Can you dress the groom, groomsmen and both fathers together?

Yes, and that's the ideal. Measuring everyone myself, in one session, keeps colour, lapel and detail consistent, and I do it here at the studio in one sitting. It's the easiest way to keep a whole wedding party coordinated.

What does "black tie" on the invitation actually mean?

A tuxedo: black or midnight dinner jacket with satin peak or shawl lapels, matching trousers, white dress shirt and a black bow tie, with polished black shoes. Not a regular business suit. If it says black tie, wear a tuxedo; you'll never be overdressed.

Is it weird if my suit is custom while the groomsmen rent?

Not at all; it's traditional. The groom is supposed to stand apart; a made suit against rented ones looks intentional, not unfair. We coordinate colour and detail so the party looks deliberate in photographs, with you clearly at the centre of it.

Can my groomsmen just wear black suits they already own?

Yes, and it can look wonderful if we're deliberate: matching ties, same shirt, similar lapels where possible. Small differences in button count won't ruin a photo; different blacks and different fits will. Send me photos of what they own and I'll tell you what needs fixing.

Where is Sam's Menswear?

A home studio at 318 Charlton Avenue, on the Vaughan–Thornhill line, by appointment. It's a quiet room of fabric and light: one client at a time, no showroom floor.

Weddings · Weddings

What your groomsmen actually want to wear

Updated July 2026 · Sam’s Menswear editorial team

Five rolled silk neckties in a row on a worn oak workbench, all in the burgundy family but each different: deep burgundy, a small motif, a dusty rose, a wine grenadine and a burgundy wool — One family, five men, nobody in costume.

Ask a groomsman what he wants and it’s simple: something comfortable, something that fits, that doesn’t cost him a fortune, and that he can wear again after your big day. Get those four right and the party’s happy, which means less stress for you. Here’s how to give the guys what they actually want without losing the coordinated look you’re after.

What do groomsmen actually care about?

Comfort, fit, cost, and re-wear. Nobody in the party is chasing a fashion statement. They want to look good in the photos, sit through dinner without popping a button, and not feel like they burned money on a suit they’ll never touch again.

Handle those four and everything else (colour, lapel, tie) falls into place. Most friction in a wedding party comes from a suit that pinches, a rental that fits nobody, or a bill that stings. Solve those and the guys show up smiling.

Matching or coordinating: what keeps the party happier?

Coordinating, usually. Everyone in the exact same suit photographs clean, but coordinating (same colour family with small variations) lets each man wear something he’ll actually use again, and that’s what the party quietly wants.

Matching: identical suits. Sharp and uniform, but it’s a one-day costume for most of the guys.
Coordinating: same navy or charcoal, but each man in a cut that suits his build. Reads grown-up, and every suit earns its keep after the wedding.

Lock the colour and the broad shape; let the details flex. That’s the sweet spot. The full coordination playbook →

Should groomsmen buy or rent?

If they’ll wear it again, buying wins. A rental runs roughly $150–$500 and they walk away with nothing. A well-cut navy or charcoal suit is a suit they’ll reach for at the next wedding, interview, or holiday dinner: real value, not a one-day cost.

The catch is rentals never fit properly. They’re cut for the average of everyone who wore them before, so the shoulders sit wrong, and wrong shoulders are the first thing you notice in a group shot. A suit made to a man’s own measurements sits clean and closes right. For a garment living in photos on the wall for decades, that difference matters. The custom-vs-rental math →

Who pays for the groomsmen’s suits?

Traditionally the groomsmen pay for their own, but say so early and clearly. Whatever you decide, the worst move is leaving it vague until a $400 bill surprises someone.

A few fair ways to run it:

They pay, you choose the fabric. Standard. Keep the pick sensible so nobody feels squeezed.
You cover part. Split the difference, or gift the tie and pocket square so the look is unified and their spend is lower.
You cover it fully. Generous, and worth it if you’re asking for a specific custom look; then the ask feels like a gift, not a tax.

Going custom often lands close to a decent rental once you factor in that they keep the suit. Frame it that way and the party’s on board.

How do we handle out-of-town groomsmen?

Two clean options. Have each out-of-towner measured by a local tailor and send the numbers, or (the easier route) bring the whole party up to the studio in one session, on a night they are already together anyway.

Half a wedding party usually lives somewhere else, and chasing measurements by text is where things go sideways. If the guys gather for an engagement party or a weekend, that’s your window: one sitting, everyone measured, done. Does Sam come to you? →

How do we keep everyone comfortable on the day?

Fit and fabric. A suit measured to each man moves with him. He can raise a glass, sit for dinner, and dance without fighting the jacket. Rentals and grabbed-off-the-rack suits are where the pinching and untucking start.

For fabric, think about the season. A breathable wool or a wool blend keeps a summer garden wedding bearable; something with a little more weight suits a winter ballroom. Get the fabric right for the room and the guys stay comfortable all night. Choosing your fabric →

When do we start?

Two to three months out. The suits themselves take three to four weeks; the rest is buffer for a party that’s busy and scattered. Leave it very late and you’re pushed into rentals, the one outcome nobody wants. The full wedding timeline →

Give the guys comfort, fit, a fair deal, and a suit they’ll keep, and you’ve got a happy party and a coordinated one. Planning your day in the GTA? Book a party appointment and I’ll measure everyone in one session, or start with the groom’s suit and build the party around it.