does exactly this — at the Vaughan studio or, for out-of-town or busy dads, on a single house call across the GTA. How the traveling tailor works →
Father of the bride or groom in the GTA? Book a fitting — dignified, comfortable, and coordinated with the party.