Dress codes decoded: what male guests should wear to a summer wedding

Black tie, beach casual, cocktail attire... dress code options for weddings can be tough to decipher. But what you may be forgetting is the additional intel the invitation contains. What time is the wedding for example? A wedding breakfast that takes place around lunchtime is likely to be less glitzy and formal than an evening reception. Google the location of both the ceremony and reception too, because the venues will reveal a lot about the vibe the bride and groom are going for. A country house wedding in a barn is likely to have a more boho aesthetic for guests, while a manor house with a great hall may require no holds barred evening dress. 

If in doubt, don’t bother the bethrothed couple with your issues – contact the best man or one of the other groomsmen, then refer to our definitive guide to summer wedding dressing for 2023.

Some couples go all out with their wedding extravagance and expect guests to do the same. This sort of wedding could take place in an exquisite city hotel, manor house or private members’ club and is likely to kick off later in the day.

For these kind of nuptials, you can’t go wrong with black tie, although navy tuxedos will also pass muster. And while a velvet dinner jacket would be appropriate in winter, in summer you’d swelter, so look for lighter fabrics and make sure your shirt is immaculately crease-free for when you shed your jacket to hit the dancefloor.

More modern occasions might mean you can forego a tie in favour of a chic dark button-down and, since there are few enough opportunities to wear cufflinks, now’s your time to add some personality with a pair. And, while you’re in full dress-up mode, pull on the patent shoes if you have them.

Country weddings are often in dual locations: a church ceremony followed by a reception in a nearby marquee, country house or barn.

If it sounds like proceedings are relatively formal, a three-piece suit is always a winner for a rustic wedding, but consider an unusual colour such as a light check, cream or pale blue. Or pair a navy jacket with chinos and a blue shirt and tie.

Brown shoes or even a brogue boot work well in this context and look less ‘business’ than black. A floral shirt, buttonhole or coloured pocket square will inject some colour and add to the rustic vibe.

If you’ve been invited to a beach wedding, avoid being brash or too ‘out there’ with what you choose because this is still a very important day for the couple, but you can at least be a bit more casual than for any other kind of wedding. 

Think about suit separates such as a lightweight, deconstructed blazer in a paler tone and pair with shorts if it’s a tropical loation. Depending again on what the invite says, think about picking a patterned shirt in quiet florals or (if the dress code allows) stick to a plain white tee. Your footwear can again reflect the mood of the nuptials, so it may be that you can slip on a suede loafer and add a hat as an accessory.