Once upon a time, the wedding was all about the bride and her gown. Today, the groom wants to look just as good! Here are some ideas for suit hire that will have your bridal party looking fabulous at the ceremony as well as the wedding reception.

Who needs a suit?

The following people should be thought of when choosing your formal wear:

• Groom,
• Best Man,
• Groomsmen,
• Ushers,
• Ring Bearer,
• Fathers of the Bride and Groom, and
• Grandparents.

Start early

Whatever you do, don’t leave suit hire until the last minute! According to the experts, you should book suits about four months in advance. The bridal party will need to be available for fittings, and should leave enough time for any necessary alternations and adjustments.

While professional hire companies will be able to advise you on style, fit and availability, you will be able to make a more informed choice about your suit hire if you’ve done some of your own research. Check out men’s fashion magazines, catalogues and websites and ask friends and family members who have been recently married about their suit choices.

What to wear

There is a wide selection of suits available for hire in a wide variety of colours, textures and fabrics. When deciding on suits you should take into account comfort, climate and the style and theme of the wedding.

Generally, the groom and his attendants will be dressed similarly with a small feature distinguishing the groom, whether it is a different colour cravat, boutonniere, shirt, or even suit. Also, the groom should have something in his outfit that matches the bride, while the groomsmen should have something that matches the bridesmaids.

Where to Go

Once you have some idea of what you want, the best thing to do is to shop around. By visiting a few different companies, you will be able to get a good idea of the range and quality available. A good suit hire company will stock the latest fashions and offer a variety of styles and colours. Some companies will provide additional services, such as home visiting and a delivery and pick-up service, which will make your wedding planning that bit easier. Also make sure you ask around about costs and the policy on returns and repairs.

Just before the big day

It is a great idea to get the bridal party to try on all hired items a week before the wedding, to make sure everything fits and looks just perfect. Make sure to confirm the appointment time for any final fittings and suit collection/ delivery and return/pick up. Finally, relax and enjoy how fabulous your bridal party looks in well chosen suits!