Choosing groom attire for the big day is not quite as fun as choosing your wedding gown and bridal accessories, but it is still a big deal and requires a bit of preparation. Your groom should look and feel his absolute best! It is his wedding day, too, after all!
If you’re drawing a blank, and just can’t decide what your groom should wear for the big day, then you’ve come to the right place!
I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about groom attire for a beach wedding, giving you tips, ideas, and lots of examples. I’ll even include a few extra accessories that you can add depending on your wedding style. So let’s get started with a few basic tips to keep in mind when choosing your groom’s attire!
Basic Tips for Choosing Groom Attire
- Your groom’s attire should match the overall vibe of your wedding. If you’re having the entire wedding on the beach, he can dress pretty casually. But if you’re having a more formal event, he should be dressed in a suit or tuxedo instead. You may have heard that tuxedos aren’t right for a beach wedding, but that’s simply not true. It all depends on the vibe of your wedding and what you envision for your perfect day.
- Groom attire should match the bride’s style. You probably won’t show him your wedding dress before the big day, but you can coordinate his style with yours. If you have a luxurious, bedazzled ballgown, you don’t want your groom wearing a linen shirt and khakis. You’ll want to choose a more formal look. What if you have a simple wedding dress? In that case, the groom’s attire can be simple as well.
- Ensure a perfect fit. Even the most expensive suit will not look good if it doesn’t fit right. Tailor your groom’s attire to ensure a proper fit so he looks and feels amazing on the wedding day.
- Don’t forget about the weather. It’s always hot and humid in Punta Cana. Keep that in mind when choosing your groom’s attire. He’ll probably be melting in a dark suit or heavy materials like wool and tweed. Lighter colors and light materials (like linen or cotton) work great on the beach. He can also decide to wear a suit during the ceremony and photo session and then take off his jacket for the rest of the evening. It’s up to you!
Check out Tips That Your Groom Must Read When Choosing Wedding Attire.
Now that we have the basics rules covered, we can look at different attire options for your groom.
Beach Wedding Attire Ideas for the Groom
Choosing the groom’s attire is usually one of the later steps in the wedding-planning process. You probably have already selected your wedding dress, your decor, and your wedding style. Now you just need to bring your groom into the mix.
I’ll take you through a few of the most popular options below, starting with a casual look and moving through to the most formal attire.
Casual Groom Attire
Do you want to embrace the island culture and fully relax on your wedding day? If so, then a casual style may be right up your alley.
A plain, button-up shirt and nice slacks are all you need to complete this look. Some grooms even choose to wear shorts for their wedding. This is the best way to stay cool in the warm Punta Cana sun.
Linen is a popular choice for a casual material since it’s lightweight and breathable. Just don’t forget to steam everything before the wedding day since linen can wrinkle easily.
Ties are not common, and shoes are optional for a casual look. Most grooms go barefoot, but he can also wear sandals during the ceremony if he prefers.
The casual style is not for everyone, but if this connects with you, here are some ideas to run by your groom.
Semi-Formal Groom Attire
If the shorts and t-shirt look are too casual for your liking, but a full suit is too much, a semi-formal look will be your best option. This is a nice look for a beach wedding since he’ll be dressed up, looking nice, but it won’t feel too formal. Plus he won’t be roasting like he would be in a full tuxedo.
Typically, semi-formal groom attire means a button-up shirt, suspenders, and a bowtie, but you can be completely flexible with this look.
Leave out the tie, and unbutton a few of those top buttons to relax the look. Dress it up by adding a suit vest and tie. He’ll still manage to stay cool and it looks a little more put together. You could also add a light-colored suit jacket (without the vest) to dress it up a bit more without getting too formal.
If you’re getting married right on the beach, he may want to go barefoot with this look. Otherwise, if you’re getting married in a gazebo, in the gardens, or near the pool, he can wear sneakers, loafers, or boat shoes instead. Here are some common semi-formal ideas:
Classic Groom Attire for a Beach Wedding
This style is for the traditional groom who wants to keep it simple but still look great. All you’ll need is a suit, tie, belt, and some shoes to match. The classic groom typically wears a blue, navy, or gray three-piece suit, but light colors look great too! This is an easy style that you’ll be able to piece together quickly. Most menswear shops will sell or rent you the entire ensemble.
This is a look you’ve probably seen over and over again, but here are some of our past grooms just in case:
Formal Groom Attire
Just because you’re having a beach wedding doesn’t mean you can’t wear formal wedding attire. If your wedding dress is elaborate and elegant, your groom will want to follow suit (no pun intended). To complete the formal look, he’ll need a dark suit or tuxedo, white dress shirt, black bowtie, patent leather shoes, cufflinks, and a handkerchief.
For the hot weather in Punta Cana, many grooms are opting for a white tuxedo with black accents instead. This is still a formal look, but it typically works better with the weather since it won’t be quite so hot. Here are some ideas to help you out:
Bold or Unique Groom Attire
If you want your groom to show off his quirky personality through his wedding attire, then go for it! Whether it’s a bright-colored suit, a funky tie, or a fun material like velvet or tweed (although those may not be your best options in the Dominican Republic), just do it! Don’t be afraid to choose something unique, bold, and totally him.
Here are some ideas:
So what do you think? Are you leaning towards a casual look? Formal? Completely unique? Or somewhere in between?
By now, you should have a better idea of what will work for your groom. If not, scroll through again to see which look you connect with most. And definitely get your fiance’s opinion here as well! Once you’ve decided what to get, you need to know how to get it.
Should You Rent or Buy the Groom’s Wedding Attire for a Destination Wedding?
For traditional weddings, most men rent their wedding attire. They’ll rent everything a few days before their wedding, and return it the day after. But… that system doesn’t work so well for a destination wedding.
It’ll be way easier for you to purchase your groom’s attire. That way you’ll have it well before the wedding day, you can ensure a proper fit, and you don’t have to worry about sending it back when you fly back home. (Plus, it’s a good excuse for him to get a nice outfit that he can wear for other events.)
To be honest, 90 percent of our couples purchase their attire and it works great. Since most grooms tend to choose a more casual look, you won’t need to spend an arm and a leg on your groom’s wedding attire. But it’s completely up to you and your budget.
If you are choosing a formal look, or your groom wants something unique for his wedding day that he’ll never wear again, then you may want to rent instead. There are online options that make renting super easy and pain-free.
Just be advised, since you are having a destination wedding, you won’t be able to send the attire back right away, and you’ll likely have to pay an additional fee for the extra days.
If you plan on staying in Punta Cana for a couple of weeks, you can always send back your groom’s attire with a trusted guest or bridesmaid and have them take it back for you.
Here are a few places to either purchase or rent your groom’s wedding attire from.
Where to Purchase Groom Attire
If you want to play it safe and purchase your groom’s attire, here are a couple of recommendations from past Punta Cana Photographer couples:
Where to Rent Groom Attire
If you know your groom is never going to wear his wedding attire again, then renting may be the best option for you. Here is a list of popular companies to rent your groom attire for the big day:
Now that you have some options for groom attire and where to get it, let’s move right along and talk about some wedding accessories.
Groom Accessories
Once your man is dressed from head to toe, he can start to add accessories to complete his look. Since it’s a beach wedding, you really get to mix and match whatever feels right, and he can go as big or as simple as he wants. Even a tie, shoes, and a belt (which seem standard for any wedding) are completely optional for a destination wedding.
Think about your wedding style, the vibe you want to create, and how you want your groom to feel on your wedding day.
If you’re going for a more formal look, you’ll want to include most of the accessories listed below. But if you’re going more casual, he may not wear any of these at all. It’s completely up to you and your groom!
Get creative and have some fun with it. Here are some options that help spice up your groom’s wedding day look:
Add a bowtie
Or a tie instead
Keep your tie in place with a tie clip
Add a pocket square to wipe those tears away
Add some cufflinks for style
Don’t be late, wear a watch
And you can’t forget the wedding band!
Match your belt
How about some suspenders?
Get some funky socks
And some nice shoes
How about a boutonniere?
Or a hat
Bring a flask
And your favorite sunglasses
There you have it! All of the groom accessories you could possibly need. Mix and match to create the perfect wedding day look.
Check out How to Prepare for Your Getting Ready for more tips on what to lay out for photos and what to wear when the photographer arrives so that your wedding photos look absolutely stunning.
Final Thoughts
You’re now one step closer to your wedding day! I hope you connected with some of the wedding photos and groom attire ideas, and you now have a clearer idea of what you’d like your groom to wear for the big day.
Whether you’re having a black-tie affair or a casual beach wedding, you can rest assured knowing your groom will be looking handsome, sexy, and amazing standing by your side!
And don’t forget:
If you need a photographer for the big day, our team would LOVE to be there for you. Feel free to contact us to learn more about our photo and video packages.
