Men’s Summer Wedding Attire: A Complete and Practical Guide

When June rolls around, days are often longer and much hotter. This is why summer wedding attire for men can be tricky. I’m here to help you figure this out functionally and aesthetically.

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Summer and early fall are the most common times for weddings. I’m in my mid-30s, so the first wave of marriages among my friend group just passed. Some are moving on to children, and others to second marriages. In the coming years, my summers will be filled with weddings again.

As such, I’ve become quite the expert when it comes to men’s summer wedding attire. In many ways, fall wedding attire and spring wedding attire are easier to dress for. The former lends itself to suit dressing, while the latter often employs romantic palettes.

And if you’re wondering what to wear to a summer outdoor wedding, I’ve got you there, too.

I have a natural and innate sense of style for warm weather. I grew up in Los Angeles. My mother worked in fashion and was a stickler for dress codes. 

So, even if I was attending an outdoor wedding on a 95-degree day in August, I was fully-suited. Yes, two layers of long sleeves on each arm, a tie around my sweaty neck.

Here’s all of my wisdom when it comes to accommodating dress codes and weather for your next summer wedding.

4 Men’s Summer Wedding Attire: Groom and Groomsmen

First of all, if you’re the groom, you and your bride-to-be can set the tone however you want. If you’ve decided to go full casual for your wedding, go for it. If you want black-tie nuptials, be my guest.

If you’re in the groom’s wedding party, you follow suit — literally. Here’s what I mean by all of that.

Summer Wedding Outfits Men: Hot Weather Men’s Casual Summer Wedding Attire

If you’re going for a highly casual wedding, then there really aren’t any rules. 

I’ve seen couples throw casual Hawaiian weddings with the groom and groomsmen in silk aloha shirts. The couples gave each other ceremonial leis.

Summer lends itself to loose casual clothing. But, as the groom, you still want to acknowledge the special day with your outfit.

A silk-blend button-up with linen pants and loafers, for example. It takes minimal effort, and it’s still elegant. You can have your groomsmen wear something similar in coordinated colors.

Or, since there’s no real dress code, you can just have fun with your outfit. Perhaps you have a patterned suit jacket that you never found an occasion for. Well, your wedding is your day. And it’s her day, too, so make sure she approves!

If you’re a groomsman and you don’t have any direction about what to wear, check with the groom. Make sure to match his aesthetic and his level of formality. 

Men’s Beach Wedding Attire for Grooms and Groomsmen: Summer Wedding Dress Code

Beach weddings can be as casual as the aforementioned section describes.

Or they can fall anywhere from smart casual to a full suit-and-tie situation. Since you’re at the beach, you can have fun with colors and fabrics. Pastels, which are great in spring, are also perfect for the beach, even if just as accents.

You can opt for a beige, light slate gray, cool tan, or blue suit. Then, go for a light pastel dress shirt (light blue is technically a pastel). Or, just stick to classic white and go for a sherbert-toned tie.

If you prefer a more understated look, you can always just opt for a dark tie, too.

Suits in chambray, linen, and silk blends are perfect for beach wedding attire. They’re lightweight yet structured and offer a formal yet relaxed look with a coastal cool vibe.

Seersucker is definitely a bit dandy, but if there’s an appropriate summer wedding, it’s at the beach. You can also wear a full linen suit with seersucker accents (perhaps a vest) and have your groomsmen wear full seersucker suits.

Again, it’s totally up to you how to do your beach wedding. However, having some visual through-line between you and your groomsmen is customary.

When it comes to shoes, always consider what you’ll be walking on. If you’re setting up a stable walkway or are doing it on a boardwalk, you can opt for traditional dress shoes. 

For extra casual weddings, you can even go for casual leather loafers, low-profile white sneakers, or, heck, even barefoot. Just make sure these unconventional nuances are obvious in the invite so your guests don’t show up feeling overdressed or underdressed.

Formal Dress Codes: How To Achieve It in Hot Weather

There isn’t a right or wrong season for white-tie and black-tie weddings. You can always go for a formal dress code if that’s your style.

Traditional tuxedos aren’t always the more breathable option, though. I recommend having the ceremony indoors. You know, where there’s air-conditioning.

However, I acknowledge that I’m no wedding planner. Nor do I want anyone to have to compromise their dream wedding,

Or you can choose a nice cool evening, say, in early June. Besides, black-tie’s evening attire.

Otherwise, you can opt for their less common daytime counterparts, which offer slightly more breathable attire.

The daytime equivalent of a white-tie ensemble is a morning dress suit. This features a morning coat, which is long in the back, a waistcoat, and flowy gray trousers (often striped). You can also wear a tophat and a tie pin for extra pizazz.