Male Wedding Officiant Attire Ideas & Etiquette
If you’re wondering what a male wedding officiant should wear, here are some great ideas that will complement the rest of your wedding attire.
So, what should a male wedding officiant wear? The officiate should ask the bride if she has a preference for his attire. Otherwise, a black or grey suit, a light-colored shirt, and a tie that is similar to the groom and his groomsmen. The officiant attire should not distract or stand out too much from the bride and groom.
Here are some great ideas for what a male wedding officiant should wear that is appropriate and complementary to the wedding.
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Male Wedding Officiant Attire Etiquette
A wedding officiant should ask the bride what would be appropriate to wear. The bride might have a specific wedding theme with matching attire. Also, the officiant is in most of the couple’s wedding ceremony photos, so they’ll want to make sure they’re not wearing something distracting and outlandish.
If the bride doesn’t have a preference for what the male officiant should wear, here are a few things for the officiant to think about.
Consider the formality and the venue. Is the bride planning a traditional or formal wedding in a hotel or church? Maybe the wedding is rustic, outdoor, on the beach, or more casual. If you’re not sure, ask the bride what the theme and venue will be.
For example, if the wedding is a rustic theme where the groom and groomsmen will be wearing jeans and vests, the bride might not want the officiant to wear a tux or suit. At the very least, you might want to tell your officiant to wear a suit without a tie.
What is the color palette? Find out what the color scheme of the wedding will be. You may want to ask the bride what the groom and groomsmen will be wearing. If you’re wearing tan, you might not want to show up in a black suit. Keep your colors neutral and make sure that the bride and groom are front and center with you, the officiant, only in the background.
Additionally, you’ll want to wear a tie that matches the wedding colors so that you don’t end up wearing a color that clashes with the rest of the wedding party and decor.
Stick with solids. No matter what color you end up wearing, stick to solid colors and no patterns. Try to stay away from plaids and stripes. Even your tie should be solid or a subtle pattern.
Make sure you’re comfortable. You’ll be on your feet the entire time and the focus will be on everything you say. People will notice your body language if you’re uncomfortable.
Formal Wedding Officiant Attire
The male wedding officiant shouldn’t look like the groom and groomsmen. If they’re not wearing tuxes, then the wedding officiant shouldn’t wear a tux.
However, if they are dressing up in tuxedos, then it might be appropriate for the officiant to do the same. Otherwise, he could wear a nice black suit (or whatever color matches the wedding party).
Casual Wedding Officiant Attire
Unless the bride instructs otherwise, the wedding officiant should still dress up slightly for a casual wedding. The wedding officiant’s role is a very important part of the couple’s special day so the officiant should dress the part.
For a casual wedding, a simple pair of dress slacks and a white button-up shirt. The officiant could also wear a suit jacket without a tie.
However, the bride might ask for the officiant to wear a nice pair of jeans with a white button-up shirt if the wedding theme is casual and rustic.
In Conclusion
When in doubt, male wedding officiants should ask the bride what her preference for his attire. She will more than likely have an idea of what she wants the officiant to wear.
The theme, colors, and general feel of the wedding will determine what is appropriate for the male wedding officiant to wear.
