Okay, grooms! You’ve got stuff to do besides proposing and finding gifts for your groomsmen. One of those things? The fun of coming up with the perfect coordinated outfits for you and your groomsmen. 

If you do a search online for outfit coordination with your G-men, you’re not going to find much to work with. So I’m here to help!

These days it’s not just about the tux, so have some fun and make outfit selection as much fun as brides having with their friends, shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses.

If you do it right, everything will look perfect together. Your outfit, your groomsmen outfits, and the groomsmen gifts will combine for some amazing photos ops.

Have a look at my tips below.

If You’re Going With the Penguin Suit

We love the classic look but all that black and white can be a bit of a yawn. Consider spicing it up. There are options for everything from cut to collar type, so customize it to be perfect for you.

It Doesn’t Have to be a Black Cotton/Poly Blend

We love what Dobell is doing with cut, color and even fabric like this slim-cut black velvet tux.

And tuxes no longer just come in black, you can select nearly any shade you can think of.

Colors can match your venue, birthstone or anything else. Getting married at the botanical garden? Consider a lush green. Love wine? Look to shades of garnet.

Accessorize

Another place to veer from tradition? Consider some fun cufflinks. They bring a lightheartedness to your outfits.  You can go with something that reflects a hobby, a specific location, or even a movie.

File this away with your groomsmen gift ideas: your dudes will love whimsical cufflinks.

If you’re sticking closer to tradition consider just changing up your ties and vests. There are tons of options for long ties and bow ties and you can pick a pattern, even a subtle one, to give a fresh coordinated look to your crew. Even adding a simple dot pattern to the classic black bowtie works!

If You’re Skipping the Tux

Many couples are going more casual in their wedding wardrobe and this doesn’t mean it’s any less eye-catching. It’s just more comfortable.

Think about the Weather and Location

If you’re going to get married on the beach or in a warm locale, it’s especially smart to avoid the tux. First consider whether you want to go with a suit or trousers and a jacket. Work from there. 

You can do shorts, although it can be tricky to coordinate but definitely opt for outfits that match the setting and temperature.

Find Colors That Work

Once your bride has picked out the color of bridesmaids dresses, get the exact shade and work from there. 

There are a few ways to do this easily: pick a neutral shade for the jacket or jacket and pants and then use the bridesmaids dress color as the accent for ties, pocket squares or whatever else.

If your bride is having various colors, use a neutral color as the base and pick an accent color that falls in the middle of the spectrum. If the bridesmaids are all wearing the exact same dress you can have a little wiggle room with vests, ties and even shirts.

Pro tip! Bring a swatch of the bridesmaid dress fabric with you when looking for groomsmen outfits.

Believe it or Not, Shoes are Hard

One of the biggest complaints groomsmen who haven’t gone the tux route have is that they often get stuck buying a pair of expensive shoes they will never wear again. The easiest thing is to come up with a look that incorporates a black dress shoe. 

If you want uniform shoes that aren’t a black dress shoe, consider picking them out yourself and keeping everyone’s budget in mind.

Be Meticulous

One reason tuxes are the go-to wedding outfit is because they are easy. If you stray from a traditional tux be sure to be involved in the process. It’s not enough to say: get a gray suit.

Gray suits are not created the same. Focus on cuts and colors that are flattering for your group, be sure to consider socks (another great groomsmen gift!), belts, even jewelry.

Have a list of what it is you want exactly and plan to either shop together or provide the list of exactly what they need. The last thing you want is an entourage in tan linen suits and light tan belts only to have one in a black belt. Your wife will remind you of that “‘til death do you part.”

Host a Fitting

Set a date well in advance of the wedding to have your groomsmen over for beers and to try on their getups. This will make sure everything is coordinated, the right size, and looks good together. 

This is also a good time to see whether the thing you thought would work clearly doesn’t. Make it low-key and fun but be sure to add this missing component of going casual.

Once you’ve got the outfit down, the next step is finding the right groomsmen gift that matches. Maybe it’s a color-coordinated flask or maybe the gift is the outfit itself (like cufflinks or a bowtie). Check out various market places like Etsy for ideas or go to specialized groomsmen gift source websites and see what’s hot right now. 

Planning your groomsmen’s look can be lots of fun, just follow these guidelines and consult with your bride and then have at it!

This guest post was written by the staff at Vow to Be Chic. Risa James Events has no financial relationship with Vow to Be Chic.