A Made to Measure Wedding Suit Guide

Jack Bunneys have been making wedding suits on a made-to-measure basis for grooms since 1958.   Making a wedding suit, is far trickier task then just making any old suit.   Work suits, business suits or even an evening suit do not come with the same pressures as making a suit for a groom.

Often the groom is having a suit made-to-measure for the first time in his adult life and often this is the most expensive suit he will ever purchase.  But more concerning for the groom, this is the suit that all of his friends and family will be looking at throughout the wedding day.   The pressure to select the correct suit can be enormous.  Almost as much pressure as the bride has when selecting her dress.  Certainly not quite as much, but the level of expectation is comparable.

It is this expectation that makes our job as tailors a little more pressured.   Each and every suit we complete must be perfect.  Each suit must fit, each suit must be without imperfection and each suit should be on-time!   The fact that we have been completing hundreds of wedding suits each year for 60 years is certainly reassuring,  we have seen almost every possible wedding suit-drama-scenario!

The key to avoiding any unnecessary complications is to be prepared!  Do your research, save a host of images of suits you like and form some personal opinions on style.  After all a bespoke or made-to-measure suit should be 100% unique and a reflection of your own sense of style.

It is within this spirit of research and preparedness that I have wrote this article about ‘Made to Measure Wedding Suits’ , I would however urge some caution; not all tailors are the same.  We do not all use the same terminology, we do not all hold the same opinions and there are no hard-fast rules.  This article is just my opinion, from the perspective of making a whole bunch of wedding suits for grooms over the years.

 

1. The Service.       The service is very important.  Always research what type of tailor you are talking to before you meet them.   Some ‘tailors’ may never have made a suit in their lives.  They simply sell and measure for the suits.  Which is fine, if they are open and honest about that.   At Jack Bunneys we offer a ‘bespoke’ service and a ‘made to measure’ service.  The ‘bespoke’ suits are made on site, by hand.   The ‘Made to Measure’ suits are made in Germany, by machines.  Both are exceptionally well made, but the ‘Made to Measure’ suits are far cheaper and are far more popular with our customers.   We are open and honest about where our suits are made and have examples of each to share with a potential client.    Most tailors will now offer a ‘Made to Measure’ service (in the interest of keeping down costs for the customer) it is the quality of this service that you need to look into.  What options are available?  What do they look like?  What is the fitting process?  All of these are good questions when first discussing a ‘Made to Measure’ service.   Visit multiple tailors, discuss which options are available and select the service that suits you best.
2. The Cloth.        This is the second most important choice you will have to make.   The quality of the cloth will determine just how good your suit can be.  With such a large variety of Mills and cloth bunches to choose from, be sure to seek advice from your tailor.  When selecting a fabric for a wedding suit, remember that you are trying to choose a fabric that will fit  ‘your’ wedding.   It is a special occasion so you can afford to choose a more luxurious cloth than you would normally choose for any other occasion.  However choose your fabric not simply on luxury, but rather the ‘style’ of wedding you are looking to create.   Try to be ambitious with your cloth choice, select a cloth that will stand out in the crowd of suits worn by guests.  You must select a fabric to reflect your personality, the style of wedding you are trying to achieve, to stand out and also look effortlessly stylish.   It really is a difficult choice!
3. The Style.        Once you have selected your suit cloth, you must now design your suit with your tailor.  It is always worthwhile researching suit styles before having your consultation with your tailor.  Tailors often talk in technical jargon that you may not understand, however if you were to show your tailor an image he/she will no doubt understand your intentions.  A large part of the tailors skill is to interpret what the customer wants!  You can make this easier by doing your homework and articulating your requests.   Some style options may be governed by the cloth you have already selected.  Some style options may also be limited by your size or shape.  Trust the professional and seek their advice.  You may have a very set style in mind, but the tailor will have a lifetimes of experience in visualising this style on your body shape.  Work together to create your perfect wedding suit.
4. Customisations.      Most made-to-measure services and bespoke services, will allow for a certain amount of personal customisation.  Such as monogramming, coloured button holes, velvet collars, coloured under collars, fancy linings and buttons (and lots more too!).   It is always fantastic to customise your suit.  You feel special and unique by adding your own personalised customisations.  A truly one-off garment!   A word of caution however, too many customisations will not only date your suit, but also give the impression of trying too hard.  Remember that a wedding suit should be effortlessly stylish.   Select customisations which are subtle or necessary.   If a velvet collar is going to enhance the ‘look’ of the suit, that is great.  If it detracts from the style of the suit, then it is unnecessary and unwanted. Ask your tailors advice before adding any supplementary style options.   Which buttons would sit best on this cloth?  Would a fancy lining be appropriate on this style of suit?
5. Fittings.         Many made-to-measure or bespoke suit services will take a number of weeks to produce with various fittings along the way.   A general rule of thumb would be to allow 3 months to have a suit made.  Although there will be fittings along the way before the wedding, it is worth remembering that your suit is being cut to your shape and size.   Losing a small amount of weight may not be an issue, but changing shape will have an effect on your finished garment.  Adding muscle within those last 12 weeks is also going to cause issues with the fit of your finished garment.  Try to maintain your size, weight and shape throughout the fitting process.  If you are planning a fitness regime in the run-up to your wedding day, work towards the date of 12 weeks in advance of the wedding and then maintain the size/shape in those last 3 months.   Whilst attending your suit fittings communicate with your tailor about your body-shape and any requests you may have in regards to how your suit fits.  Communication is the key to successful suit fittings.
6. Collection.         You have now designed your suit, you have attended your suit fittings and you are now ready to collect your wedding suit for the big day!  If for any reason you are now not happy with this finished garment communicate with your tailor and try to resolve the issue.   DO NOT pay the balance and take the suit home!   This is a story I hear all too often.  Over the years I have heard thousands of stories of a customer having had a suit made, which they were not happy with but are stuck with anyway.   I am always gobsmacked of how this could possibly happen.  If your suit does not fit (and you have maintained your own size) this is NOT a made-to-measure or bespoke garment.  This is just a suit.    Your relationship with your wedding suit tailor, should be a symbiotic one.  You should be working together to create a garment which you will be proud to wear on your wedding day.  When both you and your tailor are looking into the fitting room mirror and smiling at the wonderful finished garment, take your suit home and prepare to wear it for the most important day of your life.  In the knowledge that you have a suit which fits your personality, your style, your body and your wedding to complete perfection.  A true one-off.