How to accessorise for a summer wedding

Being well into summer you know that means: an abundance of weddings to attend. While you might have already got your outfit sorted, knowing how to accessorise properly can take your look to the next level. Here, Edward Pritchard, from designer menswear retailer Pritchards, shares his tips for accessorising your summer wedding outfit, so you can impress from head to toe.

Dressing to impress isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to adding the appropriate finishing touches to formal looks. But, with summer on the horizon and no doubt plenty of weddings to attend, knowing what accessories you can pair with your summer wedding attire will win you some extra style points.

In this article, I’ll be sharing my tips for picking accessories that will complete your wedding looks.

Stick to the dress code

Wedding dress codes can be confusing, with everything from smart-casual to black-tie and white-tie possible. But, before you can begin to plan your accessories, you’ll need to know what level of formality is expected from you — this is usually documented on the invitations. This is because it won’t always be appropriate to wear certain things like ties or cufflinks, and it can even restrict your jewellery if the dress code is smart.

Colour co-ordinate your outfit and accessories

One way of ensuring your accessories look sleek and sharp is to avoid clashing colours between these and your suit and going with complementary hues that will give you a put-together look. If the dress code requires you to wear a tie, matching these to the colour of your suit or other elements of your formal wear will ensure you look the part.

Men’s summer suits tend to come in lighter, seasonal colours, meaning you can get a little more inventive with the shade of your accessories. For example, pairing a neutral coloured linen suit with a pastel tie will ensure you look summer-ready and the breathable fabric will also keep you cool. If your suit has fancy buttons, you could consider matching your jewellery to these.

Add subtle details

You don’t need to use accessories to make a statement: sometimes, subtlety is key. So, if you’re looking to keep it simple, adding classic and understated pieces of jewellery can really tie your wedding attire together. Whether you’re more into rings, watches, necklaces or bangles, it’s important that these are all one solid colour and are as plain as possible to ensure that they remain subtle.

You can also add stunning details to your summer wedding attire with something as simple as a pocket square. As people will only see a small corner of these, you can afford to choose a busier pattern than you can with other accessories.

Focus on one statement piece

Wedding goers tend to get more inventive with their outfits when the summer sun is shining, but with so many bold and bright colours being brought out, it can be easy to overdo it. To get around this, I would advise settling on one statement accessory. This means you still get to add some personal touches to your look but will ensure you stay in keeping with the dress code.

There are so many different ways you could do this, depending on your preferences. For example, if you’re more into jewellery than other accessories, wearing a statement designer watch can certainly boost your style points and add a touch of luxury. If you really want to strike the perfect balance between subtle and statement, you could even get a colourful pair of shoes — light grey, cream and mustard are all great for catching people’s eyes.

Summer is a time to get creative with your style, so why not take the opportunity at the weddings you are attending this year? No matter how formal or casual your wedding style, hopefully you’ve found some inspiration for accessorising in the tips above.