Planning Wedding Ties: Timelines For One Year to Last Minute

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• Timelines for designing your ties
• Four common types of customers
• Planning your wedding suit
• What to keep in mind six months before the wedding

When it comes to wedding suit planning, most to-do lists are either too specific, or not specific enough. Too many lists just say, “order groomswear” or “ask groomsmen to order attire,” without breaking down the different steps involved. No wonder groomsmen planning can feel so overwhelming!

A realistic timeline and a solid to-do-list take the stress out of planning wedding ties. This guide covers everything you need to know about planning groom and groomsmen attire.

Wherever you are in your wedding planning process, your first step should be ordering one of our ColorMatch chart. We will mail you a handy chart containing swatches for all 500+ color options in our vast palette, plus popular bridal company dress shades. This takes all of the guesswork out of color matching to ensure that your wedding looks picture perfect.

Order Your ColorMatch Chart

What timeline should I expect when designing my own wedding ties?

Once you’ve figured out the suit (more on that below), it’s time to consider the wedding ties and timeline, especially if you are designing custom ties for your wedding. Not only do custom ties make fantastic groomsmen gifts, but they also add personality and contribute to the overall design and theme of your wedding.

We suggest that you start designing your wedding ties several months before the wedding, but if you do happen to forget about neckwear until the last minute (it happens), we can always accommodate expedited timelines! While our fully custom designs have a 30 day turnaround, our hundreds of popular wedding patterns can be customized to your colors and delivered anywhere from about three weeks to just seven days!

Here's our delivery options for ties, bow ties, and pocket squares which you customize yourself:

Standard turnaround: 

• Estimated to ship in 15 calendar days (with your choice of USPS or UPS shipping)
  

Expedited turnarounds with Guaranteed Delivery via UPS: 

• Delivers in 15 calendar days
• Delivers in 10 calendar days
• Delivers in 7 calendar days

We count calendar days to keep things simple. For example, our "Delivers in 15 calendar days" option will have your order arrive no later than 15 calendar days from when it is placed.

We’ve seen them all, but here’s our most popular four types of customers and the timelines that work for them:

The Organizer

Organizers start their Pinterest boards on day one of wedding planning. He knows exactly which type of suit he will wear, and needs an exact color match for all the groomsmen too. Naturally, these detail-oriented planners order a color-match chart at least six months out from the wedding. They don’t leave anything to chance. Our "Estimated to ship in 15 calendar days" delivery options leave them with plenty of time.

The Full-On Customizer

Creativity and vision define the full-on customizer. Not only do they create their own wedding logo, but they need it on a tie with an ombre background! To support their vision for the wedding, full-on customizers begin at least three months out with a ColorMatch chart and custom design request.

They expect revisions, and know the turnaround is longer for custom pieces. Fully custom designs (where you create a totally custom pattern or we use artwork you provide) have a longer timeline which starts with 30 day plus shipping time. However, it's important to note that we can also delivery these as fast as 7 calendar days if needed!

The College Reunion

This groom couldn’t decide on the suit color, so now all seven groomsmen need to get fitted with less than a month to go. He designs all the groomsmen ties by customizing the colors in patterns that represent each of their personalities. Our 15 or 10 day expedites work best, so he has a guaranteed delivery date, even though he’s still got a little time.

The Last-Minute Color Matcher

This groom knew he was forgetting something! After getting the suits, he realizes he forgot to choose groomsmen ties — and the wedding is next weekend! The bridesmaids are all wearing Azazie Dusty Sage dresses, so he opts for our solid color ties and pocket squares matched to Azazie colors with our “Delivers in 7 calendar days” option.

What about planning my whole wedding suit?

It’s normal for the groom’s (and especially the groomsmen’s) suit planning and decisions to come last. After all, you can’t plan outfits for the rest of the party until the bride knows what she is wearing! Before selecting any wedding attire, you will need to make some key decisions about the celebration itself.

A year from the wedding is when most people start considering the look of their suit as a whole.

First things first: set timing, budget and formality. It’s hard to choose wedding attire for anybody, even the bride, until these factors are decided. After all, you wouldn’t want to order a tuxedo (or ball gown) then opt for a casual beach celebration! First decide on the following:

When is the wedding?

Summer weddings usually have a more casual, airy feel and could be a good option for a khaki or light grey suit with sorbet colored ties and pocket squares. A winter wedding, conversely, might call for a dark suit and more formal accessories, like a stately stripe or tartan versus a floral pattern.

The time of day also makes a difference. Evening ceremonies are traditionally more formal than morning or afternoon ones. A brunch wedding invites a playful bowtie or a colorful jacket, while an evening wedding calls for more traditional attire.

What is the overall formality (and budget) of the wedding?

The formality of the wedding will help you make decisions about attire as well. A multi-course sit down dinner calls for more formal attire than a casual buffet or outdoor BBQ. Indoor ceremonies are usually more formal than outdoor ones.

If you’re concerned that groomsmen ties are too formal for your wedding, consider that a customized wedding tie pattern nodding to the wedding theme in a fun way or simply offering a pop of color can create a relaxed yet polished look for everyone.

What to keep in mind six months before the wedding.

Once you know the season, time of day, and overall formality of the wedding, you are ready to select the attire for the groom and groomsmen. Wedding tie planning typically begins several months out from the wedding. Ask yourself the following apparel questions at this point in planning.

Will the groom and groomsmen be wearing suits or tuxedos?

Or maybe just slacks and shirts with a vest or suspenders? What color suit? Typically the more formal the wedding, the darker the suit. Some of the most formal dress codes request a black tie specifically, but feel free to still have some fun! Even black tie weddings allow some room to express yourself with accessories like pocket squares.

Will the groom wear the same attire as the groomsmen or will he wear something different?

When styling the groom and groomsmen, consider helping the groom stand out from the other men in the wedding party. The groom could wear a darker or lighter suit than the groomsmen. Another popular option is a “tell-tale” tie to distinguish the groom from the groomsmen.

For example, the groom could wear a bow tie while the groomsmen wear neckties. (Or vice-versa) Adding a matching or contrasting pocket square can help the groom stand out as well. You may also want to consider the best man wearing something different than the rest of the bridal party as well.

What accessories will the groom and groomsmen wear?

This could include ties or bow ties, pocket squares, suspenders, shoes, socks, and belts. As for neckwear, tuxedos are traditionally worn with a bow tie and suits play well with really any form of neckwear.

What will groomsmen need to order? What do they already own? Will they be renting or purchasing the attire?

This will come down to how uniform the bride and groom want everything to look. If the men will be wearing white shirts and black shoes, for example, is it okay if they wear their own, or should they all order identical pieces?

Always clarify who will pay for what.

It is customary for bridesmaids and groomsmen to pay for their own attire, of course, but you may want to purchase some of their accessories as gifts for your guests of honor. Groomsmen gift boxes often include custom designed ties and/or pocket squares to be worn in the ceremony. These accessories can also be worn for years to come, making them thoughtful and practical groomsmen gifts.

Whether you are providing groomsmen ties as a gift or expecting them to purchase their own, outline these arrangements upfront. That way expectations are aligned and your wedding party can anticipate the cost.
 

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