While much thought goes into the attire of the mother of the bride, what about the father?
What should the father wear to his daughter’s wedding? This is a big event in his life. His little girl will be getting married, and he’ll likely be giving her away. This is the perfect time to help dad plan his outfit.
Learn what the father-of-the bride (and the groom) should do when they plan their wedding attire…
What should the father of the bride wear to the wedding?
The groom and groomsmen should be wearing the same outfit as the father of the bride. However, he should compliment them in terms both of formality and colour. If all the groomsmen wear light-colored suits, then dad should also choose a lighter-colored suit. If the groom and the bridal party are wearing tuxedos then the father of either the bride or the groom should wear a tuxedo as well.
Discuss attire early on
Once you have established a dress code for the wedding and a vision of the groomsmen’s attire the couple should talk to their fathers. Tell them what you have in mind and what you would like each one to wear. While dads may have their own ideas and preferences, they will likely appreciate your guidance and be open to following along with your vision.
Include him when ordering groomsmen’s attire
Many suit shops offer discounts when you rent or buy multiple suits for the bridal party. This order can include suits for the bride’s father and groom’s dad. It gives everyone a nice discount. When choosing his suit, the groom has the option to invite his future father-in law. You can let the dads pick their suits, but you should be on hand to offer help and guidance.
Matching accessories
Father of the bride and father of the groom do not have to match their groomsmen’s accessories. Dad can wear a tie or bow tie and/or pocket square that matches the groomsmen’s, or he may coordinate his accessories with his wife. It is best if her dress in the same color family as the wedding gown so that everything blends well in photos. Let him choose what he wants. However, if you see a sartorial disaster, such as your dad wearing a bright green tie while the groomsmen wear a burnt orange, speak up quickly and gently push your dad in the right direction.
The belt and shoes don’t have to match the groomsmen. However, brides who are particularly picky might choose to keep the same color as the groomsmen and fathers (e.g. Black or brown?)