Top 20 tips for grooms

If you’re not a keen shopper at the best of times, now is the time to ask for help. It will be more fun, less stressful and will help prevent any bad buys.

Set a realistic budget and stick to it.
Start your shopping early, especially if you are having garments made or altered. Tailors require a lot of warning, and alterations take time.
Don’t rush into anything. Read lots of magazines, but if you haven’t been inspired, consult a professional.
Get accurately measured for everything.
Don’t go for tight-fitting wedding clothes. They may look cool, but will be pretty uncomfortable during the reception feast.
Ask your bride for details about her dress so you can coordinate your outfit with hers.
Consider your suit hire options. Alongside traditional suits, there are lounge suits, and dress suits with longer-style jackets. But make sure you’re comfortable.
A morning suit is usually black in the morning and grey in the afternoon.
Dinner suits and black ties are normally reserved for formal evening weddings.
If you’re wearing a cravat, a high-necked waistcoat will keep the cravat tucked in.
On some complexions an ivory shirt can look better than a stark white one.
Wash and iron your shirt the day before so you don’t end up with fold marks or creases.
Trousers should be the right length – not too long, nor too short – and the jacket sleeves should allow for one centimetre of the shirt to be seen.
Buy your shoes a month before the wedding and wear them in, as blisters are not the best accompaniment to your first dance.
Always leave the bottom button of your waistcoat undone.
Match your tie or handkerchief to a colour in your waistcoat, as all the same colour can look too solid.
If you’re wearing a traditional morning suit, only the groom and bestman are supposed to wear cravats. The other groomsmen and fathers should wear ties.
If you’re wearing a kilt, forget tradition — undergarments are usually worn these days.
Your buttonhole should match the flowers of your bride’s bouquet.
Have a professional shave and manicure the morning of your wedding. You’ll be relaxed, nick-free and your hands will look beautiful when you exchange rings.