Why Get A Bespoke Wedding Suit?
Morning suit by Slaters
In time gone by, men’s wedding attire was a simple affair and men would not dream of getting bespoke wedding suits – a grey morning suit would suffice. A fresh flower, a hat and some shiny black shoes. Down to Moss Bros a week before your wedding to pick it up, and Bob was indeed your uncle.
In Scotland, it was a little different – the wearing of a kilt in your family tartan made it feel a little more personal, but this would almost always be paired with a black Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat.
Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket by MacGreggor and MacDuff
And there is nothing wrong with either of these outfits – indeed, both are still very popular.
What Is A Bespoke Wedding Suit?
Bespoke wedding suits by McCalls
But these days, men have started to get creative. Now you want tweeds to match the tartan. You want a jacket lining to match the bridesmaids dresses or heaven forfend, you want a suit that fits like it was made for you. For these special touches, you soon realise that only bespoke will do.
The one thing that has never changed is the simple fact that you want to look your best on your wedding day. You know that the pictures and videos will be around and will be pored over for years to come. And for that reason, bespoke wedding suits are now increasing in popularity.
Bespoke wedding suits give the reassurance of a suits that fit you perfectly – and the knowledge that you are going to look your absolute best on your big day. You will also be able to work with your tailor to design all of the little features that make it truly yours – The colours, the contrast button holes, the style and colour of waistcoat, the button colour – literally every detail can be customised.
Your tailor will show you what attributes will work best with your body shape. Why, for example, a broad lapel would suit a large chest or a shorter jacket would make a man with shorter legs look taller. There are dozens of tailoring tricks that can be used to give you the most flattering shape possible. These are simply not possible when you buy off the peg.
But It’s Just For One Day
How can you justify the cost of a bespoke wedding suit when you are only wearing it for one day? This is perhaps the most often pondered question. So let’s break it down.
Firstly, yes it is just one day, but your suit is not like a wedding dress – it can be worn many times after your wedding. The amount of use you get out of it will depend on the design. If you design a suit that screams ‘wedding!‘ then future use may be limited.
But imagine a classic navy three-piece. Nice bright lining, subtle contrast button holes, will look great for any occasion. But on your wedding day, instead of the navy waistcoat, you have a stone coloured, a yellow, a red or a blue checked waistcoat. The addition of a fancy waistcoat has taken your any-occasion suit to the heights of wedding attire.
So, don’t be put off by the thought of it being a single-use only. With some clever design, your wedding suit can be future-proofed.
Secondly, the cost. There is a misconception that going for a bespoke wedding suit will automatically cost thousands. Yes, if you go for a super high-end cloth such as a Scabal or oa Loro Piana, then yes you will be a healthy four figures. But these days you can get a very nice – a seriously nice, bespoke wedding suit starting at around £700. Yes, it is still more expensive than hiring a suit for the day but when you put it into context of the overall cost of the day, is it really that expensive?
Bespoke Wedding Suits For The Bridal Party
So, okay you can splash out on a bespoke wedding suits for yourself and maybe your best man but what about the rest of the men – ushers, brides father, groom’s father?
If you are buying bespoke for everyone it will soon add up. In many cases, couples are getting creative. If the basis of the suit is a standard navy two-piece, the groom gets a bespoke suit and everybody else either buys their own or gets an off the peg suit but they all get fitted for the same waistcoat, which ties them all in to the same design.
With matching waistcoats, ties and shirts, everyone will look great at a fraction of the cost of getting bespoke wedding suits for everyone.
Alternatively, since the jacket makes up over half of the cost of the suit, and it is a summer wedding or a hot country, you could have the other men in trousers and a waistcoat.
Don’t Forget The Shirts!
If you are going for bespoke or made to measure, you want to have a look at made to measure shirts. They cost about the same as a decent branded shirt from the high street, but they fit perfectly and are available in a range of luxurious cotton fabrics.
