Black tie wedding
Black tie has made a huge splash at weddings these days, particularly in 2024, and there was me wondering if the good old blue suit would ever get knocked off its perch!
There’s no denying that a well-tailored dinner jacket and bow tie ensemble can set even the slowest of pulses racing; think James Bond, think Hollywood stars at the Oscars, think Prince Harry (even if you’re slightly annoyed with him). Seeing those crisp, monotone lines obviously does something to us because you lot have gone bananas for black tie, preferring your men folk in this get up more than ever before. Let’s get into the inspo!
© Getty Images. Prince Harry looking suave in a black velvet dinner jacket. Even if you're annoyed with him.
What is ‘black tie’?
Black tie is just that - etiquette dictates it’s a black bow tie accompanied by black trousers and usually a black dinner jacket, though this can be swapped out for a white DJ if you’re feeling a bit boujie. Also, the clue is in the name…. dinner jacket suggests these weddings are held later in the day. Black tie weddings have grown in popularity in the UK undoubtedly because of two things; 1. good old Instagram, and 2. the continuing rise in American influence in the UK. In the United States, weddings are often held later in the day (think late afternoon/early evening) and so a dinner jacket doesn’t sound so crazy now, does it. So just bear in mind whether your 12noon ceremony at a pub really suits a sophisticated black tie aesthetic. No shade here whatever you decide, but it’s always advisable to run with a relevant theme.
Now here’s the rub. Do I love black tie? Well, yes and no. I totally appreciate the aesthetic, a well-fitted dinner jacket / tuxedo undoubtedly looks fab on just about anybody, whether it’s a tall dark handsome fella to a drop dead androgynous look for females or those who identify otherwise.
However, when I take photos of black tie weddings I am always struck by how much a sea of black suits absolutely sucks the colour out of an image. Y’see, kitting your bridal party out in good old classic black can create quite a stark image - black isn’t even technically recognised as a colour on the colour chart. Black hole anyone?
An accompanying conundrum is the popular tendency to pair black tie with crisp, clean white. White flowers, white accessories, black white black white black white. Don’t forget that someone dresses in black tie for a wedding will be standing next to someone likely in a big white dress, so there’s an immediate contrast.
But Sally, what does this all mean, I hear you ask? Well, as ever, I would encourage you tuxedo lovers to invest in some colour for your wedding day. By all means, keep the crisp whites, but also consider injecting even just a teeny weeny bit of colour to bring your photos to life. I can’t overstate how much some colour will *transform* your wedding photos, lifting the image as a whole and ensuring your images don’t look like just a whole bunch of black.
See below - just a smidge of colour in the flowers helps lift this image:
So now I’ve spoken about a bit of colour, let’s chat about the different styles of black tie you can have at your wedding. Do you want only the bridal party in black tie, or do you want all guests to adhere to the black tie dress code? If so, be sure to give them plenty of time to source an appropriate outfit by specifying black tie on your wedding invites six months in advance.
What are the options?
Well, the classic look is a black jacket and trousers, accompanied by smart black shoes, a crisp white shirt and black bow tie. Shirts can be regular or wing collar. Save your white jackets for destination weddings, but don’t be afraid to get a little adventurous with other colours! A velvet dinner jacket can look beaut whether its black, petrol blue, maroon or otherwise. Traditionally a black tie outfit can be accompanied by black patent shoes, a dress shirt (think black shirt studs), a waistcoat, braces, or even a cummerband - but you don’t need all of them at the same time!
Dinner jackets these days come in a variety of styles particularly focusing on the lapel, so whether you’re going for single breasted, double breasted, shawl collar, horseshoe or otherwise, it can really jazz up your formal suit. Why not go for a different fabric like velvet, a different colour, or both?
