While a wedding day is all about the happy couple, it's also about keeping ALL couples happy! Couples attending a wedding rarely give outfit coordination much of a thought (ok, so I'm talking for the guys here), but think about it: you arrive as a couple, you're introduced to new people as a couple, and you are photographed as a couple, so why on earth wouldn't you think about coordinating your looks as a couple?! Let's no forget either, that a fair proportion of the images taken that day are likely to find their way onto Instagram so you certainly don't want to be all clashing colours and noisy patterns.
Thankfully, colour coordinating your looks isn't rocket science but there are certainly ways to finesse it, for both the formal wedding and the more relaxed summer wedding.
The Formal Wedding
Savoy Coat Yellow |
Yellow Petersham Single- |
Yellow Sandford |
The formal wedding doesn't tend to change a lady's dress code but the gent may be required to wear a morning suit. Morning coats can come in the traditional black style, as well as charcoal and navy. Any of these three options works well regardless of the colour or pattern of the lady's coat and dress, but if said lady's outfit is of a soft pastel tone, then you may be better directed towards the lighter, less contrasting tone of the charcoal morning suit.
Westminster Coat Grey |
Pistachio Randwick Double- |
Pale Blue Garston Tie |
We're going to presume that the lady has organised her dress weeks if not months in advance of the event, because that's what ladies do, which means that their other halves have plenty of time to purchase an appropriately coloured waistcoat, tie, and pocket square. We would recommend choosing a waistcoat tone similar to that of her dress or coat, and using one's tie and pocket square to pick out any secondary colours in it (if it is patterned) or in her accessories, such as her shoes or bag. Gentlemen, I appreciate this may be a lot to think about, and requires a decent amount of pre-planning, but you'll thank us in the end.
Yellow Gabardine Wool |
Ivory Randwick Double- |
Blue Chaldon Silk Tie |
Two gents coordinating becomes a little trickier given you are both wearing morning suits, so you can afford to be a little more creative by choosing complementary pastel tones, as you don't want to be too matchy. Pale blues and dusty pinks, or soft greys and light greens, or pale yellows and creams all go very well together. By all means clash your ties and pocket squares to highlight individual personalities and tastes.
The Relaxed Summer Wedding
When the dress code isn't explicitly formal then coordinating looks becomes degrees more difficult because the style brakes are off for both parties. This is where you prove to one another that you are a fully functioning and highly communicative couple (no scoffing at the back!!). If the ladies are to take the lead with their dresses, then the gents should focus on their ties and pocket squares if attending in a lounge suit. Once again, suit tones are less important than the details, but lighter hues such as cream and pale pastel suits will allow her dress to stand out more. Your job gents, is to choose two different colours from her look, and pick them out with your tie and pocket square. Of course they won't, and shouldn't be identical, but the same ball park is good enough.
"But what if I decide to go tie-less?!" I hear you scream. Well, in that case you can work towards being a much more tonal twosome, which will almost certainly require more forethought.
Florence Dress Ivory |
Savoy Coat Ivory |
Pale Blue Poplin |
And there you have it. The secret to a happy relationship
