The Tailored Man has dressed Washington-area grooms since 1969, and the same questions come up at almost every first fitting: when do I need to start, how formal should we go, and what actually looks good in photos. This guide answers all three – and the venue, season, and formality guides linked below go deeper on each.
The Timeline: Start 4 Months Out
A custom suit at our shop is ready for a first fitting in seven weeks. For a wedding or an event, plan on ordering about twelve weeks ahead. For a wedding, build in margin: come in about 4 months before the date. That leaves time for fabric to arrive, fittings to land comfortably, and a buffer if your weight shifts during wedding season. Inside 8 weeks? Call us – we can often still make it work, but options narrow.
Match the Suit to the Wedding
Black tie (evening, ballroom, gala-style): a tuxedo, full stop – our Black Tie Guide for Washington covers the details, and custom tuxedos start at $1,095. Formal but not black tie (hotel, club, historic estate): a dark suit – midnight navy or charcoal – in a fine worsted. Garden, vineyard, or daytime: lighter colors and textures open up – mid-blue, light grey, even tan or sage in summer. Our DC venue guide matches specific venues to formality levels.
Season Drives Fabric
Washington has real seasons and your suit should respect them. June through September is hot and humid – see our summer wedding suit guide for linen, fresco, and tropical-weight wool. October and November reward flannel, heavier worsteds, and earth tones – covered in the fall wedding suit guide. Spring sits in between: mid-weight wool in mid-blue or grey rarely misses.
Color, Practically
Midnight navy photographs better than black in most light. Charcoal is the safest formal choice. Mid-blue is the modern default for daytime and outdoor weddings. If the wedding palette is set, bring a swatch of the bridesmaid or decor color to your fitting – we’ll pick cloth that sits beside it rather than fighting it. And remember the suit outlives the wedding: choose something you’ll wear again, which is part of why custom beats rental on cost-per-wear (more on that in our DC custom suit pricing guide).
The Groom Should Read Differently
The groom should be distinguishable at twenty feet. The easiest levers: a different color or shade (groom in midnight, groomsmen in navy), a tuxedo against suits, a waistcoat, or distinct accessories. We coordinate entire wedding parties – sizes taken in one visit or remotely – detailed on our wedding party & groomsmen page and our Northern Virginia wedding suits page.
What It Costs
Custom suits start at $895 (half-canvas, the Iniziare collection); most wedding clients land between $1,295 and $1,995 with premium cloth. Tuxedos from $1,095. Every garment is fitted in person at our Tysons Corner showroom – 1750 Tysons Blvd, Suite 130, with parking in the building.
Wedding Suit FAQ
How far in advance should I order a wedding suit?
About 4 months before the wedding is ideal. The suit itself takes seven weeks to the first fitting; the rest is comfortable margin.
Should the groom wear a tuxedo or a suit?
If the invitation says black tie, a tuxedo. For most other weddings a dark suit is correct – and a tuxedo is a stylish upgrade for evening receptions.
Can you dress the whole wedding party?
Yes – we coordinate grooms and groomsmen regularly, including out-of-town groomsmen measured remotely.
What does a custom wedding suit cost?
From $895; most clients land between $1,295 and $1,995. Custom tuxedos start at $1,095.
Start the Conversation
Book an appointment. 1750 Tysons Blvd, Suite 130, McLean, VA 22102 – in Tysons Corner near Tysons Galleria.