Quick Answer: What Should a Man Wear to a Rehearsal Dinner?
- The groom: a suit or a sharp sport jacket or blazer, one step dressier than the guests but different from his wedding-day look.
- Guests and groomsmen: usually cocktail or smart casual. A sport jacket or blazer with dress pants and a dress shirt is the safe default.
- Tie: optional for most rehearsal dinners. Follow the invitation or the venue.
- Rule of thumb: dress for the restaurant or venue, and save your best look for the wedding day.
The rehearsal dinner is the night before the wedding, usually a smaller gathering for the wedding party and close family. It's dressier than a backyard barbecue but more relaxed than the wedding itself. Here's what to wear, whether you're the groom or a guest.
How Formal Is a Rehearsal Dinner?
Most rehearsal dinners fall between smart casual and cocktail attire. The venue is the best clue:
- Backyard, brewery or casual restaurant: smart casual. A sport shirt or polo with dress pants, jacket optional.
- Restaurant or private dining room: business casual to cocktail. A sport jacket or blazer, dress shirt and dress pants.
- Upscale venue or formal dinner: cocktail attire. A suit, with or without a tie.
If the invitation names a dress code, follow it. Not sure what cocktail attire means? See our guide to cocktail attire for men.
What Should the Groom Wear?
The groom should look a step more polished than the guests, without previewing his wedding-day outfit.
- If you're wearing a tuxedo on the wedding day, wear a suit in navy, charcoal or a rich colour like brown or green to the rehearsal dinner. Shop suits.
- If you're wearing a navy suit on the wedding day, choose a different colour or a textured sport jacket or blazer for the dinner, so the photos feel different.
- Tie or no tie: an open collar with a pocket square feels relaxed and celebratory; a tie suits a formal restaurant.
- Finish with good shoes: cognac or black oxfords.
What Should Guests and Groomsmen Wear?
- The safe default: a navy or grey sport jacket or blazer, a crisp dress shirt and contrasting dress pants.
- Warm weather or casual venue: skip the jacket and wear a structured polo or a sport shirt with dress pants.
- Dressier venue: a suit worn without a tie, or with a simple silk tie.
- Don't upstage the couple. Keep colours classic and avoid anything that looks like a wedding-party outfit. See how to dress as a wedding guest.
Rehearsal Dinner Outfit Ideas
- Summer patio dinner: light grey sport jacket, white dress shirt, navy dress pants, cognac oxfords, no tie.
- Fall restaurant dinner: brown suit, light blue shirt, no tie, pocket square. See how to wear a brown suit.
- Formal dinner: charcoal suit, white shirt, burgundy silk tie, black oxfords.
- Casual backyard gathering: polo or patterned sport shirt with dress pants and clean leather sneakers.
Planning the rest of the wedding weekend? See our men's wedding dress code guide and our groomsmen attire guide.
FAQ
Should the groom wear a suit to the rehearsal dinner?
Often, yes. A suit or a sharp sport jacket or blazer works well, as long as it's different from what he'll wear on the wedding day.
Do guests need a tie at a rehearsal dinner?
Usually not. A tie is optional unless the invitation or venue calls for something formal.
Can I wear jeans to a rehearsal dinner?
Only if the couple says the dinner is casual. Dress pants are the safer choice.
Shop Rehearsal Dinner Looks at Tip Top
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