Beach Groom Attire

Although it sounds simple enough, what the groom wears when the wedding is to be held at a beach venue does take some thought. Believe it or not, you can be underdressed – even at the beach! And showing up at your beachside wedding overdressed, well, it’s unlikely, but it can and does happen.

It’s Not Spelled S-P-E-E-D-O!

It can’t be denied that for most men – well, a lot of men, anyway – the ideal beach groom attire would consist of perhaps their swimsuit and maybe a tee-shirt and a denim shirt (for if it gets chilly!). All the guests would come just as casual – shorts, sandals, whatever…

But even though that might be the easiest way out, er, way to go to a wedding, it certainly wouldn’t go very far in making the event all that memorable, at least in a good way! So here are a few tips for the groom-to-be that won’t cramp his style, yet will keep him in good standing with the bride (and her mother!).

Pinpoint the Location

First off, exactly where on the beach the wedding is to be held needs to be taken into account. Are the nuptials to be held right on the sandy, salt-sprayed beach? Or will they be held in a hotel that’s located on a beach? Even if the wedding will be held outside the hotel – on a veranda, for example – this can affect how the groom should be dressed.

It doesn’t take much thought to realize that wearing a tuxedo right on the beach might be romantic, but it could also ruin the garb. On the other hand, a tuxedo worn up and away from the actual wind and water and grit would likely work just fine. Conversely, no way do you want to wear khakis and a tee shirt in the grand ballroom of a fine hotel just because it happens to be located on the beach.

Ask the Bride

The very best idea is to consult with the bride-to-be to find out what SHE idealizes as the best thing to wear. Even if the wedding is to be held indoors or far away enough from the sand and the surf to safely wear a tux, she may decide that’s just too formal for the whole beach wedding idea. So why not go middle of the road?

Think blue blazer, trousers ranging from tan to navy, a nice (but not too formal) tie, and dark leather shoes and socks. You also can’t go too far wrong with a sand or wheat-colored linen suit; a navy, dark gray, or black suit with a dark tie and crisp, white or ivory-colored shirt; or even a simple, white linen shirt with dark suit trousers (no jacket or tie).

The thing to think about is what you and your then-wife will enjoy as you look at photographs sometime down the road, years in the future, which were taken at your beach wedding. What you want to shoot for are good memories and not embarrassment! So be conservative, be considerate (of your wife and maybe even her mom!), and if at all possible, be comfortable!