The groom's suit: getting the most photographed outfit of your life right
Updated July 2026 · by Sam Talkar
Your wedding suit is the single most photographed outfit of your life. Those pictures hang on walls for decades. So the goal isn’t “a suit for the day” — it’s a suit that still looks right in the album in twenty years. Here’s how to get it there.
Suit or tuxedo?
Depends on the wedding. A tuxedo is for formal and evening weddings — black tie, satin lapels, after 6pm. A suit — navy, charcoal, a soft earth tone — suits daytime, outdoor and less formal weddings, and you’ll actually wear it again. If the invitation says black tie, wear a tuxedo. Black tie, decoded → · The custom tuxedo →
The colour that ages well
- Navy — the safest brilliant choice; rich in photos, works in any season, wearable forever. Why navy →
- Charcoal — formal, classic, flattering on everyone.
- Earth tones (sage, tobacco, taupe) — beautiful for outdoor and daytime weddings, very now — but date faster, so weigh that against re-wear.
Trend colours photograph “of their year.” Classic colours photograph timeless. On the one outfit you’ll look back on most, timeless usually wins.
Why the groom should go custom
The groom is the focus of every frame. A rental is cut for the average of everyone who wore it before you — it never quite fits the shoulders, and the camera sees it. A suit made to your measurements sits clean, closes right, and reads as yours. And you keep it. The honest custom-vs-rental math →
Set yourself apart from the party — quietly
You’re the groom, not a costume. Distinguish yourself with a small, deliberate detail: a richer cloth, a waistcoat where the groomsmen go without, a different tie or boutonnière. Subtle reads intentional. Coordinating the whole party →
The timeline
Start nine to twelve months out. The suit itself takes about eight to twelve weeks; the rest is breathing room to choose cloth, coordinate the party and fit unhurried. Book late and you’re pushed toward a rental. The full wedding timeline →
Getting married in the GTA? Book a wedding fitting — Sam will come to you, or measure the whole party at the studio.