It’s a fact: people love to get married in spring. It’s probably got something to do with longer days and the likelihood of a bit of sunshine, but we think it’s also about the romance and optimism of a new start.

And dressing up for a spring wedding is good fun. Soft spring suit shades like light blue and grey come into their own in here – choose a blue suit if you’re wearing neutral-shade accessories, and grey tailoring for those brighter colours like pink, yellow, orange and teal. For a destination wedding, linen always makes sense. A neutral linen suit with an unexpected knitted polo underneath can make things feel a bit more casual. And of course, we couldn’t talk about spring weddings without a mention of a tweed three-piece suit. Try yours with a tonal tie for a more formal affair.

One minute it’s raining, the next it’s beaming sunshine – welcome to spring in the UK. It’s safe to assume it won’t be freezing or boiling, but the middle ground can be just as tricky to dress for.

We recommend banking on a mid-weight fabric, so nothing too heavy like thick wool and nothing too light like hopsack. Look for a worsted fabric in a weight of around 350g or less.

The weight of your suit will also be influenced by its construction. A lightweight suit will have light or no shoulder padding, minimal interlinings and a half or buggy lining. The lighter the structure, the breezier the suit. A traditional spring suit will have more structured shoulders and perhaps a half-canvas construction – a luxury addition that will help the suit mould to your frame over time, but will also lock heat in. Consider the wedding date and how much of the day will be spent inside/outside and choose your suit weight accordingly.

Your choice of accessories is where you can really up the ‘spring’ feel of your outfit. Handy if you’ve moved your wedding date and need to make a darker suit feel more seasonal.

Sunny shades like sage, pale blue, coral and pink are springtime classics that look great with both light and dark shades of suit. They tend to feature in springtime flowers too, so you should be able to match your buttonhole to your accessories easily if you’re in the wedding party. If you’ve gone for a green or brown tweed suit, you can set off the earthy tones and still look cheery for spring with a printed tie.

Of course, if you’re the groom or in the wedding party, your suit and accessory choice might be dictated by what the bridesmaids are wearing. If you’d like to coordinate without outright matching, you can soften the look by wearing two pocket squares, one neutral and one in the theme colour.

If you need some advice on what to wear for weddings all year round, our wedding dress code guide has it all laid out.

But once you’ve found the dream spot to marry, it’s time to turn your attention to the outfits. For the bride, the wedding venue and the wedding dress go hand-in-hand and I don’t see why it should be any different for the groom.

Getting the right wedding suit is important. So to help guide you through this style dilemma I’ve selected eight of my most-loved venues and matched them with the perfect hire suit. Pretty handy, right?

Upthorpe Wood is a magical venue set in a small private woodland, just off the beaten track in Suffolk. The team loves to encourage their couples to create a day that’s individual and unique with an easy, relaxed vibe. From getting wed under a canopy of trees, to dining in their Cartlodge and chatting around the fire until the wee hours, weddings at Upthorpe Wood are really quite special.

Beautifully wild, it’s just the spot for an outdoor boho celebration and what could be better than a bit of tweed to reflect this al-fresco vibe? For me, boho always airs on the side of being light and airy, so I’ve opted for this herringbone tweed suit in warm, sage tone.

Tweed is a groom’s outfit trend that shows no signs of slowing down. But now in softer cuts and trending colours, it’s nothing like your Grandad’s boxy tweeds. To complement the laidback bohemian look of this location, pair yours with a white merino mockneck and a chunky loafer, or keep things classic with a white shirt and khaki loafers.

I’m crushing on this Donegal tweed lounge suit – a contemporary option that’ll look quite at home in rustic locations thanks to its textured weave and characterful flecks. Brown leather shoes match really well, as would a tonal knitted tie.

So now we have the look, we need a rustic venue – but which one?

Meet Stratton Court Barn – it’s found at Pool Farm, set amid rolling Oxfordshire countryside, yet only 10 minutes from Bicester. Once you enter the venue by the grand tree-lined drive, the peace and quiet of the countryside will surround you and make a seriously nice backdrop for your celebrations.

Originally built in 1870 and since thoughtfully refurbished, the barn has kept its rustic charm so it’s the perfect setting for an intimate, relaxed celebration.

At this fine-art country house located in Dorset, you can marry surrounded by fireplaces and Old Master paintings or in their intimate and romantic grotto. It forms part of the Pleasure Grounds and was built in the early 18th century using shells brought back from the Caribbean. It’s perfect for couples looking to wed in a unique and magical setting.

This navy black check suit is my pick of an extra special look for your luxe wedding. Set in the foothills of the Alps, the mill’s fabrics are some of the finest you’ll find, and made with care for the environment too. Pair its deep blue, wool-rich fabric with a white poplin shirt and bold-coloured silk accessories and you’ll fit right into the dramatic surroundings of St Giles House.

Chateau de Redon is a romantic French venue in a relaxed and natural landscape. Set in a two-hectare private park with rare, century-old trees, it offers a secluded and exclusive location for your wedding. The Chateau was completely renovated in 2013 with modern design choices but with respect for all the authentic elements: century-old oak wooden floors, chimneys with majestic mirrors, handcrafted mouldings and intricate woodwork.

To complement such a location this stylish light blue flannel suit will help you stand out against the classic details. In a tailored fit, it’ll give off an air of relaxed, understated charm that’s just right for this location, and is cut from a lightweight flannel that will help to regulate your temperature all year round. Keep things traditional with a crisp white shirt and a knitted tie.

Mount Druid in Ireland is a new addition to our collection of venues. Where vintage chic and the beauty of nature meet, we just had to pair this unique venue with this blue sharkskin suit. This sharp, tailored-fit suit comes in a vintage-inspired grey-blue tone that will blend in perfectly with the retro aesthetic.

Situated in the picturesque village of Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath, Mount Druid is an exquisite private wedding venue set in parkland of 100 acres. After getting married in their Tin Chapel, dance the night away in the converted Barn decorated with vintage chic trinkets and antique furniture.

The Hoxton Holborn is an intimate, relaxed hotel venue and just the space for a chic city wedding. Located in the centre of London, a stone’s throw from Covent Garden, this is one of the area’s most renowned hangouts with bars, restaurants and city views aplenty. Taking inspiration from the disco days of the 1970s The Hoxton Holborn’s event space features bold prints, velvet textures and a jaw-dropping terrazzo bar.

We’ve got the perfect match for this wow-factor venue – the slim fit blue donegal. The rugged texture gives off just enough personality to set you apart as the groom, while the neutral shade will go with any colour theme – and won’t leave you clashing with your show-stopping surroundings!

We don’t think you could pick a more appropriate suit for a coastal wedding celebration than this tailored fit blonde camel suit. As well as being an easy, breezy option for your wedding by the sea, neutral suits are also a huge trend when it comes to your groom outfit.

Thanks to its lightweight construction, it’s cool enough to wear comfortably all day – especially important if you hit the jackpot and have a glorious summer’s day wedding!

So, which venue? Well, The Gallivant is a pretty epic venue on the raw coastline of Camber Sands in East Sussex. Weddings at this location always take place on an exclusive basis, meaning guests can enjoy the entire hotel and its 20 individually styled bedrooms for themselves. In the warmer months, big days flow naturally between the beach and the coastal-styled marquee. In the cooler months, the open log fire in the New England Room and the heated marquee create a beautiful Scandinavian/Hamptons-themed vibe.

I’ve saved my favourite venue for last – the incredible Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London. With floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the Nash Conservatory offers lots of natural daylight for your wedding celebrations. The Conservatory is the oldest of the 19th-century glasshouses at Kew and is of major historical and architectural importance, making it a unique venue for your big day. The style of this venue is super versatile, but it’s really the perfect backdrop for a classically elegant wedding.

Classic doesn’t necessarily mean traditional, and while tails would certainly suit this space, I urge you to go for a dinner suit instead. There’s something very dashing about a man in this particular attire and, believe me, your better half will go a little weak at the knees when they see you in this sleek black tuxedo.

Cut in a frame-defining tailored fit, this tuxedo suit’s wool-rich fabric and sharp peak lapel detail is black-tie tailoring at its finest. Paired with high-shine dress shoes and a black satin bow tie, there’ll be no doubt you’re the man of the moment.

Whatever your wedding venue or theme, it’s important that you feel comfortable and confident in your wedding suit or groom outfit. A wedding day is naturally fairly long, so you want to feel like yourself from when you head down the aisle right through to when you hit the dancefloor later. Personal style is an important part of your wedding day, so you should choose your venue and complementary wedding outfits with that in mind – there are no rules!

Coco Wedding Venues is the first place to kickstart your wedding planning.

They are the UK’s original style-focused wedding venue directory, showcasing a carefully curated selection of the very best wedding venues in the UK and beyond.

Tweed’s been one of our most popular suits fabrics for a while now, and nowhere more so than for weddings. But even though it’s a fabric with heritage roots, there are crucial differences between your grandad’s tweeds and the ones on offer now, like contemporary cuts, softer shoulders and modern muted shades. Reworking the classics is going to be big this year, and tweed is an easy way to do this with your groom outfit – and, of course, it looks great too.

Nod to tradition by wearing yours as a three-piece with a vintage-inspired waistcoat or go more minimal with your styling to take the look firmly into today. Checks are predicted to be a wedding trend in wedding décor this year so we suggest being the shining example of the trend by weaving checks into your wedding suit style.

No, not for lounging around at home (we’ve done enough of that recently) – a ‘lounge suit’ is the catch-all term for any suit that’s not traditional morning wear.  Go for a neat fit with soft shoulders for a modern profile that’ll form a solid base to any look. Like pattern or colour, or like mixing your suit jacket with different trousers, styling it up with all the trimmings or dressing it down with a t-shirt.

Lounge suits are a great choice for anyone who wants to look sharp but doesn’t feel comfortable in a more formal suit. They also work really well for a more casual, laid-back wedding or a destination wedding. They tend to stand up to long-distance travel a little better too, though as long as you take care of your suit on your flight you should be fine to travel with any style.

And if you’re after something completely unique to you, how about a custom-made lounge suit, personalised down to the last detail for you? With Custom Made, we’ll even embroider your wedding date or your partner’s initials on the inside your jacket to make it a one-of-a-kind memento. Custom details like this will make your special day feel even more so.

Traditionally, the less formal your wedding the lighter your suit could be, but with tradition out the window now you’ll probably be more led by weather than anything else. For big (or small) days in sunny weather, a fabric that’s lighter in both colour and weight will feel more carefree than black, blue or grey. Think linen in a neutral hue. The reality is that it’s your wedding day and you can wear whatever style or colour of wedding suit that you want.

And on cold days, a stone or beige wool suit is a relaxed alternative to darker tweeds. Either way, you’ll find modern neutral hues will set off all sorts of styling, like romantic florals or textured tonal accessories. You can dress it down (or up) as much as you like if you’re going for a more relaxed, casual wedding.

If the last couple of years have taught us anything it’s that what you wear has a real effect on how you feel. For grooms that means grabbing the chance to dress up and feel great when it matters most – and there’s little better to put you in an occasion mood than a statement wedding suit.

Try bold checks, a double-breasted style or a bright colour. Up for more? Switch up your styling with a refined knit or a great pair of boots. We’re celebrating in style these days, so extend that all the way to your wedding outfit.

There are loads of options when it comes to choosing your groom’s outfit. Hiring a wedding suit has always been a more sustainable option for your wedding outfit – if you don’t wear suits very often then it might not make sense to invest in a one-off. Hiring a suit gives you a memorable look without the commitment (save that for your partner!). On the flip side, if you want to treat yourself to a suit then your wedding day is about the best excuse you’ll have to do it.

Style-wise, it’s all up to you whether you choose a wedding outfit that complements the rest of your wedding day or you go for something that makes you stand out as a couple. Sometimes it’s a great, creative touch when everything isn’t too matched together, especially if you’re going for a more relaxed or eclectic day.

You’ll also want to make sure that your wedding suit complements what your partner is wearing. You’ve already shown that you’re the perfect match for one another, so you want your wedding photos to reflect that too. Those pictures last a really long time!

When you’re selecting a suit – whether you buy or hire – fit is really important. Too tight and you could feel restricted or self-conscious through the day. And a too-big suit can make you feel just as bad, especially when you look back at photos. Have a look at our handy guide on how to measure yourself for a suit to help you get it right.

Give yourself enough time to find your just-right wedding suit too. You might need alterations or to order your ideal size in, so make sure you slot in some time for extra bits like this. And, if you’re hiring, think about booking your appointment now. It’s always worth giving yourself the time to try on some different styles, colours and fits – you might just surprise yourself when it turns out your perfect suit is completely different to what you usually wear!

We’ve seen strong examples of this in all categories of wedding styling this year at The Un-Wedding Show, and it looks like this trend is here to stay.

Choosing your wedding colour palette doesn’t have to be difficult. Think about your favourite colour or one that suits you the most, then introduce different tones of the same hue throughout your wedding styling. This can be applied to your outfits, accessories, flowers, the cake, and any decor you choose. Set the tone by sending out your wedding invites in your chosen colour, and everything else can follow suit. Keeping your colour scheme monochromatic is impactful and creates a sense of continuity throughout the day, making everything feel well thought out.

The best thing about this trend is that you don’t . It’s all about what suits you, and that’s what weddings should be about.

Say goodbye to traditional floral arrangements and centrepieces, and a big hello to fun and unique flower displays and installations aimed at wowing your guests. As we head into 2024, people are opting for a more creative approach to their wedding floral designs. Again, this trend is all about incorporating your personality into your wedding day. Forget buttonholes and bouquets; think flower clouds, meadows, and hanging floral wreaths instead. This trend pairs perfectly with modern, blank canvas wedding venues that are crying out for impactful styling ideas. Modern wedding florists are always up for the challenge of bringing your vision to life and can make informative suggestions based on your budget, as well as the types of flowers that are in season.

There was a time when our most formal shirts were just seen as underwear, designed to keep waistcoats clean. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that stiff high collars and immaculate white cloths became a status symbol.

We have British fashion pioneers like Beau Brummel to thank for the stiff-collar shirt’s rise in the ranks. Only wealthy people could follow their lead, as you needed a decent amount of money to keep washing your white shirt.

There’s still a whiff of high-society about them today. Pristine white dress shirts are often reserved for formal events, those nights when you want to go all out like a wedding or an awards show.

But what’s the difference between a dress shirt and an Oxford shirt? There are three things to know, and it comes down to the collar, the cuffs and the placket.

You have two collar options for dress shirts. There’s the wing which is very classic 1880s, and the turned-down collar, reminiscent of the Duke of Windsor circa 1920s.

Also sometimes called wingtip, the wing collar is the most formal dress shirt. This collar stands up stiffly with small points pressed to stick out, and if you’re sticking to the rules you tuck these pointed wings behind your bow tie.

Turned-down collars are more like the ones on your smart business shirt. You’ll need one of these if you want to wear a normal tie, or no tie at all. It’s also best to tuck your shirt in to maintain formality across your look.

There was a time when the collar was separate from the shirt. Washing machines weren’t invented at the time, so an ingenious New Yorker found a way to detach the collar to wash it more often. Thankfully we’ve moved on since then, but you should give the collar a good iron to help it keep its shape.

Dress shirts always have double cuffs (sometimes called French cuffs), which are designed to fold back on themselves and be secured with cufflinks. It’s easiest to keep your cufflinks simple like small studs in black or mother of pearl. Black tie is traditionally upmarket, not ostentatious – but where’s the fun in that? A cufflink is a chance to show some personality. Analyse the formality of the party and if you think you can pull off a novelty cufflink, go for it.

Your placket is the strip of fabric down the centre of your shirt that your buttons are sewn onto. On dress shirts, your placket will either conceal your buttons or host stud buttons.

For concealed buttons, there’s an extra layer of material to hide them which creates a clean finish. Stud buttons are small disks, usually in black, that look polished and add a little contrast to your shirt.

There was a time in the 70s when dress shirts had elaborate ruffles down the front – and they give a retro feel now if that’s what you’re after – but today most dress shirts come in smooth, plain cotton that looks minimal and clean. Some have pleats down the front (you can thank the Duke of Windsor for those), which add personality without going as far as out-there ruffles.

Think about the rest of your outfit – if you’re wearing a classic black tux you can definitely pull off a little texture, but if you’re wearing a colourful velvet dinner jacket, you might do better to keep your shirt streamlined.

Either way, you’ll want a bow tie. You can go classic black and neatly proportioned, or you can go oversized and floppy. As for the trims like your cufflinks, studs and watch, the rule of thumb is to keep your metals in the same colour (silver with silver, gold with gold). But this isn’t essential, so feel free to let your creativity shine through if it’s that kind of party.

You can work out your dress shirt size from the collar. The sizing is in inches, so you’ll need to dig out your tape measure to work out which size is right for your neck.

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