What to Wear to a Wedding in Warwickshire — A Gentleman’s Guide

A gentleman attending a wedding in Warwickshire has, in our experience, one of two concerns. The first is what to buy for the occasion. The second is whether what he already owns will still do the job. In either case, the advice is the same: it is better to be slightly overdressed than manifestly underprepared.

F. Hazell Smith has been helping the gentlemen of Warwickshire prepare for weddings since 1902 — from small parish church ceremonies in Kenilworth and Rugby to grand occasions at Warwick Castle, Stoneleigh Abbey, Mallory Court and the county’s finest country houses. What follows is our considered guidance.

Understanding the Dress Code

Most British weddings now specify a dress code on the invitation. The most common are:

• Black tie — a dinner jacket, dress trousers, white dress shirt and a bow tie. Never a long tie. The self-tie bow is always preferred; a pre-tied bow tie is acceptable only if no alternative is available.
• Morning dress — a morning coat, waistcoat, striped trousers, top hat and a carefully chosen tie or cravat. This is most commonly requested for formal church weddings and for those in the wedding party.
• Lounge suit — the standard for most British weddings. A two or three-piece suit in navy, charcoal, grey or a subtle check, worn with a shirt and tie.
• Smart casual — a blazer or sport coat with well-cut trousers. Not jeans. Not trainers.

The Lounge Suit: Getting It Right

For the overwhelming majority of Warwickshire weddings, a lounge suit is the appropriate choice. The difficulty lies in choosing correctly within that broad brief — and in ensuring the suit fits properly.

Navy is the most versatile and forgiving choice. A navy suit in a medium-weight wool — single-breasted, two-button — can be worn with a white or pale blue shirt and a silk tie to practically any daytime wedding. It will not date, and it will serve again at funerals, interviews, dinners and any subsequent occasion that demands the same level of respect.

Charcoal is a close second — slightly more formal, equally versatile. Mid-grey is attractive but harder to wear well, as it demands a sharper eye for what accompanies it. Checks and windowpane patterns in muted tones are entirely appropriate and add a degree of character that a plain cloth cannot.

The Waistcoat Question

A waistcoat transforms a suit. It adds formality, it gives the jacket somewhere to go when a gentleman removes it after the ceremony, and it solves the problem of a shirt that might otherwise be on display in an unflattering way. For wedding guests, we would always recommend considering a waistcoat — particularly for summer weddings where the jacket may come off.

For the wedding party itself, a matching waistcoat as part of a three-piece suit gives a uniformity and formality that is particularly appropriate. Our waistcoat range includes formal wool, tweed country styles and wedding options in a range of colours and fits.

Shoes and the Rest

Black shoes with a navy or charcoal suit: Oxfords or brogues are both correct. Brown shoes with a grey suit or a blazer outfit are equally acceptable and arguably more interesting. Whatever the choice, the shoes should be clean and polished. This is not a detail the other guests will miss.

A pocket square is not compulsory, but it demonstrates an attention to the occasion that a bare breast pocket does not. A white linen square in a flat fold is never wrong. Something more expressive — a silk square in a complementary colour — is appropriate for a man who is confident about what he is doing with it.

A Note on Fit

The most expensive suit fits badly if it has never been properly altered. Equally, a modestly priced suit, correctly fitted to the man wearing it, will carry itself considerably above its station. F. Hazell Smith carries out alterations in-house — sleeve length, trouser hem, body suppression — because the fit is the thing. It is what distinguishes a dressed man from a man wearing clothes.

Come to us with your invitation and the date. We will advise on what you need, what you already own that may serve, what requires altering, and what ought to be replaced. We are at 73–75 Regent Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5DX, Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. We welcome customers from across Warwickshire: Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby and Coventry.