Sorry ladies, he’s now a taken man. In a ceremony clouded in so much secrecy we didn’t even know they were engaged, Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has married his girlfriend of two years Kyly Boldy.

Images posted by Michael Clarke on Twitter

In what we can only imagine was fairytale-like, the pair who has known each other since their school days wed in an intimate sunset ceremony in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday with only family and very close friends in attendance.

 
The Emirates-owned Wolgan Valley resort where the couple tied the knot charges more than $1500 per night for a suite. Not so shocking when you know it’s a six-star rated resort. To add to the secrecy and excitement for the newlyweds, the staff at Wolgan Valley resort was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement so that their big day could remain a private affair.

 
The new Mr and Mrs Clarke were first spotted together back in August 2010 and have since managed to keep their romance under wraps with the engagement passing through unknown and their nuptials taking everyone by surprise.

 
Clarke and his new wife, model/TV presenter/interior designer Kyly Boldy, announced their union via a very digital age way – Twitter.

 
“Happiest guy in the world. Married @KylyBoldy yesterday in front of our gorgeous families. Couldn’t be happier!” Clarke tweeted.

Images posted by Michael Clarke on Twitter

Clarke again used Twitter to announce that Kyly’s dress was a design collaboration between her and “good friend” Alex Perry.

 
The gown consisted of a stunning silver beaded bodice that hugged Kyly’s figure, leading to a drop waisted full skirt complete with embellishments.

 
The glamorous gown was perfectly off-set by the harsh Australian landscape in the background.

 
Michael Clarke wore a suit by Louis Vuitton with a half-closed white lily pinned to his left lapel to match his bride’s bouquet.

Images posted by Michael Clarke on Twitter

 
The beautiful setting provided breathtaking imagery, in particular one shot posted on Twitter (and which graced the front page of today’s Age) that shows Kyly (an avid horse-rider) barefooted on a grey horse, being led through the grounds by Clarke. Clarke, in a top-notch moment, carries his new wife’s metallic shoes in his opposite hand.
 

We want to hear from you… do you have a fantasy wedding that would put Michael Clarke and Kyly Boldy to shame? Did you keep everyone in the dark until the last moment?

This year’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia was awash with white and bridal-inspired gowns that are sure to have local brides-to-be rethinking their idea of the ultimate wedding dress.

White, ivories and creams were a dominant colour theme, especially as a contrast to vivid, popping prints. Nowhere was this more apparent than with Akira Isogawa, who divided his show between bright Japanese-inspired contemporary pieces and romantic bridal dresses.

Akira’s spiral shibori neck long dress with petal appliqué.

 

Other designers brought life to monochrome gowns with dramatic silhouettes, flared sleeves and peplums. These waist-slimming, hip-accentuating embellishments made a comeback in collections by Lisa Ho and Alice McCall. While it wasn’t quite bridal, Alice’s collection had definite cross-over potential, featuring embroidered white dresses inspired by Hungarian folk art.

Lisa Ho, Renegade gown. Photo: Lucas Dawson.

 

 

Alice McCall gown - inspired by Hungarian folk art.

 Sydney-based designer Bowie’s all-white runway also featured peplums in sheer and structured fabrics, with tulle fishtails livening up body-hugging silhouettes. But no one did the structured look better than Maticevski, with his bold-shouldered dresses in elegant ivory, tan and gold.

 

Bowie’s collection emphasised shoulders and fishtails.

 

 

 Toni Maticevski favoured the structured look.

 

White-on-white beads, baubles, sequins and jewels shone on the runway this year. Bowie used metallic stitching and detailing to create interesting shapes on his gorgeous bodices. Meanwhile, Jayson Brunsdon, Johanna Johnson and Aurelio Costarella featured heavily sequined silver, cream and ivory dresses.

Johanna Johnson’s collection featured elaborately beaded and sequinned gowns.

 

In interesting contrast to structured and beaded evening gowns were the minimalistic, diaphanous dresses by Carl Kapp (the “king of the artful drape”) — idea inspiration for bridesmaid dresses. These flowing gowns came in punchy summer colours, tempered with neutral khaki, navy and, of course, white accessories.

Carl Kapp - "king of the artful drape". Ideal for bridesmaids.

 

 

Even headpieces had a distinctly bridal flair this year. Akira’s ethereal models sported stunning crinkled tulle headdresses, a dreamy take on the bridal veil. Johanna Johnson’s vintage-inspired headpieces were the perfect accompaniment to her bridal looks – in particular the beaded turbans, which gave the models a ’20s flapper feel. Aurelio Costarella’s pom-pom headdresses will inspire brides-to-be to go dramatic – less wearable, but no less beautiful.

 

Aurelio Costarella's collection featured dramatic headpieces.

 

 

Grooms can look for suits in shades of grey and structured tailoring in the menswear. But, as with bridal trends, the traditional was made interesting with unusual details and cuts. Singaporean menswear designer Mils featured unique accessories, such as leather collars and cuffs. Zsadar, whose designer Shane Newton is known for his love affair with asymmetry, was another show-stealer. Grooms might want to incorporate his asymmetrical-style shirts, which Newton paired with simple, tailored pants.

 

Zsadar's asymmetrical shirt button lines might inspire the edgy groom.

 

 

And any prospective honeymooner will be daydreaming about the riotous and sexy vacation collection by Camilla. Her signature print clashing drew from every culture under the sun, with ethnic African patterns, meeting Indian patchworking, pulled together with boomerang neckpieces.

 

Camilla's bright kaftans capture that carefree honeymoon feeling.

 

From aisle to the beach – MBFWA 2012 has brides covered this year!

What were your favourite designers/gowns at MBFWA?

By Farah Ahmed

Australian chef Luke Mangan is known and loved for his fine dining cuisine at restaurants such as glass brasserie in the Hilton Sydney and at his Salt Grill line of restaurants located in Tokyo, Singapore, Surfers Paradise and on board P&O cruise ships.   

Recently, Luke launched his official wedding reception service at glass brasserie — Weddings by Luke Mangan — which offers an exquisite and memorable French-inspired dining experience for wedding receptions. Complete Wedding Sydney went along to the launch, and we must say – were quite impressed with the food, the space and the service.

As the chef to Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary’s wedding banquet, Luke knows a thing or two about creating royal-standard food for weddings. The celebrity chef has also served such distinguished diners as Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson and Tom Cruise, and his work at glass brasserie earned the restaurant One Hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in 2012.

Luke describes his wedding-day menus as “clean, fresh and elegant,” fusing fresh local produce with classical French techniques. At the recent launch, we sampled delicious canapés from Luke’s award-winning menu, paired with wines selected by glass brasserie’s head sommelier, Kim Bickley. If fine wine is your thing, glass brasserie is home to a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, from which the team can tailor a wine package to suit your tastes.

The restaurant’s high-ceilinged, airy space features magnificent views of the Queen Victoria Building. The chic interior design, variety of seating arrangements and of course — the food — would give weddings held here a definite fine-dining feel while also being relaxed.

“Bride and groom are my number one priority,” said Luke at the launch. “The most important thing to me is to find out exactly what their vision is and we can make it a reality.”

Offering access to a team of premium suppliers, including celebrity wedding planner Anthony Del Col, for both lunch and dinner packages, Weddings by Luke Mangan is definitely worth a considering for a stunning CBD wedding reception venue.

Weddings by Luke Mangan
glass brasserie, Hilton Sydney, 488 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
T: 02 9265 6068
E: weddings@glassbrasserie.com.au  
W: www.glassbrasserie.com.au/weddings

Have you been to glass brasserie? What fine dining venue are you considering for your wedding?

John Lennon and Yoko Ono celebrate changing names after marriage. Source: zoomerradio.ca

Marriage traditions are waning nowadays and it’s the same for changing names after marriage. More men are following the trend of men changing names after marriage to their wife’s maiden name instead of her taking his. One of the most famous examples of this is when John Lennon married Yoko Ono legally changing names after marriage to become John Winston Ono Lennon. More recently, a Californian man has sued the state for the right of changing names after marriage to his wife’s surname and won a change in legislation. So why do it?

The reasoning for most couples forgoing changing names after marriage is that the wife is in a more notable or recognized position within her career and therefore her name is already synonymous with success. If she were to go about changing names after marriage, it is thought she would fall behind in her career by losing the notoriety that came with her maiden name. In situations like this, the men who have agreed to changing names after marriage have done so because they feel that their wife is in a better position to be the ‘breadwinner’, leaving him in the position to take on the role of primary caregiver when their children arrive.

The decision to go against traditional methods of changing names after marriage can also be because of the couple not wanting to have separate surnames when they are married if the wife is expressing a desire to keep her own name. To still represent a unity within the marriage and so that there wouldn’t be any problems when it came to naming children, it becomes an easy decision to make. You may also both decide to have a hyphenated name that incorporates her maiden name and his. For example Max Stuart might marry Sarah Johnson and they could become Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Johnson or Stuart-Johnson. There is also the option of changing names after marriage to a combined name. Using our example of Stuart Johnson, that could become Mr. and Mrs. Stunson or Mr. and Mrs. Johart.

Source: aureusstar.com

Other reasoning behind new trends in changing names after marriage is to actually keep the wife’s maiden name alive. Some families get to a point where there simply aren’t any males in the generational line to carry on the wife’s maiden name as you traditionally would when changing names after marriage. Therefore husbands who have another male to carry on their family name are more inclined to go about changing names after marriage to their wife’s maiden name so as to help her family continue its lineage.

Source: hartandharveyphotography.co.uk

There is also the option of both husband and wife keeping their own surnames and deciding when or if children extend the family unit to give them a hyphenated or combined surname. In Chinese traditions, as for changing names after marriage women almost never take their husband’s surname as, like men, in their culture they are referred to by their maiden name first and then their first name. Their children however will then take their father’s surname.

So, will you be changing names after marriage or will your husband change his surname to yours?

Let’s face it: finding the right wedding invitations can be a daunting task, and sifting through different paper, print and font options can make the best of us turn a little crazy.

If you’re tired of spending all your weekends searching and searching, then look no further, for these invitations are sure to impress any bride.

1. Balloon fun                                                                                                                                

Source: L'Office Optimiste

Oh, the monotony of paper mail!  Make your wedding invitations stand out with these blow-up balloons designed by L’Office Optimiste.

Just think of the fun that adults and children alike will have as a precursor to the wedding.

2. A blast from the past

Source: etsy.com

Do you remember the viewmaster? Of course you do. Simply put the device up to your eyes and click away to see a series of photos loaded onto a circular disk.

Now, some nifty person can customise a viewmaster for your wedding.Get the picture?

3. It’s all in the details

These paper hearts aren’t just intricate and cute, they’re home made as well!

Source: eatdrinkchic

Just like the feeling you get when you open a present, guests will love unwrapping their origami hearts, which hang prettily on a string and can be opened to reveal your hidden message.

4. Add a bit of humor

Tired of the usual invite-speak? Then stand out with this quirky yet informative guide on how to tie the knot.

Source: designlovefest

Custom made, these wedding invites aren’t just for entertainment’s sake – they will ensure that everyone knows what footwear to use and where additional services will be available on the day.Disaster averted!

5. Be remembered!

Ensure that your precious invites aren’t thrown away by giving guests these kitchen towels.

Guests will love these bright and pretty invitations, and their handiness means that no one will be forgetting about your wedding any time soon!

The most anticipated wedding right now is that of celebrity super couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The leaders of the so-called “rainbow family” are set to tie the knot in what is sure to showcase a fantastic designer wedding gown and designer suit. So, in the spirit of their past celebrity weddings, I’m looking at what we can expect to see from the happy couple in the (hopefully!) not too distant future.

Brad Pitt’s wedding to Jennifer Aniston was a fairy tale at the time. Aniston wore a designer wedding gown by Lawrence Steele and Pitt wore a designer suit by Armani in the outdoor Malibu ceremony with a specially designed ring for the bride – courtesy of Mr. Pitt himself. This sounds familiar given that Pitt also had strong input in the overall design and creation of Jolie’s $500,000 engagement ring. However, given how much emphasis Brangelina place on helping the needy, don’t expect their nuptials to top the $US1 million mark of Pitt and Aniston – save for a designer wedding gown.

A designer wedding gown to match a designer engagement ring. Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Brad Pitt married Jennifer Aniston in a designer suit by Armani. Source: www.graziadaily.co.uk

When Angelina married Billy Bob Thornton, it was a quickie in Vegas. When she married Johnny Lee Miller, she wore his name written in blood across her blouse. This time, expect to see some Hollywood class in the form of a designer wedding gown and designer suit for the groom in a romantic ceremony with just their family attending.

Never one to shy aware from a statement, Angelina loves a bold look and judging by her latest red carpet looks, we can expect her designer wedding gown to be form fitting to her mid section with a striking slit. Her Monique Lhuillier dress for the 2012 Golden Globes shows a very sleek designer wedding gown look for Angie.

Is a striking slit in the plans for Angie's designer wedding gown? Source: www.lifelibertyfashion.com

Source: Getty Images

A designer wedding gown with a structure like this is gorgeous for her, but the hair is a little too severe.  For a more demure look, having a softer up-do that frames her face or her hair flowing in loose waves will look incredible.

With so much detail being placed on Angelina’s designer engagement ring we can expect to see the same for the gown. In addition to a form-fitting cut, I’m anticipating Angelina’s designer wedding gown to leave much of her shoulders bare – think the wedding in Mr. & Mrs. Smith without the veil. It is also likely that Angie’s designer will be tasked with dressing the kids – so watch out for a designer wedding for the whole family.

Source: www.celebritygossip.com.br

Like most of us, when I pick up a bridal magazine I flick straight to the fashion. Sure — it’s mostly all about the dress — but bridal fashion shoots can also give you ideas on wedding photography, styling, theming, how to wear your hair and what makeup look to go for. Sometimes, they go even further, offering something that pushes the boundaries of bridal photography — and this is what I love most.

So when I came across the latest photo shoot of Celyna Ziolkowski’s new bridal collection I got pretty excited.

Celyna is the Sydney-based designer behind Ziolkowski Evening and Bridal Couture. Her new collection is everything we’ve come to expect: luxe, elegant, unique bridal fashion. But instead of shooting her dresses in a luxurious well-lit studio, she took her team of photographers and stylists to Australia’s least comfortable location — the barren outback of Far North Queensland.

The shoot was a collaboration between Celyna Ziolkowski and Rhondda Scott Boutique Photographer. Both wanted to create images that were a little different. It all began in her Surry Hills studio, where Celyna says she drew inspiration from iconic Aussie ad campaigns by Jenny Kee, Prue Acton and Linda Jackson. “Although they weren’t shooting high glamour gowns, they did use the rugged desert and Australian wilderness as their backdrop,” she says.

Celyna and Rhondda thought the idea of contrasting couture glamour with outback scenery would push the envelope of bridal fashion photography. With this aim in mind they assembled a crew who wanted to do something artistic and hit the road.

What I liked most about the shoot was Rhondda’s decision to find local models who felt natural in their surrounding environment, while also giving local girls the opportunity to break into the industry. Rhondda sent out a casting call for girls around Winton, the nearest town to the shoot. The two girls chosen, one from a nearby cattle station and the other, a high-school girl and cancer survivor, not only appeared in the shoot but were also given a portfolio and the chance to get signed with an agency.

The shoot received coverage in Winton’s local papers, and the town’s girls and women also had an open invitation to witness the unusual spectacle of a professional photo shoot. Celyna says she loved the warmth of the tiny town in the sunshine state. “Everyone was fabulous,” she says.

The photos are, too, artfully contrasting glam couture with desolate land and high blue skies. “We really wanted to capture the colours at dawn and dusk in the outback desert,” Rhondda says.

My favourite photo has a model standing atop a rock, with her sequined gold dress catching the sunlight. It almost takes on a “trash the dress” feel (the wedding photo phenomenon where brides take their post-ceremony shots in unusual places), adding a sense of artistry to the images.

What do you like (or dislike) about bridal fashion shoots? Leave a comment below…

For more inspiring bridal fashion shoots, pick up a copy of Complete Wedding, available in all good newsagents. See more of Ziolkowski’s fashion in Complete Wedding Sydney magazine, or visit www.ziolkowski.com.au

CREDITS

Photography: Rhondda Scott Boutique Photography
Hair and makeup: Megan Topham
Models: Krystal & Lauren
Specials thanks: Rachel Booby and Winton, Qld.

Photography: Jasmine Star

When planning my wedding, I was smitten with the idea of having not just one wedding cake but an entire wedding dessert table. Why have one cake when you could eat two? Or several? Here at Complete Wedding Sydney I see a lot of wedding photos, and whenever there’s a sweets table involved — the photos of it — well, they always take the cake. Pictures of trestle tables covered in sweet morsels of different colours, shapes, sizes and textures, bite-sized squares of sponge mixed with fruity puds, creamy layer cakes, chocolatey logs and cupcakes laden with inch-thick icing… give me a dessert table over a single wedding cake any day.

Since my own wedding had a slightly vintage theme, I fell in love with images of cake tables with a vintage feel. But I quickly realised that putting together the ultimate vintage dessert table wasn’t just a matter of dishing up a few good-looking sweeties. The table had to have soul, not to mention tasty offerings. A little bit of research revealed a few tricks to making the ultimate vintage wedding cake table:

• 

  Photography: Kaylee Eylander

  More the merrier: Choose a minimum of five different cake/sweet options. You can make the table look greater than the sum of its parts by dividing the cakes up onto double the number of plates.

• Height matters: Collect plates and cake stands of different heights to create levels, giving a more dramatic visual impact.
• Theme and variations: Don’t be limited by your wedding colour scheme when choosing your sweets. Follow your cravings, choose your favourite flavours and if you can mix your wedding colours into the overall look, that’s a bonus.

• 

  Photography: Melani Lust Photography

  Centrepiece: Try incorporating a centrepiece cake or feature sweet into the spread — not only will it create a visual anchor for the display but it will also nod to tradition, and give you the opportunity to get that classic “cutting the cake” shot.

• Tell a story: Choose sweets that have significance for you as a couple. Perhaps you ate sticky date pudding on your first date, or feasted on Portuguese tarts when you got engaged. And if desserts don’t feature in your relationship back-story, choose your cakes and sweets based on what you love, not because you think they’re expected or traditional.

• 

  Photography: Three Nails Photography

  Plan of attack: As with any good exhibition, reception venue staff and any helpers will need to be informed about how you’d like the table arranged and cakes cut in advance of your wedding day. Include any instructions in your “running sheet” — your schedule that outlines the order of events and who is responsible for what on your wedding day.

• Dessert is served: Ensure guests are informed about when they can help themselves to the table, or how the desserts will be served. You don’t want people pinching slices of cake before everyone has had a chance to admire its beauty, or before the photographer has snapped it. Indicate the table opening time with a sign or label, or ask your Master of Ceremonies to make an announcement about it during their introduction.
• Help yourself: Consider whether guests will serve themselves or if a waiter will do the honours. If it’s a self-serve table, ensure there are enough serving implements, plates, crockery and serviettes available for guests. Also consider traffic flow — is the table positioned in an easily accessible space?
• Sign me up: People like to know what they’re eating, so be sure to create labels or offer a menu that indicates what each sweet is and whether it takes into account any dietary requirements (gluten or nut-free, for example). Creating labels is your opportunity to fine-tune the table to suite your theme. Pick up some place card holders from a hospitality store for individual labels, or scribble down the menu — café style — on a propped-up blackboard.
• Decoration: Intersperse your sweets with flowers, frames, cushions, candlesticks or any ornaments that add colour and interest to the table. You don’t want the table to look sparse. Remember guests will be eating this with their eyes first, so it needs to look spectacular.
• Backdrop: You’ll notice some of the best dessert tables have a backdrop of some kind, whether it’s a cut of fabric, a frame or feature wall — something to add depth to the presentation.
• Please, Sir: Make sure you check with your venue co-ordinator whether a dessert table will be possible before you book your venue. Some venues have strict rules regarding what can be supplied externally and what must be made in-house. Also check if there will be any extra costs involved with setting up the table or serving cake.
• Eat up: You’ve put so much effort into creating this masterpiece of flavour and flamboyance — now don’t forget to enjoy it! Tell your venue or events manager to set aside a piece or two of your favourite cakes to ensure you get to savour the fruits of your labour.

Are you considering a dessert table for your wedding? Share your ideas or tips…  

An Editor’s Wedding is a series of blog posts written by the editor of Complete Wedding Sydney, Jodie McLeod, who is currently also planning her own wedding. Find out more here.

Children at Weddings

It’s a question that continues to plague engaged couples – should children be invited to a wedding? If you’re planning your special day and haven’t decided whether or not to have kids present, read on for things to consider and tips for accommodating children if you decide to take the plunge.

What to consider

Before deciding whether you’d like children at your wedding, there are some basics to consider. Firstly, while accommodating children can be tough on your patience and budget, a wedding is a great opportunity for family to come together, an increasingly rare occurrence as families tend to live further away from each other. If children aren’t present, or if guests can’t attend the wedding because their children aren’t invited, remember that it may be a while before your paths cross again.

Source: weddingaces.com

Other considerations are the location and setting of the event. Children are far better suited to casual affairs than all-out formal functions, so if you’re having a ceremonial black-tie reception at $150 a head, it might make more sense for them to sit out.

As it’s still a touchy subject, be tactful if you would prefer to have adults only on the day. Invites should be strategically worded; listing only the names of guests you are accommodating (‘John and Mary Smith’ instead of ‘The Smith Family’). Making your preference clear on the invitation helps avoid confusion or uncomfortable situations closer to the date.

If you’re prepared to do a little extra work and share your day with the kids, here are tips to ease stress on everyone involved.

The Ceremony

While adults can appreciate the significance of a moving ceremony, you’ll be lucky to get kids to sit still for 5 minutes let alone the whole service. Some churches have rooms for entertaining children during the ceremony but accommodating children in other venues can be tricky.

Source: chicbride.co.uk

Distractions are key for keeping kids content, and the best way to do this with minimal fuss is by providing an activity bag at the start of the day.

Give each child a small assortment of activities, as well as a treat, like a box of raisins. Stay away from sugary snacks that will hype them up, and make the contents age-appropriate.

If your budget permits, you could organise for some babysitters or even a mobile child-care service to be present throughout the entire day. This eases stress on you and your guests, and ensures that no one feels obliged to supervise instead of enjoying the celebrations.

Food

While you might love seafood and sophisticated sauces, most children won’t be as thrilled. Providing alternatives ensures that you don’t blow your budget on food that won’t be touched, or have children going hungry at the end of the night. Familiar foods like cheesy pasta, hot dogs, chicken nuggets and pizza are all sure bets.

Seat children at the same table and provide activities like crayons and activity books to guarantee some quiet-time for speeches and other ceremonious moments.

Activities

Children love to feel involved, so keep them entertained throughout the day by giving them something to do. Handing out bonbonierres and helping guests to their seats are just some ways children can interact with other guests and feel responsible.

It goes without saying that children look adorable in photos no matter how they behave, so organize with your photographer to have a kids-only shoot. Forget the stiff, forced smiles though – encourage silly faces and fun instead. They’ll appreciate a break from the formality of the occasion and feel special with their own memento of the day.

Source: yubacityphotographers.com

Everyone knows that weddings are all about the show stopping dress—but that doesn’t mean your groom’s get-up should be overlooked when planning your big day.

Men’s suits have come far from shabby formal-hire attire, so take inspiration from the runways and red carpets and add personal touches for a groom who stands out.

Classic

It goes without saying that you can’t go past a classic. If you want timeless class, go no further than black. Keep it modern with a slim fit, and remember, it’s all about the details. Bring out the old-school glamour with thin lapels and a crisp white shirt and update the classic look with this season’s fixtures, like hints of velvet. George Clooney does black-tie right on the red carpet, accenting with stylish patent shoes.

George Clooney at this year's Oscars

For re-emerging classics, try the three-piece suit or a double-breasted jacket. Each featured strongly on the catwalks this year, but both are established enough to remain relevant while providing some interest and class.

While black might be the default ‘classic’, a grey suit can provide just as much elegance for grooms. Go lighter and pair with white for summer, or opt for heavier tones and fabrics for the colder months.

Preppy

British prep was big on the runways this year, with natural palettes of brown and grey, muted accessories, and richly textured materials perfect for winter. Understated patterns and tweed also featured, which when used sparingly can class up a simple men’s suit and provide rustic outdoor charm.

They can give a more casual feel without looking informal, and suit an intimate outdoor wedding perfectly. For spring, add preppy cool to a blazer with coloured trim and pair with chinos for a casual twist.

Quirky Cool

Jeff Banks

With the increasing amount of brides favouring pastel or metallic dresses over traditional white, don’t be afraid to freshen up a simple men’s suit with some colour. Keep it timeless by opting for a classic fit, and don’t go overboard with the colour scheme.

Try a bright shirt under a neutral suit, and limit it to colours that appear throughout the bridal party—aim to complement rather than clash. If you want an even more subtle look for your groom, accent a subdued scheme with a colourful or patterned handkerchief or bow-tie for an interesting focal point.

Accessories

Accessories can make or break an otherwise immaculate outfit, so choose wisely. Think about the elements in your groom’s outfit, as well as your own style and try to complement them. Is he wearing tweed? Think braces and brogues. Is your dress heavily detailed? Pare his accessories back and go super sleek, accenting with refined patent shoes.

For a sentimental touch, forgo the corsage and pin a meaningful accessory to the lapel—just as the bride has something old, new, borrowed and blue, make it significant and personalise the groom’s look.

Louis Vuitton

With the humble garden wedding as popular as ever, make sure you have the accessories to match. Sunglasses in classic shapes will provide both style and functionality to the groom, as will formal hats in a neutral colour. For cold weather weddings, don’t neglect your choice of outerwear, with men’s coats as stylish as ever. Channel this ensemble from Louis Vuitton, with intricate accessories and immaculate footwear.

Groomsmen

A recent trend has been to let each bridesmaid choose her own outfit in a specific colour, meaning each body shape is flattered and there’s not a pink tulle nightmare in sight. For a modern and personalised look for your wedding, let the gentlemen do the same.

If the thought of the groom and groomsmen choosing their own outfits for your special day terrifies you though, pick a few styles and details (perhaps from a specific designer you like) and have them build their own looks from a collection, so you can keep an aesthetic theme (and your sanity!).