Experts share their top tips for creating the perfect wedding day outfit

Posted by Melissa Cullen on 3 October 2023

A man walking wearing a navy three-piece suit Finding the perfect wedding suit can be a challenge, especially if you’re not sure where to start. Here, Rachel Thompson from Humes Outfitters shares her tips for getting it right.

Your wedding suit is one of the most significant outfits you’ll ever wear, so it’s important to choose carefully and get it right. Not only is it an expression of your personal taste and style as you get married in front of your nearest and dearest, but the right suit can give you confidence if you’re experiencing wedding day nerves.

You may be excited to find your suit and want to make sure you’re approaching it correctly, or you might be dreading going shopping and looking for tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Whichever stage you’re at, here I’ll share a few top tips for choosing your wedding suit, including 2024 wedding trends, ways to make it your own, and advice for wearing a kilt.

Tips for finding the perfect outfit
Before you start shopping for your wedding outfit, it's important to do your research and look up lots of different styles of suits. Make notes about what you like and don’t like, paying attention to things like colour and fit, but also the design and the types of material used. Are you looking for something smart or more on the casual side? Double- or single-breasted? Will you wear a waistcoat? You have lots of options for creating the perfect look for your big day, so it pays to take your time at this stage.

Remember that you don’t have to purchase your suit outright and can always hire your wedding outfit, which can be a great option if you know you won’t wear it again. Hiring a suit also means you can afford better materials and designer labels without using up too much of your budget, so you can feel like a king for a day without worrying about the cost.

A man standing with his hands in his pockets while holding a striped jacket that matches his trousers and waistcoat Wedding style trends for grooms
Your personal preference is the most important factor when choosing your suit, as you want to ensure you’re comfortable and feel good on your wedding day. But if you’re stuck for ideas or want something fashionable, you can look to recent trends for inspiration.

For example, country-style wedding clothing has been very popular in recent years, with earthy tones and fine materials such as tweed featuring heavily. If your venue is a barn or if you’re having a rustic wedding, this style of suit is ideal for getting that British countryside look to match your décor. Wedding magazines as well as photo-based social media sites such as Pinterest or Instagram are the perfect tools for researching trends.

How to add a personal touch
One of the most notable changes in modern wedding culture has been the shift towards individuality. While traditional options for weddings would have been a plain suit or tux, today we are encouraged to make our wedding our own with fine details that reflect who we are and our relationship. Think about what makes you “you” — if you wear a lot of plaid shirts, for example, you could opt for one under your suit, or even consider wearing your favourite pair of trainers on the big day if that’s important to you. If you want to do this in a more subtle way, choose accessories such as socks, ties, and pocket squares that reflect your personality.

Expert advice for wearing a traditional kilt
Whether you want to stay true to your roots or have always dreamed of wearing a kilt to your wedding, you may be wondering how exactly to pull off this look. The first tip is to visit a reputable shop to buy or hire your kilt from, as they’ll have the knowledge and expertise to put your full kilt together in the most authentic way, and they can show you how to put it on properly. Then, choose your tartan.

If you’re of Scottish heritage, you may have a family tartan, which you can find based on your surname. If not, there are plenty of universal tartans you can wear that have no clan affiliations. Having said that, there aren’t any official laws to say you can’t wear any tartan that takes your fancy outside of restricted tartans, like Balmoral (which is reserved for royalty). So, speak to your tailor if there’s a specific tartan you have in mind.

One way to calm wedding day nerves is to feel comfortable and confident in your chosen outfit, whether that’s a tuxedo, a three-piece, a kilt, or something else entirely. Aim for the best version of yourself on the day as opposed to changing your personal style — and these tips can help you do just that.