How to Dress Properly for a Wedding (Men, Teen Boys and Kids)

Co-authored by LaTricia Brown

Last Updated: January 27, 2023 References

When you're invited to a wedding one of the first things you will ask yourself is "What should I wear?" There are different levels of dress and each requires a different level of attire. This article will tell you everything you need to know.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Casual

When you hear the word casual, most guys immediately think "jeans and t-shirts". This is not true. When it says "casual" it means smart casual (dress smart but not formally).

1
Wear either a polo shirt or a short sleeved button-down shirt.
2
Wear khakis or a pair of slacks. Dress pants are okay, although jeans are not acceptable.

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3
Wear a belt! Especially if you are going to tuck in your pants.
4
Get dress shoes. Loafers are good too. You don't need to be matchy-matchy: contrasting leathers and even ombre-dyed oxfords are also very stylish.
5
Wear your tie loose (optional).

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Business Casual

This is a step above casual.

1
Wear a long-sleeved button-down dress shirt (any color) tucked into pants.
2
Wear a tie (done up tight).
3
Wear slacks or dress pants, belt and a pair of dress shoes.^{[1]
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4
A blazer/sport jacket is optional. You can get away with no tie but it's recommended to wear one if you have one available.^{[2]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Semi Formal

This is quite formal but not fully.

1
Wear a 2 piece suit. A gray or cream color with a tie is better for daytime weddings, while a darker color suit is better for nighttime.^{[3]
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2
Wear dress shoes and dress pants. If you can't get access to a suit, then at minimum you should wear casual business attire with a blazer/sports jacket, dress pants, and a button-down shirt.
3
If accessible, a tie should be worn.^{[4]
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Research source} This is typically expected, but not always, so don't hesitate to reach out to the person who invited you for more clarification.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Formal

1
Wear a 3 piece suit (suit and a vest underneath) with dress shoes and dress pants. However if you wish you can wear a tuxedo if it is an evening wedding. If you only have a 2 piece suit it is okay, but try to find a vest.^{[5]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Black Tie

1
Wear a black tuxedo, a white dress shirt, black vest and a black bow-tie. These days people do wear a black tie but a bow-tie is better. You cannot wear anything less than a tuxedo. If you don't have one, rent one.^{[6]
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- The pocket square you wear with a tuxedo should be white and worn in a flat fold of puff fold.
2
Get creative with your tie. This is black tie, except you can change the color of your tuxedo, tie, etc. if you want to. So that means it doesn't have to be black and white.^{[7]
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- If you are invited to a white tie wedding, congratulations! White tie consists of a black tailcoat jacket, full white waistcoat, wing-tipped collared dress shirt, self-tied white bow tie, and patent leather dress shoes. This is your only choice. You cannot wear anything else.

Community Q&A

Question

What should I wear for a daytime wedding that is in a Quinta (Garden) outdoors?

Community Answer

If it's more casual, wear a pink or baby-blue button-down shirt and khakis, preferably with some loafers. If it's dressy, wear a grey blazer with a pink or baby-blue shirt, and dress shoes.
Question

Should my boys wear a blue or brown belt if wearing navy pants, a pink shirt, a navy bow tie and brown shoes?

Community Answer

Belts should match the shoes, so if the shoes are black/brown belts can be too
Question

I am wearing a black suit and shirt to a wedding. Which color bow tie, excluding red and white, should I wear?

Community Answer

A basic black or gray tie is always a good look but if you know the color scheme of the wedding ahead of time, you could always choose a tie to match that.