When it comes to men’s fashion, there’s nothing worse than being a cliché. And there’s nothing more cliché than the belief that men aren’t and can’t be stylish or that they—we—don’t care about appearance.
And nothing is worse than not looking your best on your wedding day. Do you want to look back at those pictures and cringe, or do you want to look and feel your best on this (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime occasion?
We’ll start simple and teach you how to match your suit and ring. After all, the devil’s in the details, so instead of looking back and deciding you can’t put your finger on what went wrong, let’s figure things out.
LET’S TALK METALS
Sorry, it’s not heavy metal as in the music genre—if you’re into that. Today we’re talking rings and rings alone. While not exhaustive, the following are the most traditional types of men’s wedding bands: yellow gold, white gold (or silver), platinum, rose gold, and titanium. Of course, mixed metals are starting to gain some steam, so don’t shy away from something with a little visual interest.
There’s a lot of talk about which metal type matches which undertone, but we won’t get into that because all that matters is what you like, not what others prefer. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all.
DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START? HERE ARE OUR TIPS
While the best wedding band and suit combo is of course subject to personal preference, a few style tips and tricks won’t hurt anybody.
Again, details are key here. Learning how to match your suit and ring starts and ends with cohesiveness—everything from your socks, belt, tie, and cufflinks to hell—your wedding colors! If everything seems to be leaning toward a certain color story, it’s best to match, not mix (unless you’re fully committing to mixing metals). So, if your watch is yellow gold and your wedding colors are warm, you might want your wedding band and suit combo to follow—er, suit. Think tan, maroon, burnt orange, etc. Likewise, if silver is the common thread, blues and greys will go nicely with your wedding band and other accessories.
But, a moment for mixed metals. Mixing metals is also about balance and equality. Having one gold accent in a sea of silver will look accidental, not intentional. Likewise, something rose gold in a sea of yellow gold or titanium will make perceptive guests think your three-year-old ring bearer dressed you for the big day. A 1:1 mixing ratio typically works best, but again, you know what you like. Decisiveness leads to confidence which just adds to your attractiveness (but maybe clear whatever you choose with your bride first).
ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES TO YOUR #1 ACCESSORY
Now that you have an idea of how to match your suit and ring, let’s address the rest of you (what you’re wearing, anyway; this isn’t a personality assessment). Formality is a variable with weddings. Some might go black or white tie, some might want something laid back and casual, and some need something in between. In any case, there’s a hierarchy for your bells and whistles.
BELTS
Canvas styles are considered casual. Formality increases with the quality of leather and simplicity of stitching until you ultimately reach black-tie dress codes where suspenders are more appropriate.
TIES
For ties, it’s important to remember that the tie is the accessory, not the suit. Ties should come last when constructing and curating your formal fit. If you’re playing with patterns, a general rule of thumb is that the tie pattern should be bigger than the shirt pattern. As far as color is concerned, lean into complementary, triad, or analogous colors, and remember that cooler tones tend to be more versatile while warm colors are more eye-catching and trickier to match.
BLING
Finally, the fun stuff. We’re talking watches, cufflinks, glasses, bracelets, necklaces, tie bars, and, of course, rings. Humans are magpies; we’re drawn in by shiny accents. So, with that in mind, keep it simple with jewelry. Tasteful accents can complement your suit well while also leaning into your personal style, but it can be easy to overdo it. Balance and symmetry are key, so don’t give all your love to one side and leave the other commando. That’s just asking for a visual disaster. Lastly, think about how your drip will tie into that wedding ring you’ve selected.
NOW, SUIT UP—OR SHOULD WE SAY RING UP?
