Wherever a wedding falls on the calendar, it’ll always influence what you wear. But when that wedding falls in the middle of a worldwide health pandemic? Well, it’s likely to look different from what you originally had planned.

For all the couples out there, we know it’s been tough. Maybe you’ve postponed your big day so it can be more like the day you’d imagined, or maybe you’re keen to just be married already and so you’ve scaled down your plans to meet the current guidelines. The important thing to remember is it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but just a matter of ‘when’. And whenever that is, you deserve to look and feel your best.

As for guests, your social calendar is almost certainly much emptier this year, so if you’re lucky enough to still be on the receiving end of an invitation, the very least you can do is make an effort worthy of the people who love you enough to have you join them.

Here’s our take on what grooms and guests should wear to weddings now that celebrating is back on the order of service.

Having a micro wedding ceremony now with plans for a bigger do next year? Or taking advantage of good weather to get a few more guests together at an outdoor venue? Either way, the theme of the day is probably low-key and on the intimate side, so you’ll want to wear something with a similarly relaxed feel. A suit or tailored jacket in a summer-ready fabric like linen will emit a carefree vibe (even if the last few months have been anything but) as well as keep you cool if the sun does decide to shine.

SHOP LINEN SUITS

As for colour, traditionally, the less formal the wedding the lighter your suit could be. But if Britain’s handling of Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s that rules are yours to interpret (ahem) so we say wear whatever shade is going to make you feel your best.

Couples getting married this winter might find that there are still restrictions in the number of guests allowed, but you know what can’t be restricted? Your dress code. We’re seeing lots of couples planning November and December weddings going all out with black-tie celebrations. And it makes sense: after being stuck indoors for so long, this might be the first chance you and your chosen guests all have to get together and celebrate in style.

SHOP TUXEDOS

So what to wear? You’ll need a tuxedo, of course. You won’t go wrong with a classic black, peak lapel style with all the black-tie trimmings (dress shirt, bow tie, cufflinks). But you’ll also never get a finer moment for a luxurious velvet jacket than a winter wedding party. Wear yours with pristinely pressed dress trousers and high-shine shoes. Like the look but less keen on the limelight? Try a velvet bow-tie instead.

Whether you’re attending a friend’s nuptials via the internet or you’ve made the cut on a cut-down guestlist, suffice to say the couple’s wedding is probably not how they envisioned it, so do your part and dress up to make it feel more like a wedding should.

If you’re looking forward to rolling out the three-piece, by all means, go for it. But you might feel the mood is a bit less formal in current circumstances, in which case well-tailored separates are your answer. A great jacket is suitably pulled-together over anything – try it over a waistcoat, a printed shirt or even a t-shirt, depending on the feel of the day.

As for your bottom half, by now we’ve all had enough of the suited-up-top, comedy-underwear-below video-call gag. Save the cheesy laughs for the speeches and keep your full look wedding-ready, even if nobody else ever sees it. Go for a great pair of tailored trousers, perhaps with a hint of stretch so they’ll be comfy while you’re sitting through the ceremony.

And one more thing: if you are attending in person, remember you’re there to spread love and not germs, so the advice is to wear a face mask. Might we suggest using yours to accessorise your look?

Got wee ones in your wedding party? Or maybe your boy is part of a small family-only gathering? We could all do with a reason to smile these days, not least couples who’ve had their wedding plans disrupted, so get the little guy doing his smile-inducing duty with the irresistible combination of cute kid + tiny suit. He’ll be the star of the (socially-distanced) show.

SHOP BOYS SUITS

Our kids’ collection is cut in the same clean lines as the adults’ versions, proportioned to fit children age two up to 11. Get him a boys’ three-piece suit in grey or black that’ll be useful beyond the big day or kit him out in something more seasonal like tweed. Style it simply with a white shirt, or do your best to convince him to wear a tie that tones in with the theme of the day. Let’s be honest, it’ll only be on for the photos anyway.