9 Summer Wedding Style Mistakes Every Man Should Avoid

Dressing for autumn and winter weddings is easy. Just pop a navy two-piece suit on and you’re pretty much good to go. Summer requires a bit more thought. The heat can complicate matters, and if there’s any uncertainty around the dress code, it can be difficult to figure out whether you should be rocking up in a tux or a Hawaiian shirt.

As a result, summer wedding style mistakes are common, and they can befall even the savviest dressers. To make sure you don’t get stung by any, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common ones and how to avoid them.

From bad grooming to foolish fabric choices, here’s our guide to staying on the right side of stylish.

Your ‘Do-It-All’ Suit Is Doing Too Much

If you’re wearing the same suit to the office and to summer weddings, we hate to break it to you, but it is almost certainly falling short in at least one of those settings.

What seems like a thrifty, minimalist buying decision on the surface is actually doing you a disservice. You’re either going into work looking as if you took a wrong turn on the way to Pitti Uomo or walking into your cousin’s special day like you’re about to present a quarterly financial report.

Instead, have at least two suits in rotation, depending on the season and level of formality. A single-breasted navy one in worsted wool and something lighter in an airy linen blend. This should cover you for all bases bar black tie.

Material Missteps

Fabric arguably matters more than colour once temperatures really start climbing. A heavyweight worsted wool suit that feels perfectly reasonable in November can quickly become a portable sauna in July, leaving you sweaty, uncomfortable and visibly wilted before the speeches have even started.

Linen is the obvious answer, but it isn’t the only one. Lightweight tropical wool, wool-silk blends and linen-cotton mixes all offer excellent breathability while retaining a sharper appearance than pure linen. Save the thick flannel and structured cloths for colder months and let the season dictate what you wear.

Ignoring The Dress Code

Wedding invitations rarely include a dress code just for the sake of it. If it says black tie, wear black tie. If it says lounge suit, don’t interpret that as “OK, I can probably get away with trainers”.

Equally, if the couple have gone to the trouble of specifying a relaxed garden party, turning up in a peak-lapel three-piece complete with pocket watch is unlikely to make the right impression.

When in doubt, it’s always worth asking. It beats spending the entire drinks reception standing awkwardly in a floral camp-collar shirt wondering why you’re the only person who misunderstood the brief.

Underdressing

A summer wedding isn’t an excuse to abandon tailoring altogether. Yes, it’s hot. Yes, you’ll probably spend a good chunk of the day outside. That still doesn’t make an open linen shirt, rolled-up chinos and loafers wedding attire… unless the invitation explicitly says so.

The easiest way to avoid looking underdressed is to start with a proper suit and then make subtle seasonal adjustments. Lighter fabrics, softer construction, suede loafers instead of Oxfords, perhaps losing the tie if the dress code allows. It should look seasonally considered, not sloppy.

Overdressing

The opposite mistake, while arguably not as bad, is just as common. Summer weddings tend to have a more relaxed atmosphere, and dressing like you’re attending a ceremonial banquet at a palace can leave you looking a bit disconnected from the occasion at best and a complete oddball at worst.

Reserve the waistcoat, stiff collar and heavily polished wholecuts for the most formal occasions. For everything else, a softly tailored suit, lightweight shirt and refined loafers or Derbies will feel much more in keeping. Elegance is often about restraint rather than excess.

Ignoring The Setting

Whether the wedding you’ve been invited to is at a beach, in a barn or in a ballroom, the setting really matters when it comes to sartorial decision-making. Particularly if no dress code has been specified.

Pick your outfit accordingly. If the reception is at a beach bar, it’s safe to assume formal tailoring is going to look a bit out of place. Conversely, if it’s a traditional ceremony in a church, chances are espadrilles and a linen shirt are going to feel a bit sloppy.

In lieu of clear instructions, the location is your biggest clue when it comes to deciphering what to wear.

Undergrooming

You can nail the outfit, but if there’s hair sprouting from your nostrils and long fingernails clinking against your champagne flute, that’s what people are going to remember.

Have a shave, book yourself in for a haircut, and spend some time preening before the big day.

It’s one of the cheapest and most effective ways to make yourself look infinitely more presentable.

Weather Woes

British summers have a habit of covering all four seasons in a single afternoon, and dressing for only one of them is asking for trouble. Many guests spend weeks obsessing over the suit, only to find themselves shivering through the drinks reception once the sun disappears.

Take a lightweight layer if the forecast is changeable. An unstructured blazer, fine-gauge knit or lightweight raincoat can save the day without compromising the outfit.

Likewise, don’t forget the practical basics. A pocket square is optional. SPF definitely isn’t.

Goth Mode

Black tailoring isn’t totally forbidden in summer, but an all-black outfit under bright sunshine can look heavy and funereal. Navy, stone, olive, light grey and tobacco all feel more seasonally appropriate while still looking smart.

If you do wear black, break it up with lighter accessories or reserve it for evening receptions.

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