What to Wear to Your Rehearsal Dinner

Your rehearsal dinner is the night when it will all finally feel real. The wedding you have been planning for months is finally about to happen and now it’s time to put the finishing touches on the day so that it can all be picture perfect.

The rehearsal dinner will be a memorable one and it will be a very special event for the wedding’s most important guests (yourself included). That’s why it’s important that you wear appropriate attire. Just as the bride won’t be in her wedding gown, the groom will not be wearing his wedding tux, but that shouldn’t mean you show up in shorts and a t-shirt. This isn’t the real shindig, but it’s still a photo op and a nice time with your bride and close friends and family.

FIGURING OUT WHAT TO WEAR

First and foremost, you’ll need to consider your look from head to toe. As the groom, you want to feel comfortable but you also need to stand out and look the part. First of all, you need to figure out the tone of the event. What kind of place are your going for dinner and what is the bride wearing?

This is really your chance to shine and be unique, which means you should avoid the classic black tuxedo and go for something more personalized. Depending on the formality of the rehearsal dinner, you can either dress your suit up or down to match the occasion. It is acceptable to skip the tie and be more casual for your rehearsal dinner, but the primary thing is coordinating with your bride to ensure neither of you is over- or under-dressed.

Just think about it realistically and you should be fine. For example, if dinner is happening in the party room of your favorite bar or brewery, odds are you don’t have to dress to the nines. Slacks and a nice shirt will probably cut it. However, if you’re trying out that chic new place downtown, then you should dress accordingly. Suit and jacket, for sure, and you may want to throw in a tie for an extra boost.

WHAT TO AVOID

As we mentioned above, definitely don’t go for too casual—t-shirts are off-limits (yes, even if you’re having a backyard barbecue rehearsal dinner). This is still an important night and you are your bride deserve to look great. The most casual you can probably get away with is probably nice pants and a Polo.

Another important thing to avoid is feeling pressured to purchase your suit. Wearing something you already have to your rehearsal is perfectly acceptable. Or, if you’re lacking in the style department, renting is still an option to mix things up a bit. Just don’t go with anything too similar or nicer than your wedding suit or tuxedo.

Another important tip that you should take to heart when selecting your suit for your rehearsal dinner is to avoid crazy color schemes. Keep things simple and classy. Consider what the bride is wearing and consider the setting for the dinner when choosing your attire. You want to stand out, but not in the wrong way.

If you rent

There is no reason to buy a suit for your rehearsal dinner. In fact, it is widely advised against. Since this suit will only be used for the rehearsal dinner and because you need to coordinate with whatever your bride chooses to wear, renting from somewhere like Generation Tux is the smart choice.

We have more than 20 styles of suits and tuxedos to ensure that you can find the perfect option for your rehearsal dinner. We also offer thousands of accessories and color options to make sure that you match your bride while being able to stand out from the crowd.