12 Old Money Wedding and Engagement Outfits for Men

A wedding or an engagement shoot is the one day your outfit gets photographed from every angle. Loud colors and shiny fabric age badly in pictures. Quiet ones, the old money kind, still look good twenty years later.

These 12 old money wedding and engagement outfits for men show how it's done. Some are full suits, some are just a knit vest and cream trousers. Each one lists the pieces and tells you where it works, from the ceremony to the engagement session.

1. Cream Overshirt With Beige Trousers

This is the calmest look on the list. A cream button-up jacket over a pale shirt, with beige trousers, all in one soft family of colors. It's what you wear to a morning engagement session or a brunch with both families, when a suit would feel like too much.

Wear it to: an engagement brunch, a garden photo session, a rehearsal lunch.

Swap: a stone chore jacket does the same job.

2. Cream Suit, Pale Shirt and White Sneakers

A cream suit next to a cream vintage car looks planned. The shirt is open at the collar, there's no tie, and the white sneakers keep the whole thing relaxed. It reads as old money because nothing in it is loud.

Wear it to: a summer or garden wedding, a beach ceremony, an engagement shoot.

Swap: cream shows every mark. A stone linen suit hides more.

3. Grey Suit and Pale Blue Tie Under a Stone Arcade

A mid grey suit is the safest choice for a guest, and this one shows why. The pale blue tie is soft against the grey, and the black shoes are polished. Stone and brick behind him match the quiet colors. You don't need a fancy venue to look like you belong in one.

Wear it to: a church wedding, a daytime ceremony, an engagement dinner.

Swap: a navy tie makes it a little more formal.

4. Grey Three Piece Suit in a White Hallway

Here the suit comes with a vest, and the brown shoes stop it from feeling like office wear. Against all that white, the grey looks darker and sharper. If the bride is in white, a grey suit lets her stand out without clashing.

Wear it to: a city hall wedding, a small ceremony, an engagement shoot indoors.

Swap: take the vest off for the reception and the suit still works.

5. Blue Suit and Red Tie on a Lawn

A mid blue suit with one red tie is simple and it works. The suit does the talking, and the tie is the only color. On a green lawn the blue looks fresh and the red looks sharp, not loud.

Wear it to: an outdoor wedding, a lawn party, a spring engagement party.

Swap: a burgundy tie is a quieter version of the red.

6. Navy Suit, White Shirt and a Boutonniere

This is the groom's look in its simplest form. A navy suit, a white shirt, a dark tie and a small pale flower on the lapel. He's looking down at his cuff, which is a good detail: your shirt cuff should show about half an inch past the jacket sleeve.

Wear it to: the ceremony itself, an evening wedding, any formal dinner.

Swap: a navy suit is also the best one to rent if you don't want to buy.

7. Cream Knit Vest and White Trousers for a Garden Walk

If you hate suits, start here. A cream knit vest with a dark trim over a pale beige shirt feels like a tennis club. White trousers and a brown belt finish it. It also matches a gold or champagne dress without trying.

Wear it to: an engagement photo session, a garden party, a rehearsal dinner in summer.

Swap: a pale grey knit vest is a little easier to keep clean.

8. Taupe Three Piece Suit With Tinted Glasses

Taupe is the old money answer to grey. It's warmer and it looks great on a sunny day. A navy tie gives the contrast, and the amber glasses add one small point of style. Against the teal door, the suit looks even richer.

Wear it to: a daytime wedding, a destination wedding, an engagement party.

Swap: a sand colored suit with no vest is lighter for hot weather.

9. Brown Tie and Tan Trousers on a White Sofa

Nothing fancy here, which is the point. A crisp white shirt, a brown patterned tie and tan trousers sit well next to a white satin dress and pearls. It's a good template for an engagement shoot, where the jacket often comes off.

Wear it to: an engagement shoot at home, a studio session, a small indoor ceremony.

Swap: a knit tie in the same brown gives a softer texture.

10. Dark Green-Grey Suit With a Burgundy Tie

Dark suits look best when the background is dark too. This deep olive-grey suit with a wine colored tie turns into something dramatic in a studio. It's more of a winter wedding or evening shoot color than a summer one.

Wear it to: a winter wedding, an evening reception, a formal studio session.

Swap: charcoal is the easier suit to find and works the same way.

11. Cream Shirt and Sunglasses by a Vintage Convertible

This one is about the setting as much as the clothes. A light shirt, dark sunglasses and an old silver convertible say old money before you've said a word. For an engagement shoot, a vintage car gives you a setting without needing props.

Wear it to: an engagement shoot, a getaway after the wedding, a summer rehearsal party.

Swap: a white open-collar shirt works if cream feels too soft.

12. Cream Knit Vest With Rolled Sleeves and a Tie on the Shoulder

Same vest as number 7, but dressed down. The sleeves are rolled, a patterned tie sits over his shoulder and there's a small gold digital watch on the wrist. It's what you look like after the ceremony, when the jacket is gone and the party starts. Learn how to roll your sleeves so they stay neat.

Wear it to: a reception, an after party, a casual engagement shoot.

Swap: swap the gold digital watch for a thin leather strap watch for a more classic feel.

How to Pick an Old Money Wedding Outfit

Keep the colors quiet. Cream, navy, grey, taupe and stone are the base. Add one color in the tie or the flower, and stop there.

Natural fabrics look richer. Wool, linen and cotton drape better than shiny polyester. If you only upgrade one thing, make it the jacket fabric.

Fit matters more than the price. The shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder bone. Sleeves end at your wrist bone, and about half an inch of shirt cuff shows. A tailor can fix the rest in a day.

Match the season.

Season	Colors and fabrics
Spring and summer	Cream, stone, sand, linen, light wool
Fall	Taupe, olive grey, mid grey, tweed
Winter	Navy, charcoal, dark olive, heavier wool

Don't try to outshine the couple. If you're the groom, coordinate with the bride's dress. If you're a guest, skip pure white and bright colors. For more on suits, see old money suit and tuxedo looks and classy wedding suit styles.

FAQ

What does a man wear to an old money wedding? A well fitted suit in navy, grey, taupe or cream, a white or pale shirt, a plain tie and leather shoes. Keep it simple and let the cut and the fabric do the work.

What should a groom wear for an old money engagement shoot? A cream knit vest with light trousers, or a cream suit with no tie. Both photograph well outdoors and feel relaxed. Match your colors to your partner's outfit.

Can I wear a cream or beige suit to a wedding? Yes, as a guest or a groom, as long as the bride isn't in the same color. Check with the couple first, especially if the dress code says white is off limits.

What color tie goes with an old money wedding suit? Navy, burgundy, pale blue and brown are the easiest. They sit quietly against grey, taupe and cream suits. Look at smart casual wedding outfits if the dress code is less formal.