What should a man wear to a wedding as a guest?

Follow the invitation. Most weddings call for a suit and tie: navy, grey or charcoal. Black tie means a tuxedo.

Can I wear a tux to a wedding as a guest?

Yes, when the invitation says black tie or black tie optional. For anything less formal, a dark suit is right.

White belongs to the bride. Skip anything that looks like the wedding party's colour.

A light suit in tan, light grey or light blue, with a white shirt and a tie. Leave the tie off only if the invitation says casual.

A black or midnight blue tuxedo, a white shirt and a black bow tie. You can rent one from us for the night.

Style Guide · Weddings

Read the invitation, then dress one step up: what a man wears to a wedding, from the garden to black tie.

Being a wedding guest is easy to get right: read the invitation, dress one step up, and leave the spotlight to the groom.

Black tie: a tuxedo, a white shirt and a black bow tie. Midnight blue is right too.
Black tie optional or formal: a tuxedo is welcome; a dark suit with a tie is just as right.
Cocktail or semi-formal: a suit and tie. Navy or charcoal for the evening.
Garden, daytime or summer: a lighter suit in tan, light grey or light blue.
Beach or casual: a light suit or a linen jacket. The tie can go, the jacket stays.

Spring and summer: lighter cloth and colours: tan, light grey, light blue, sage.
Fall and winter: deeper colours and heavier cloth: navy, charcoal, brown, green. A velvet jacket for a winter evening.

White. That's the bride.
The wedding party's colour in a big way. A small touch on the pocket square is fine.
Dressing down. Nobody minds the guest in a tie. Everyone notices the one without a jacket.

For a black tie wedding, rent the tuxedo for the night. For everything else, a good navy or grey suit you own will cover most weddings for years.

Bring the invitation. We'll help you read it and put the look together.

Look sharp, and leave the spotlight to the groom.

From our fitting room · San Marko, Yonkers

What should a man wear to a wedding as a guest?: Follow the invitation. Most weddings call for a suit and tie: navy, grey or charcoal. Black tie means a tuxedo.
Can I wear a tux to a wedding as a guest?: Yes, when the invitation says black tie or black tie optional. For anything less formal, a dark suit is right.
What colours should a wedding guest avoid?: White belongs to the bride. Skip anything that looks like the wedding party's colour.
What should I wear to a garden or summer wedding?: A light suit in tan, light grey or light blue, with a white shirt and a tie. Leave the tie off only if the invitation says casual.
What do I wear to a black tie wedding?: A black or midnight blue tuxedo, a white shirt and a black bow tie. You can rent one from us for the night.

More wedding advice

Advice from the San Marko fitting room, 718 Central Park Ave, Yonkers, NY. Family-run since the early 1970s.