What Tie to Wear to a Wedding: Color, Width and Etiquette
Minchu NguyenQuick answer: For most weddings, wear a silk tie in a color that suits the season and time of day: light blue, silver gray or soft pastels for daytime and spring, navy, burgundy or deep green for evening and autumn. Keep the width close to your lapels, about 3.1 inches (8 cm) for most suits, and avoid the exact color the groomsmen wear. If the invitation says black tie, the traditional choice is a black bow tie.
The invitation sits propped against the mirror while you knot your tie for the third time. The quiet worry is being the man who misread the dress code: too casual next to the tuxedos, or too loud in the group photo. The couple will look at those photographs for years, and a tie that suits the light and the setting simply settles into a good picture. Here is how to choose one.
Do wedding guests wear ties?
At formal and semi-formal weddings, yes, men commonly wear a suit and tie. At cocktail weddings a tie is still the safe default. At beach, garden or explicitly casual weddings, many men skip the tie, though a light silk tie is rarely out of place. When the invitation gives a dress code, follow it. When it does not, a dark suit and a tie will fit almost any wedding held in the evening, and a lighter suit and tie suits most daytime events.
Wedding dress codes and what tie each one means
Dress codes are guidance from the couple, and they are interpreted a little differently by different hosts. This table shows how they are commonly read in the US.
| Dress code | What men usually wear | Tie |
|---|---|---|
| White tie | Black tailcoat, white waistcoat, wing collar shirt | White bow tie |
| Black tie | Tuxedo or dinner jacket | Black bow tie, traditionally |
| Black tie optional or formal | Tuxedo, or a dark suit | Bow tie with a tuxedo; dark silk necktie with a suit |
| Cocktail or semi-formal | Suit in navy, charcoal or gray | Silk necktie, color welcome |
| Dressy casual or garden | Lighter suit, or jacket and trousers | Optional; lighter colors and textures |
| Casual or beach | Linen or cotton, often no jacket | Usually none |
What does a black tie wedding mean?
A black tie wedding is an evening event where men are expected to wear a tuxedo or dinner jacket. The name comes from the black bow tie traditionally worn with it. Some guests wear a long black silk necktie instead, and many hosts accept it, but the classic form is the bow tie.
Is a wedding ever white tie?
Rarely. White tie is the most formal Western dress code, with a tailcoat and white bow tie, and it is reserved for a small number of ceremonial or state occasions. If a wedding invitation asks for it, the couple will usually give guidance on where to rent the clothes.
What color tie to wear to a wedding
Start with the time of day and the season, then check the wedding colors if the couple has shared them.
- Daytime, spring and summer: light blue, silver gray, soft pink, pale green, lavender. Lighter ties look natural in daylight and in outdoor photographs.
- Evening, autumn and winter: navy, burgundy, deep green, plum, charcoal. Darker colors look composed under indoor lighting.
- Celebratory weddings: red and gold suit many cultural weddings, including many Vietnamese and Chinese American weddings, where red is a traditional color of celebration.
Colors to think twice about
- All-white ties. Some guests avoid white so attention stays on the couple.
- Black neckties at a daytime wedding. They can look somber in daylight. Save black for the evening.
- The exact color of the wedding party. If you know the groomsmen wear burgundy, a guest in a near-identical tie can be mistaken for one of them in photos.
- Novelty prints. A small, quiet pattern suits a wedding well; a joke tie can look out of step with the vows.
What width tie for a wedding?
Match the tie to your lapels. For a standard suit, 3.1 inches (8 cm) is the classic width and looks right in group photographs. For a slim-cut suit with narrow lapels, a 2.4 inch (6 cm) tie keeps the proportions in line. If the groomsmen are wearing matching ties, they should all wear the same width, and the couple usually decides. For a deeper look at width, length and pattern, see our guide on how to choose a silk tie.
What knot for a wedding tie?
Choose the knot to fit the collar.
- Four-in-hand: a slim, slightly asymmetrical knot. Works with point and narrow collars, and with thicker woven silk.
- Half Windsor: medium and symmetrical. A good default for semi-spread collars and for most weddings.
- Full Windsor: wide and symmetrical. Suits wide spread collars and taller men, and uses more length.
Whichever you choose, pinch a dimple just below the knot as you tighten it, and check that the tip touches the top of your belt buckle. Our step-by-step guide on how to tie a tie walks through each knot.
Ties for the groom and groomsmen
The couple usually picks the groomsmen's ties so the wedding party looks coordinated. Common approaches are matching ties in one of the wedding colors, or ties in the same color family with different patterns. A woven silk tie photographs with depth, because the pattern catches light differently across the knot and blade. Every Folk Form tie is woven jacquard in 100% mulberry silk, priced at $142, or $167 for dragon ties. For ideas on giving them, read our guide to groomsmen gifts in silk.
A groom wearing French cuff shirts may want a tie and cufflink set. Our sets in the silk tie collection pair a woven tie with matching cufflinks, and they need shirts with French cuffs.
Is a mandarin collar formal enough for a wedding?
A mandarin collar shirt is worn without a tie, so it sits most naturally at dressy casual, garden and beach weddings. Under a well-cut suit in a dark color it can pass at a cocktail wedding, but for formal and black tie optional invitations a collared shirt and tie is the safer reading. See our mandarin collar shirt guide for how to wear one.
A tie as a wedding or anniversary gift
Silk is the traditional gift for a 12th wedding anniversary in the US, so a silk tie is a fitting anniversary present for a husband, and he can wear it to the next wedding on the calendar. For more ideas, see 12th anniversary gift ideas in silk and linen or browse silk anniversary gifts.
If you are ordering for a wedding, plan ahead: delivery takes 10 to 18 business days from order, including 1 to 3 days to leave our Hanoi atelier and 9 to 15 business days to the US.
Frequently asked questions
What color tie should a man wear to a wedding?
Choose lighter colors such as light blue, silver gray or pastels for daytime and spring weddings, and darker colors such as navy, burgundy or deep green for evening and autumn. Avoid matching the wedding party's exact color.
Can I wear a regular tie to a black tie wedding?
The traditional choice is a black bow tie with a tuxedo. Many hosts accept a plain black silk necktie, so check with the couple if you are unsure.
Is a silk tie appropriate for a wedding?
Yes. Silk is the traditional fabric for dress ties, and its sheen looks right in both daylight and evening photographs.
What knot is good for a wedding tie?
A half Windsor suits most collars and looks balanced in photos. Choose a four-in-hand for narrow collars and a full Windsor for wide spread collars.
What width tie is right for a wedding?
Match the tie to your lapels: 3.1 inches (8 cm) for standard suits and 2.4 inches (6 cm) for slim suits with narrow lapels.
Can wedding guests skip the tie?
At casual, beach or garden weddings, many men do. At formal, semi-formal and cocktail weddings, a tie is the expected default.
Should groomsmen wear matching ties?
Often, yes, and the couple usually chooses them. Some couples prefer ties in one color family with different patterns for a softer look.
Browse every guide in our silk scarf and tie guides.
