Beach weddings are inherently more laid back than formal ceremonies, but a guy still should look his best on the big day. No matter how relaxed the venue, your soon-to-be spouse should bring his A game. Whether he prefers a suit, suspenders (sans jacket), khakis or jeans, there are several ways to nail the seaside groom style without appearing sloppy (or sweaty). Ahead, 12 ideas for looking and feeling cool when exchanging vows in the sand.
Open Button-Up Shirts
Particularly if you’re planning a summer beach wedding, you might be facing warm temperatures and high humidity. The ideal beach wedding attire for men allows them to stay comfortable while still looking sharp. A white shirt with the top two buttons unbuttoned is classic and ensures that your groom looks great on the most important day of your lives.
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Banana Republic Slim-Fit Tech-Stretch Cotton Solid Shirt, $79.50; bananarepublic.com
Lorenzo Uomo Trim Fit Solid Dress Shirt, $95; nordstrom.com
Brooks Brothers Regent Fitted Dress Shirt, Non-Iron Herringbone, $120; brooksbrothers.com
Tie & Jeans
Keep him casual but cool in jeans, a button-up shirt and a sleek tie. Be sure to stick to clean denim (with no distressing) in medium blue to darker washes for a look that’s dressed up but still beach friendly.
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Turnbull & Asser Neat Dot Silk Classic Tie, $195; nordstrom.com
J.Crew Mercantile Silk Tie, $19.50; jcrew.com
Alfani Men’s Stripe Slim Silk Tie, $30.99 (orig. $52.50); macys.com
AG Tellis Slim Fit Jeans, $215; nordstrom.com
Levi’s Straight-Leg Jeans, $39.99 (orig. $59.50); kohls.com
Express Slim Dark Wash Stretch Jeans, $79.90; express.com
Hats & Bow Ties
Beautiful sunny weather makes for great wedding photos — but a squinting groom does not. Deck him out in a summery hat complemented by a stylish bow tie for a festive look that’s fashionable and functional.
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Bailey of Hollywood Brooks Poet Fedora, $140; bloomingdales.com
Barbisio Parasisol Straw Fedora, $230; saksfifthavenue.com
Country Gentlemen Men’s Durell Fedora, $40; macys.com
Rooster Floral Pre-Tied Bow Tie, $40; kohls.com
Ralph Lauren Purple Label Navy Silk Satin Bow Tie, $155; ralphlauren.com
The Tie Bar Bulletin Dot Bow Tie Box, $30; tiebar.com
Breathable Fabrics
When trying to decide on a jacket for your groom, you ideally want to find one in a breathable, light fabric. Cotton, linen and seersucker are all smart choices for beach wedding attire for men.
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Moss London Skinny Blazer in Seersucker, $125; asos.com
Michael Kors Mens Cotton and Linen Blazer, $149 (orig. $298); michaelkors.com
J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket in Cotton-Linen, $168; jcrew.com
Light Gray Suits
A popular beach groom attire choice because of its versatility, the light grey suit is a stylish compromise between casual and black tie. Bonus: This neutral works with any wedding color scheme, which means you can play around with your palette, worry free.
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Van Heusen Men’s Slim-Fit Stretch Solid Suit, $395; macys.com
Boohoo Light Grey Textured Skinny Fit Suit Jacket, $55 (orig. $110); us.boohoo.com
Boohoo Light Grey Textured Skinny Fit Suit Trouser, $25 (orig. $50); us.boohoo.com
Theory Gansevoort Solid Slubbed Summer Slim Fit Suit Jacket, $595; bloomingdales.com
Theory Mayer Solid Slubbed Summer Slim Fit Suit Pants, $265; bloomingdales.com
Hawaiian Inspiration
Getting married on a beach in Hawaii? Lucky you! Use your island destination as inspiration and outfit your groom in a white shirt and khaki pants, then top it off with a maile lei.
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Van Heusen Regular-Fit Stretch Sateen Dress Shirt, $50; kohls.com
Buttoned Down Men’s Classic Fit Cutaway-Collar Solid Non-Iron Dress Shirt, $39; amazon.com
David Donahue Regular Fit Solid Dress Shirt, $135; nordstrom.com
Gap Original Khakis in Relaxed Fit, $36 (orig. $59.95); gap.com
Dockers Straight Fit Easy Flex Khaki Pant, $27.99 (orig. $50); zappos.com
Express Slim Chambray Khaki Dress Pant, $69.90; express.com
Sherbet Accents
Beach weddings are often relaxed and lighthearted affairs, so don’t be afraid to let your groom have some fun with his look. Add a playful pop to his neutral suit with sherbet-color accents like mint, coral and pink.
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Stafford Bow Tie Set, $19.99 (orig. $40); jcpenney.com
Barneys New York Textured Silk Necktie, $165; barneys.com
Southern Tide Del Rio Plaid Silk Tie, $75; nordstrom.com
Preppy Style
Nothing says debonair like a navy suit (just ask Prince Harry, who favors this hue). This preppy look is especially fitting if you’re exchanging vows on the East Coast, where it can get a little chillier, particularly in the off season.
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Van Heusen Men’s Slim-Fit Stretch Bright Navy Solid Suit, $395; macys.com
Perry Ellis Men’s Two Piece Finished Bottom Slim Fit Suit, $86.16-$129.99; amazon.com
H&M Blazer Skinny Fit, $79.99; hm.com
H&M Suit Pants Skinny Fit, $34.99; hm.com
Rolled Up Sleeves & Suspenders
If the weather is warm, your groom may want to go sans jacket. Dress up his casual look by having him roll up his sleeves and add vintage-inspired suspenders.
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Topman Gray Stripe Skinny Suspenders, $30; topman.com
Wembley Tubular Seersucker Suspenders, $24; kohls.com
H&M Suspenders, $9.99; hm.com
Flip Flops
No one likes sand in their shoes! Help your groom put his best foot forward at your beach wedding with a pair of leather flip-flops.
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Hari Mari Fields Flip Flop, $59.95; nordstrom.com
Scott Hawaii Men’s Kahu’a, $54; amazon.com
Crevo Morelos Leather Flip Flop, $29 (orig. $50); nordstromrack.com
Sensible Loafers
Or, if sandals just aren’t his thing, find a pair of loafers. They look sharp, and he can easily shake them out after the ceremony.
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Tommy Bahama Orion Leather Loafers, $120; zappos.com
Sandro Moscoloni Dudley Moc Toe Loafer, $135; nordstrom.com
Sperry Men’s Hampden Venetian Loafer, $100; macys.com
Complementary Styles
Ultimately, the most important consideration when he’s deciding what to wear to your beach wedding is that your groom matches you. If you’re wearing a light sundress, he doesn’t need to be wearing a tuxedo. Likewise, if you’re braving the beach in sky-high heels and a mermaid gown, your groom shouldn’t be in jeans and a T-shirt. A navy suit is an ideal middle ground that can be dressed up or down. Either way, his style should complement yours — and vice versa. Now that’s a perfect partnership.
