BEST SUITS FOR A SUMMER WEDDING

The wedding RSVPs have been ticked, the gift registry has been consulted, you’ve selected the meat or veggie option – but what to wear to all this summer’s ceremonies? Black and navy suits will forever be classics for a summer wedding, but the season is a good time to think outside the box. Whether you’re staying close to home or heading to a far-flung destination, we’ve got something for you. Here are the best wedding suits from our edit, plus the incidentals you might have forgotten about.

If you have a few summer weddings coming up this year, we implore you to invest in a linen or linen-blend suit. Linen suits and shirts are light and breathable – a godsend for all-day ‘dos in hot, sticky weather. A note: linen is not for the perfectly-pressed amongst us. It’s a natural fibre, so it can crease after a few hours of mingling. That said, the creasing looks more ‘effortlessly rumpled spy in the tropics’ than ‘collapsed from the heat and fell into a table of hors d'oeuvres’. 

As a general rule, lighter colours can feel better at weddings – especially on hot days. Darker colours tend to absorb light (and by extension, warmth), which isn’t necessarily a problem when the venue’s aircon is turned all the way up. However, if the big event is outdoors or you’re expecting especially balmy weather, you may prefer brown or beige suits.

If spring is about light pastels, then summer is about livelier colours. Think about it – most destination or countryside weddings are set in nature, so you don’t want your suit to pale in comparison. Go for deeper but still refined greens and blues to match your surroundings – sage and seafoam instead of vibrant jewel tones (the latter are better for autumn or winter).

The big question: can you wear sandals with a suit? The answer is ‘yes’, but with a few qualifying questions. What is the dress code? If smart-casual, you might get away with a structured fisherman's sandal. Black tie? That’s a no-go for your tux, no matter how high the mercury. Secondly, where is the wedding? A city hall affair will be harder to style out than a beachside ceremony. Finally, there’s an uncomplicated finishing touch for your summer suit: sunglasses. Pick complementing metals and finishes (like green lenses for a green suit) and you’re ready to go.