Invited to a wedding that expressly bills itself as anti-black tie? The best wedding suits for men are a failsafe tuxedo alternative. See, for all the headache associated with navigating the
intricacies of a wedding dress code—rushing your most somber black tux to the dry cleaner for an emergency resuscitation, frantically googling "what to wear to a beach wedding!?" while you check the weather in Maui—the most formal weddings are helpful in at least one way: you tend to know exactly what to show up in. Not so with their more casual counterparts.
When the dress code calls for anything other than classic black tie, figuring out what's considered appropriate wedding attire can be a headache. Enter the trusty two-piece suit. Faced with the frightening prospect of an especially confounding wedding invitation, a traditional suit—in navy blue, say, or charcoal gray—will always be a safe bet. Pair it with a crisp white dress shirt, a solid-colored tie, dark dress shoes, and voila: your gam-gam will be introducing you as her dapper grandson in no time flat.
The best wedding suits for will men will help you come correct on the big day, whether it's yours, your buddy's, or the cousin's you see twice a year who inexplicably made you a groomsman. (It's an honor, really.) To help you traverse the nuptial circuit in style, we tracked down the best of the bunch available today, including—yes—one or two actual tuxes you'll be eternally grateful you added to your repertoire.
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We might be a few years past the J.Crew Ludlow's heyday, but if you're headed to a black tie wedding and seriously considering renting a tux (oof), there are few better budget options on the market. Pony up the couple hundred extra bucks and cop yourself one of these instead. Trust us: you'll come out way ahead in the long run.
J.Crew Ludlow slim-fit shawl-collar black tuxedo jacket
J.Crew Ludlow classic-fit black tuxedo pant
There's a reason A-listers from every walk of life turn to one man when it comes time to make a splashy red carpet appearance. In Tom Ford, you always look like certified Hollywood royalty.
Tom Ford "Shelton" peak lapel cotton-velvet dinner jacket
Tom Ford satin-trimmed tuxedo trousers
Prone to tearing up the dance floor as soon as the DJ puts on your jam? Bonobos' surprisingly luxe performance tuxedo is specially designed to move with you and still look box-fresh, no matter how many times you embarrass yourself moshing to the the Isley Brothers.
Bonobos Italian performance tuxedo
If you're an avowed suiting agnostic, Noah's repentant skate kid tailoring is for you. This one is designed with all the hallmarks of a traditional American sack suit—lightly-structured fit, classic notch lapels, ventless back—but done up in some of the finest Italian fabrics money can buy.
If Prince Charles didn't have to stick with a full morning coat rig every time one of his kids got hitched you better believe he'd show up in a suit like this.
Drake's chalkstripe wool flannel tailored jacket
Drake's chalkstripe flat front trousers
Flying out to see your pal get hitched and need a suit that can stand up to rigors of intercontinental travel? This is your guy. Reiss crafts its Hope suit (as in, "I sure hope the ominous thud coming from the overhead rack isn't my suitcase imploding") out of a stretchy wool blend designed to look as sharp post-flight as it did right off the rack.
Reiss "Hope" modern fit travel blazer
Reiss "Hope" modern fit travel pants
The Atlanta haberdasher's signature suit style will never steer you wrong, regardless of where you're wearing it.
Sid Mashburn Kincaid No. 2 suit
Got a bone to pick with the groom? Make him regret all his wedding day decisions (stylistically, at least) by showing up to the ceremony in one of Needles' delightfully unhinged patchwork suits.
Shopping for a brand new wedding-appropriate suit is an optimal time to plug the gaps in your tailoring rotation. Ring Jacket's is formal enough to wear adjacent to the altar but understated enough you'll want to offer it a permanent slot in your starting lineup.
Ring Jacket shadow plaid suit
Yes, you can pull off a double-breasted suit, and yes, a wedding is the perfect time to bust one out.
Polo Ralph Lauren plaid wool twill gray suit
Who says a suit has to look like one? Lemaire's unstructured take on a classic double-breasted silhouette comes belted at the waist and in a silk blend that drapes the way a suit should in 2021—gently, and with decidedly little fuss.
Lemaire double-breasted silk-blend crepe suit jacket
Lemaire pleated silk-blend crepe suit trousers
Siri, play "The Boys Are Back In Town".
Suitsupply off-white Havana suit
Sure, showing up to a wedding in a conventional navy suit is never a bad idea. But if you want a suit that offers the same type of dependability with a touch more personality, opt for one like Post Imperial's hand-dyed cotton number, a distinctly human take that'll help you stand out in a sea of cookie-cutter alternatives.
Post Imperial Ikoyi hand-dyed cotton jacket
Post Imperial Ikeja hand-dyed cotton trousers
The perfect pants for surviving the pandemic look even cooler as a full kit. Pair with a simple button-up and clean black derbys to channel Steven Yeun, the pleat papi himself.
