Being asked to be the best man is one of the more meaningful invitations a man will receive in his life. It says something about the friendship, the trust and the shared history between the two of you, and the day itself is one where the best man has both a real role to perform and a real place in the photographs that will hang in family homes for decades. The suit worn on that day is not incidental. It is part of how the best man supports the groom, honours the wedding party and shows up correctly for one of the more important days in a friend’s life.
This guide is for anyone who has been asked to stand beside the groom and wants to get the wardrobe right. It walks through how a best man’s suit differs from the groom’s, how to coordinate with the wedding party, how to think about photographs, and the practical considerations that make the difference between dressing correctly for the day and dressing memorably for the wrong reasons.
The best man’s suit has a specific job that other wedding suits do not. It has to support the groom rather than compete with him. It has to sit within the visual identity of the wedding party rather than stand apart from it. It has to hold up to the speeches, the photographs, the reception and the dance floor. And it has to look correct in every photograph the best man appears in, which is more than most wedding party members realise until the album arrives.
The old rule of thumb was that the best man dressed in a slightly less formal or slightly less distinctive version of what the groom was wearing. This still holds broadly. The best man should be clearly part of the wedding party’s aesthetic while ensuring nothing about the outfit draws attention away from the groom on his day.
The first conversation for any best man is with the groom about the wedding party’s dress code. Some grooms have a clear vision they want the best man and groomsmen to follow. Others leave more room for personal choice within a broad set of guidelines. Either way, the coordination conversation has to happen early, ideally as soon as the fitting timeline for the groom’s own suit begins.
Matching the Wedding Party’s Aesthetic
For weddings where the groomsmen are wearing coordinated suits, the best man usually wears the same suit with a small distinction to mark the role. This might be a different tie or bow tie, a different pocket square, a boutonniere that echoes the groom’s rather than the groomsmen’s, or a subtly different waistcoat. The role should be visible without the outfit looking like a costume.
When the Best Man Wears Something Different
For less formal weddings, or weddings where the wedding party has more individual latitude, the best man may wear a suit chosen to complement the groom without matching the groomsmen. In this case the principle is the same: coordinate with the groom’s colour and formality, sit slightly below him in visual weight, and avoid anything that could distract from the couple.
A best man’s suit should follow the body cleanly without being aggressive. A moderate lapel, a natural shoulder, a jacket length that ends at the base of the wrist, trousers that break gently on the shoe. The silhouette should read as considered and correct, which is exactly what a bespoke cut delivers. Off-the-rack suits, however expensive, force compromises in the fit that show in the photographs. For a role that will be photographed intensively across an entire day, bespoke is the more sensible choice.
Explore our range of custom suits to see the fabrics and construction options we work with for best men, groomsmen and wedding party commissions.
A best man’s suit has to hold up through the whole day: the ceremony, the couple photographs, the group photographs, the reception, the speeches and the dance floor. Fabric choice matters.
The best man is a specific role at the wedding, and the outfit can quietly signal that without becoming a costume. The details that traditionally do this are small.
The details should feel intentional. Nothing loud, nothing showy. The point is to look correct within the wedding party’s identity while marking the specific role you have been asked to play.
Unlike the groomsmen, the best man usually delivers a speech. This means the wardrobe is being seen not just in photographs but also from a stage or a head table, in the specific moment when everyone in the room is looking at the best man rather than at the couple. This is not a reason to dress louder. It is a reason to dress correctly. A well fitted suit, quality shirt, a considered tie and neat presentation read as the sign of a best man who has taken the role seriously and prepared properly for the day.
For best men who want the fitting process to match the significance of the role, working with a bespoke tailor who has made wedding party suits for grooms and groomsmen across the world is one of the more useful decisions in the run-up to the wedding.
A bespoke best man’s suit is not a garment to order in the final weeks before the wedding. Ideally the fitting process begins several months out, alongside the groom’s own timeline, to allow for unhurried consultation, fabric selection and at least two fittings. For weddings involving destination travel, the best man’s fitting should be coordinated with the groom’s and, where possible, with the groomsmen so the whole wedding party’s wardrobe is prepared to a consistent standard.
Exclusive Tailor is one of the original bespoke tailoring houses of Patong, Phuket, founded by Johnny and Nitu and run as a family business ever since. Over the years we have made wedding suits for grooms, best men, groomsmen and fathers of the bride from across the world, from beach ceremonies on the island itself to formal receptions in London, New York, Sydney and beyond. Wedding parties come to Phuket specifically for the fitting experience, and where the trip is not possible, our trunk show service brings the same standard of bespoke work to the wedding party’s home city. Every best man’s suit we make is built to sit correctly within the groom’s wedding, to support the role rather than compete with it, and to look right in every photograph the album will hold.
Should the best man match the groom’s suit?
Usually yes, in colour and formality, with a small distinction to mark the role. For weddings where the groomsmen are wearing coordinated suits, the best man typically wears the same suit with a different tie, pocket square or boutonniere to signal the role visually.
What colour should a best man wear?
Coordinate with the groom’s palette. Navy is the safest choice in almost every wedding setting. Mid grey works well for daytime and garden weddings. Charcoal reads as slightly more formal for evening receptions. Lighter colours suit beach and destination weddings.
Should the best man dress as formally as the groom?
Slightly below the groom in visual weight is the traditional rule. This might mean the same suit with less distinctive accessories, or a marginally less formal fabric, so the groom remains the visual focus of the wedding party.
Do I need a bespoke suit as the best man?
For a role that will be photographed intensively across an entire day, bespoke is the sensible choice. The fit compromises of off-the-rack become visible in professional photography, while a bespoke suit photographs correctly in every position across every frame of the album.
How far in advance should I order the best man’s suit?
Several months before the wedding, ideally alongside the groom’s own timeline. Rushing the wedding party’s wardrobes shows in the photographs, and coordinating the fittings across the wedding party makes for a more consistent finished look on the day.
Can I wear the best man’s suit again after the wedding?
Yes, and that is one of the arguments for choosing a classic bespoke suit in a versatile colour. A well made navy or mid grey best man’s suit becomes a lasting wardrobe piece that can be worn to future weddings, formal dinners and business events for many years.
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