COMMON WEDDING FASHION MISTAKES I SEE
(Yeah…try to avoid these)
I know you want to look your best and feel like a rockstar on your wedding day, so here are some common fashion mistakes you should consider avoiding.
COMMON MISTAKES FOR BOTH MEN & WOMEN
Blue Light Filter on Glasses
Do you wear glasses with a blue light filter? They can be very distracting and obvious in photographs.
The Solution: If you can, leave them at home and opt for glasses without a blue light filter. This isn’t necessarily a fashion mistake, but something you should be aware of when being photographed.
Choosing Looks Over Comfort
Wedding dresses and suits can be elaborate and intricate, but they should still be comfortable to wear. If your dress/suit is too heavy, tight, or difficult to move in, you might find yourself struggling throughout the day. If you’re uncomfortable, it’s going to show in photos and no one is going to have a good time. So…let’s try to avoid that.
The Solution: Find a healthy balance between comfort and style. You’ll thank yourself later!
Wearing a Smart Watch
I’m sure someone will contest this one, but I’ll argue this all day. I firmly believe no one should wear a smartwatch to a formal event. They look out of place in formal attire – smartwatches a piece of tech and as a piece of tech, they will date your photos (no pun intended).
The Solution: Wear a “real” mechanical watch. There are many brands and options to choose from, but every gentleman (and in my opinion, ladies as well) should own at least one nice timepiece in their lifetime. Companies such as Omega, Tudor, Longines, Oris, Rolex, Seiko, Tissot, Hamilton, IWC, Breitling, Panerai, Patek Phillipe, Zenith, and others make fantastic watches. I consider myself a bit of a watch geek, so let me know if you would like some help picking one out for your wedding day.
MEN – AVOID THESE FASHION MISTAKES
Untucked and Sloppy Shirts
I see grooms, groomsmen and wedding guests constantly facing the struggle of keeping their shirts tucked in. It’s not a flattering look and quite frankly, it’s annoying to constantly have to adjust your shirt all day.
The Solution: Shirt stays. They may look a little goofy, but these keep your shirt tucked in all day. There are various designs, but I like the clip-on versions. Buy them here on Amazon.
Wearing an Undershirt with a White Dress Shirt
I see this ALL the time. It’s very easy to see an undershirt through a white dress shirt, and it’s not a good look. Not only do I not want to photoshop out those lines, more importantly, it just looks weird.
The Solution: Don’t wear an undershirt. If you’re someone that sweats a lot, buy something breathable, or bring a spare white shirt to change into.
Wearing a Rental Suit
Thinking of getting a rental? Don’t do it. On your big day, you want to look your best right? Sorry fellas, but a rental is not the way to go about it. They usually don’t fit 100% perfectly, and in some cases, it’s very obvious they’ve been well-worn.
The Solution: Get custom-tailored clothing. Spend a few extra bucks and invest in a properly fitted suit, it will be worth it. Plus, suits are so versatile and there are many different ways to wear them so you can enjoy them for years to come. If you do rent a suit, at the very least buy your own dress shirt. Ill-fitting suits or tuxedos can detract from your polished appearance. Proper tailoring ensures that your attire fits well and looks sharp. Be sure to account for alterations in your wedding attire timeline.
Sloppy Collars
Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a wrinkled, flat or messy collar. Fortunately, there’s an answer!
The Solution: If you’re wearing a tie, use metal collar stays. This helps your collar from getting wrinkled and bunched up. If you’re not wearing a tie, use a “Slick Collar”, which is the best fashion hack I’ve discovered in recent years. It’s a bit of a geeky accessory, but wow, my collar is ALWAYS on point when I wear it. This helps keep your collar propped up and prevents it from lying flat. If you are wearing a tie and still having issues with a wrinkled collar, you could try the Slick Collar as well. Buy one on Amazon here.
Boutonnières on Shirts
Boutonnières belong on a suit or tuxedo jacket lapel, and that’s it. The literal direct translation of “boutonnière” is “buttonhole”, which is a reference to the button on the lapel of a suit jacket.
The Solution: If you aren’t wearing a suit jacket, don’t wear a boutonnière – it looks weird and it’s a fashion sin. And speaking of boutonnières, make sure you tell your florist to keep the flowers small. If they’re too big, it looks absolutely ridiculous.
Mismatching Leathers & Materials
I often will see men wearing a belt (for example) that doesn’t match their shoes.
The Solution: Try to make a conscious effort to match as best as possible. This is a little OCD, but if you choose to wear a leather watch strap, try to match that as well. It’s a small attention to detail that will make a BIG difference.
Buttoning the Bottom Button
Out of all the fashion mistakes out there, this is the one I see men make the most. At literally every wedding, in fact.
The Solution: Always leave the bottom button on a suit jacket and vest unbuttoned. If it’s a 3 button suit, leave the top two buttoned. Completely unbutton the suit jacket when you’re sitting down, re-button when you stand up.
WOMEN – AVOID THESE WEDDING FASHION MISTAKES
Focusing on Trends, Not What Your Body Needs
When choosing a wedding dress, it’s quite easy to get sucked into current trends and fall in love with a specific dress.
The Solution: Dress for the body you have, not the body you hope to have. Instead of choosing a dress based on style, focus on choosing one that compliments your body type. Fall in love with the way you look, not with a specific dress or popular style.
Wearing Overly Complicated Dresses
If your dress is too complicated, intricate, or too large, you’re likely going to get frustrated. I’ve seen it happen a million and a half times.
The Solution: Choose a dress that is easy to move in. The only exception to this is if you have a team of minions carrying your train around with you all day.
Only Bringing One Pair of Shoes
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a bride tell me her feet are killing her at the end of the night.
The Solution: Bring a second pair of shoes, such as flats, comfortable wedges, or some stylish sneakers! I also recommend it as well for pre-ceremony photos. I often like to take my couples to adventurous locations and I’d feel REALLY bad if you messed up your nice shoes before the ceremony (even though I do take the necessary precautions).
Not Considering the Venue
The venue and overall theme of the wedding should influence the choice of the wedding dress. Wearing a heavily embellished ball gown might not be practical for a beach wedding, just as a simple, casual dress might seem out of place in a grand cathedral.
The Solution: Read the room and match the vibe with your wedding attire!
About the Author
Thanks for taking the time to read about these common fashion mistakes! I quite often see these “fashion sins” at weddings, so my hope is that you found some value out of this as you plan your wedding.
I’ve been a full-time wedding photographer since 2010 and have hundreds of weddings of experience under my belt. Please feel free to check out my portfolio if you’d like to see my work!
