How to Dress a Father and Son for the Same Wedding
Matching father and son for a wedding is about coordination, not duplication. Get the colour palette right, adjust the cut for each age, and the photos will do the rest.
Start with the colour palette
Pick one base colour and one accent. The most photogenic combinations are:
• Navy with burgundy accents — classic, formal, works year-round. Try a Marc Darcy navy three-piece on the father with a slim-fit Marc Darcy junior version on the son.
• Grey with blush or dusty pink — modern, soft, ideal for spring and summer. House of Cavani does this palette beautifully across adult and boys’ tailoring.
• Tweed and earth tones — country weddings, autumn, rural venues. Marc Darcy’s tweed range is the go-to here, with matching boys’ sets available.
• Black with white and silver — black-tie or evening weddings. Paul Andrew dinner suits give the father a sharper, more contemporary cut.
Both father and son wear the base. The accent ties them together through tie, pocket square or buttonhole.
Adjust the cut for each age
The same suit should not be cut the same way on a 10-year-old and a 45-year-old.
• Father: Paul Andrew or Marc Darcy tailored two or three-piece, structured shoulder, classic lapel
• Teenage son: Marc Darcy slim fit, slightly shorter jacket, sharper lapel
• Younger son: House of Cavani boys’ tailoring, softer construction, comfortable trouser, room to move
The silhouettes should feel related, not identical.
Coordinate the details, not the outfit
The strongest father-and-son looks share three small things:
• The same tie or pocket square fabric
• The same shirt colour
• The same shoe tone
Curated by Esquire, our team will pull these accents across both outfits so they read as one look in every photograph.
Dress for the venue and season
• Church or formal venue: Marc Darcy three-piece suits, ties, polished Oxfords
• Country or barn venue: Marc Darcy tweed, knitted ties, brogues
• Summer or destination: House of Cavani light wool and linen blends, loafers
• Evening or black-tie: Paul Andrew dinner suits, bow ties, patent shoes
Get the fit right
A great suit at the wrong size will always lose to a simple suit that fits. Book a fitting early, especially for the son. Growing boys need measuring closer to the date, not months ahead.
Shop father and son wedding suits at Esquire Menswear
Curated by Esquire, our father and son wedding edit brings together Marc Darcy, Paul Andrew and House of Cavani under one roof, with expert fittings at our Nottingham and Merry Hill stores and full online ordering at esquiremenswear1976.com. Our team will pull the palette, the cuts and the details together so the two of you walk in looking like a moment.
Book a fitting in store or shop the collection online.
By Penny Virdee, Co Founder, Esquire
