We dress a lot of fathers for weddings so we have a good idea of the trends. Our brides and grooms often ask us what the fathers should wear for the wedding. Fortunately, we have plenty of wedding attire guidance for you.
Father Wedding Attire Trends
We find that the majority of fathers choose a suit or tuxedo different from the groom and groomsmen. This helps them stand out and feel special.
The Father of the Bride usually has the honor of walking the bride down the aisle and/or giving a toast at the reception, and therefore has a special role in the day. That is reason for him to stand out uniquely!
We do have a smaller number of fathers who will wear the exact same suit or tuxedo that the groom and groomsmen are wearing to keep with a color palette or for continuity in photos. Sometimes, however, a father IS the Best Man, and what a wonderful honor!
Regardless of whether the fathers are matching the wedding party with regard to the suit or tuxedo styles, most choose a long tie or bow tie that matches the color of the dress worn by the person accompanying them to the wedding, often the mother/step mother of the bride or groom. If a father is attending the wedding with no accompanying guest, he often chooses accessories to keep his look classic and timeless. Possibly a black satin bow tie or a thin satin long tie as examples.
Navigating the Needs of the Fathers’ Attire
In most cases, we advise brides and grooms to choose what they want the fathers to wear. This method accomplishes two goals: first, the bride and groom get what THEY want! Second, most fathers are relieved when the bride and groom choose their attire because they don’t want the pressure of having to choose and possibly making the “wrong” choice.
If you have a fashion forward father, we do recommend letting him choose what he wants to wear and with 70 styles to choose from, he will love his options! This method often makes the process smoother and everyone is happier.
Streamlining the Tuxedo Rental Process for Fathers
When the bride and groom choose the fathers’ attire, the mothers and fathers of the brides and grooms are often pleased that they walk into our store and have everything sorted out for them. All the fathers have to do is spend a few minutes to get measured and possibly choose a long tie or bow tie.
On a few occasions, they may want to choose a different style shoe than is being worn by the bridal party. This too is a simple process and can be achieved in a few minutes.
Make Dads Feel Special
One of the safest bets for a father is a classic black tuxedo like our Ike Behar above. Fathers look really sharp and feel very comfortable in this tuxedo because of the quality of the fabric and the timeless look. He won’t draw “unwanted” attention to himself if wearing a tuxedo like this (in fact, he may welcome the stares!) and will feel comfortable all night.
Speaking of father of the bride and groom tuxedo trends, one of our most popular tuxedo jackets is our Ike Behar checked jacket pictured above with black pants. Fathers really go for this tuxedo because it is a very classic jacket and a bit sexy if we do say so… it definitely sets them apart from the rest of the guests.
Gray and navy tuxedos and suits have been very popular with wedding parties for over 7 years now. When the groom and the groomsmen are wearing a gray tuxedo, we often suggest that the father choose a different shade of gray and tuxedo style than the rest of the wedding party. This again will allow him to stand out and feel special without drawing attention to himself.
If the wedding party is wearing blue tuxedos, we often suggest that the fathers wear gray or a different shade of blue than the rest of the wedding party.
Should Both Fathers Wear the Same Color and Style Tuxedo?
The father of the bride and groom do not need to wear the same tuxedo style and color. It’s always a good idea to coordinate to make sure one doesn’t look completely different than the other but in general, we leave this choice up to the bride and groom. If it is left up to the fathers themselves, they usually choose something different, either a different designer or sometimes even a different color
Trusted Advice
Our advice is that the bride and groom choose what the fathers will be wearing for your wedding.
Trust us, most of them are delighted to find their suit/tux chosen for them! Allow them to choose the bow tie or long tie and pocket square to add their own touch to your day – again perhaps choosing a color that matches mom’s dress!
Do you have a question about wedding attire? Send us a text message at 215-491-8500 and receive expert advice directly from the owners of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo!
About the author: Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear. Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.