Summer is the most popular season for weddings, with picturesque blue skies and sun late into the evening. However, this presents a challenge for men when thinking of summer wedding suit ideas.
British summers are typically hot and humid. Plus, if you’re attending a destination wedding or a beach wedding, you’re going to be even hotter. The warm weather makes it less than ideal for wearing a dark wool three-piece suit. With so many suit options available, choosing the perfect summer suit for a wedding can be confusing.
This helpful guide will cover the best fabrics and colours for a men’s summer wedding suit. So, you can easily stay cool whilst looking elegant and refined.
Which fabric is best for a summer wedding suit?
If you’ve been invited to a summer wedding, it’s essential to choose a suitable fabric to help keep you cool. When choosing your perfect suit, you should consider weight, texture, and breathability. You’ll want to look for natural, lightweight fabrics with an open weave to ensure comfort.
Wool
Traditionally, men’s wedding suits are made from pure wool. However, wool suits are usually heavy and not ideal for summer weddings. If you’re set on a wool suit, try opting for light wool, an open weave wool, or a wool blend.
One example of open-weave wool is hopsack. This wool has a basket weave texture, is very lightweight, breathable, and doesn’t crease easily. It’s the perfect casual choice for a relaxed summer wedding.
You can also choose an unlined or partially lined wool jacket. Half-lined jackets don’t have lining at the back of the suit jacket, which allows for greater airflow and ventilation. Quarter-lined jackets only line the sleeves and shoulders. The lighter the wool and the less lining, the better you will feel wearing the suit on a hot summer’s day!
Tweed
Like wool, tweed is another classic suit material. Although some people perceive it as quaint and old-fashioned, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Nowadays, many tweed suits are cut in a modern style and come in a wide range of colours, making it easy to find a tweed suit that fits your taste.
Tweed was traditionally made from 100% wool but is now blended with other fabrics to produce a lighter and more versatile suit material. If you’re considering a tweed suit for a summer wedding, you should opt for a lightweight tweed fabric. Although it’s still not the most breathable option for a summer wedding, this will help keep you as cool as possible.
Linen
One of the popular suit materials for summer weddings is linen. Fabrics like linen are lightweight with high breathability because it’s made from natural flax fibres. This material’s open weave allows your body heat to escape easily while fresh air flows in to help keep you cool and comfortable.
It’s also a natural fabric, so it helps to wick moisture away from your body. This helps to avoid feeling sticky after you’ve been in the suit for a couple of hours.
However, one of the downsides of choosing a linen suit is that they tend to crumple easily. A linen-cotton blend suit is usually more wrinkle-resistant if you’re concerned about lines and creases.
Cotton
Cotton is another versatile fabric that’s incredibly summer friendly. A cotton suit doesn’t drape as elegantly as a traditional wool jacket, giving it a loose and casual feel. This means cotton suits are perfect for relaxed daytime weddings. The natural material is lightweight and breathable, so you won’t need to ditch your suit jacket partway through the wedding.
However, like linen, cotton is prone to wrinkling and creasing. They’ll never look as crisp or sharp as a wool suit, so they aren’t ideal for formal weddings.
Seersucker
This is an excellent alternative to traditional suit fabrics for summer weddings. Seersucker has risen in popularity recently, especially in the US, and is the perfect choice for a relaxed summer fit. The name seersucker is derived from the Persian phrase ‘shir-o-shakhar’, meaning ‘milk and sugar’. This name comes from its unique puckered texture.
Its unique wrinkled effect means the fabric doesn’t technically crease, making it incredibly durable. This texture also creates pockets of air, allowing more air to circulate, which helps keep you cool in the summer heat.
What colour suit is best for a summer wedding?
When it comes to summer weddings, consider ditching the traditional dark suit colours and opting for lighter and brighter colours instead. Dark colours tend to retain heat, so a dark suit makes it easy to overheat. Lighter colours will feel cooler and help keep you comfortable throughout the ceremony and reception.
A brightly coloured suit will also match better with the look and feel of a summer wedding. This is especially true for more relaxed or casual weddings where a black suit would feel entirely out of place! Whatever suit colour you choose, ensure it fits the wedding dress code.
Light grey
A light grey suit is perfect if you’re uncomfortable with brighter colours. Light grey works with most skin tones and is a great way to look formal while keeping cool. This classic colour pairs well with colourful ties and accessories. A light grey suit makes the perfect smart-casual statement.
Pale blue
A light blue suit is the perfect muted option for a summer wedding. It’s light and airy without being overly formal. It’s ideal for wedding guests who want to look refreshed and casual. A pale blue suit pairs perfectly with brown accessories or a more vibrant tie for a pop of colour.
Beige
Brown, beige, or khaki are also great colours for a summer wedding. Like grey, they are neutral tones, so they pair well with different coloured shirts and ties. They look stylish and relaxed, making them a great choice for semi-formal weddings.
White
White is becoming increasingly popular for both wedding guests and grooms. If you’re a guest, it’s best to check if the bride and groom are okay with you wearing white. A white or cream suit looks incredibly sleek and sophisticated. You can opt for all-white or pair a white blazer with black tuxedo trousers.
How Phillip Alexander can help
If you plan on attending a summer wedding and want to look sophisticated while keeping cool, we can help.
Phillip Alexander Bespoke Tailors are experts at dressing gentlemen. Based in London and Cheshire, we have been creating elegant bespoke suits since 1876. From dinner jackets to morning suits, tuxedos to trousers, and tailored shirts to ties, we can create a unique garment that suits your personal style so that you can look your best on the summer wedding day.
We offer a range of tailoring services, including bespoke suits, semi-bespoke ‘made to measure’ suits, and tailored suit hire.
If you want to look sophisticated and elegant wearing a luxurious, high-quality suit at a summer wedding, then get in contact with us today to request an appointment.
