The announcement of a wedding is a time to get excited, but it’s also a time to get prepared. Whether you’re the groom, a groomsman, or simply a guest, you’re going to have to dig some clothes out of your closet and maybe make an upgrade. And fortunately, you should have some guidance. Guests will receive some guidance about the formality of the event and potentially color theme with their invitation, and the season will tell them just as much. These are the factors to take into consideration when shopping for wedding ties.
Level of Formality
The host should express to you the formality of the event, and that will tell you what sort of suit you should wear. But it can also provide you with some guidance on the style and color of tie. The only situation where a bowtie is a necessity is a black tie or white tie affair. While it can still be worn for a formal wedding, neckties – or no ties at all – are typically the standard in more casual wedding environments.
Season
The time of year that a wedding happens can have a dramatic impact on the overall mood of the wedding. And most weddings tend to lean towards a dress style that suits that season. Having a few ties for different seasonal weddings is great even if your wardrobe isn’t very expansive, and it’s a distinct way to get a lot of mileage out of a more meager set of clothing.
Spring and summer have some variance in the types of suits to wear, but the ties themselves tend to be the same for the most part. Pastels are the standard during summer and spring weddings. They offer a sense of lightness that reflects the seasons without being too ostentatious. This is also the time of year to break out your brightest colors. Reds, blues, and even greens that are too vivid for the office will find their time to shine at summer weddings in particular. They’re most often paired this time of year with breezier linen suits in lighter neutral colors and striped and otherwise patterned shirts.
Fall and winter are similarly paired in terms of what styling is appropriate for weddings. The bright and vibrant colors of summer and spring give way to richer and more full-bodied colors. Jewel toned ties are popular this time of season. The winter leans towards more classic looks, but in both instances, layers are going to be a smart aspect of your wardrobe. That gives you a greater variety of contrast colors to work with, and that further enhances the value of a darker and more mature richness to your tie’s coloring.
Your Suit’s Style
Your tie isn’t acting alone, and it’s important to remember that it’s there to accessorize your suit rather than the other way around. If you’re at a loss for what type of suit you should wear to the wedding, you can’t go wrong with a basic blue, black, or navy. Generally, that means finding a tie color that offers a distinct contrast, but you can go even bolder by layering different shades of the same color together. Blue on blue or black on gray can really leave an impression as long as everything doesn’t blur together.
One last consideration when picking out a tie is the rest of your accessories. It’s generally recommended that you don’t wear more than two or three accessories with your suit, and that includes your tie. But whatever accessories you choose, you should make sure that they pair well with your tie in terms of both coloring and tone.
