Father of the Groom Outfit Guide UK

The father of the groom is one of the most visible people at a wedding — he’s in the family photos, he may give a speech, and he’ll be greeting guests all day. Yet there’s almost no guidance online about what he should wear. Most menswear guides focus on the groom, and most “father of” guides focus on the bride’s parents.

This guide fills that gap with practical UK advice.

What to wear by wedding formality

Formal wedding (morning suit)

A morning suit is the traditional choice for formal UK weddings, particularly at churches, stately homes, and country house venues.

The outfit:

• Grey or black tailcoat
• Waistcoat (grey, buff, or a colour that complements the wedding palette)
• Striped trousers
• White or pastel shirt
• Cravat or tie
• Patent or polished leather shoes

Cost: Hire for £80-150 from Moss Bros, Slaters, or a local formalwear shop. Buying costs £500-1,500+.

Tip: If the groom and groomsmen are wearing morning suits, the father of the groom should match the style. A lounge suit next to a row of morning suits looks undercooked.

Semi-formal wedding (lounge suit)

The most common choice for the majority of UK weddings — hotels, barns, restaurants, and marquees.

The outfit:

• Two-piece or three-piece suit
• White or light blue shirt
• Tie, slim tie, or knitted tie (match to wedding colour scheme)
• Pocket square
• Polished Oxford or Derby shoes

Best colours:

Colour	When It Works
Navy	The safest choice. Works at any wedding, any season
Charcoal	Formal feel without being black. Good for autumn/winter
Mid grey	Lighter, works well in spring/summer
Blue-grey	Modern, flattering on most skin tones
Tan / light brown	Summer and outdoor weddings only

Avoid: Black (looks funereal at a wedding, unless specifically requested), white or cream (reserved for the bride), and anything too bright or patterned.

Casual wedding (blazer and trousers)

For relaxed outdoor weddings, garden parties, or intimate celebrations.

The outfit:

• Smart blazer (navy, grey, or linen in summer)
• Trousers or chinos (not jeans)
• Open-collar shirt or shirt with a casual tie
• Loafers or smart brogues

Coordinating with the wedding party

Talk to the groom first. Ask what he’s wearing, what the groomsmen are wearing, and what the colour scheme is. You don’t want to clash.

Talk to the father of the bride. You don’t need to match each other, but you should be at the same level of formality. If he’s wearing a morning suit and you turn up in a blazer (or vice versa), it’ll be noticeable in photos.

Coordinate, don’t match. Matching ties, pocket squares, or buttonholes can tie the fathers’ outfits to the wedding party without being identical. Ask the bride or wedding planner for colour swatches.

Accessories

Buttonhole: The father of the groom traditionally wears a buttonhole (boutonniere). The florist will provide this — it usually matches the groom’s but is slightly smaller.

Tie or cravat: Match to the wedding colour scheme. A cravat with a morning suit; a tie with a lounge suit.

Pocket square: A subtle fold in a complementary colour adds polish without effort.

Cufflinks: Smart but not flashy. Silver or gold-tone. Some couples gift personalised cufflinks to the fathers.

Shoes: Polished, dark leather. Oxford shoes for formal, Derby or brogues for semi-formal. Break them in before the wedding — you’ll be on your feet for 12 hours.

Watch: A classic leather-strap or metal watch. Leave the Apple Watch at home.

Buying vs hiring

	Hiring	Buying
Cost	£80-150	£150-500 (high street), £500-1,500 (tailored)
Best for	Morning suits, one-off formal events	Lounge suits you’ll wear again
Fit	Decent but not tailored to you	Can be altered for perfect fit
Comfort	Variable — not your suit	Worn in, familiar
Timing	Book 6-8 weeks before, final fitting 1-2 weeks before	Buy 8-12 weeks before, alterations take 2-4 weeks

Recommendation: Hire a morning suit (you’ll rarely wear it again). Buy a lounge suit (you’ll wear it to every event for the next 5 years).

Where to buy or hire

High street suits (£150-400): Marks & Spencer, Charles Tyrwhitt, Moss Bros, TM Lewin, Next Mid-range (£400-800): Reiss, Ted Baker, Hugo Boss Premium (£800-1,500): Savile Row tailors, independent UK tailors Hire (£80-150): Moss Bros, Slaters, local formalwear shops

Timeline

When	What to Do
3-4 months before	Discuss outfit plans with the groom and father of the bride
2-3 months before	Start shopping or browsing hire options
8 weeks before	Book hire fitting or buy the suit
4-6 weeks before	Alterations appointment (if buying)
2 weeks before	Final fitting (hire) or collect altered suit
1 week before	Lay out full outfit, break in shoes, check all accessories
Day before	Steam or press the suit, polish shoes

Further reading

• Menswear Suppliers — find suit hire and tailors on Weddings Hub
• Wedding Day Timeline — what happens when on the day