Weddings · Est. 1972
Father of thebride
You’ll be in more photographs than you expect, standing next to people you love, for the rest of your life. Worth getting right.
The father of the bride should match the wedding party’s formality without matching the groomsmen exactly. The Man’s Shop in Arlington, Texas fits fathers of the bride and groom in custom or ready-to-wear, coordinating with the wedding party. Start eight to twelve weeks ahead for custom.
The principle
Match the level, not the uniform
The father of the bride should read as part of the same event as the wedding party, without looking like a groomsman who wandered into the wrong photograph.
In practice that means matching the formality — black tie with black tie, a suit with suits — while differing in the details. A different tie, a different pocket square, sometimes a slightly different cloth.
The one thing worth checking early is what the groom’s party is wearing. Five minutes of coordination prevents the most common wedding photograph problem, which is two men in almost but not quite the same outfit.
By dress code
What to wear
- Black tie
- A tuxedo. Peak or shawl lapel, black or midnight blue. If the groom is in a tuxedo, you are in a tuxedo — this is not the moment to differentiate downward.
- Black tie optional
- A tuxedo if you own one, otherwise a dark suit in navy or charcoal with a conservative tie. Both are correct.
- Formal or cocktail
- A well-fitted dark suit. Navy photographs better than black for most men in daylight.
- Daytime or garden
- Lighter cloth and lighter colour. A mid-grey or lighter navy suit, or a sport coat and trousers if the wedding is genuinely relaxed.
- Texas outdoor, summer
- Tropical wool or a linen blend. This matters more than any styling decision if the ceremony is outdoors in July.
Timing
Start earlier than feels necessary
Twelve weeks out
Ask the couple what the wedding party is wearing. Everything else follows from the answer.
Eight to ten weeks
Order if you are going custom. That leaves comfortable margin for the build plus any adjustments.
Two weeks out
Final adjustments and a full try-on with shoes. Not the week of — you have enough to do.
Common questions
Father of the bride, answered
What should the father of the bride wear?
Match the wedding party’s level of formality without matching the groomsmen exactly. If the groom wears a tuxedo, you wear a tuxedo, differentiated by tie and pocket square rather than by dressing down. For a suit wedding, a well-fitted dark suit in navy or charcoal is correct.
Should the father of the bride match the groomsmen?
No. You should match the formality, not the outfit. Wearing the identical suit and tie as the groomsmen reads as an oversight in photographs. A different tie and pocket square in a related palette is the usual solution.
How far in advance should I order?
Eight to twelve weeks for custom, which allows four to six weeks for the build plus comfortable margin for adjustments. Off-the-rack needs about two weeks for alterations. Either way, start by asking the couple what the wedding party is wearing.
Should I buy or rent for my daughter’s wedding?
Buy, in almost every case. You will be photographed extensively and those photographs outlast the day by decades. A rental is cut to fit many men adequately rather than you well, and the difference is visible.
What colour suit for a father of the bride?
Navy or charcoal for most weddings. Navy photographs better than black in daylight and is more useful afterwards. For summer or outdoor weddings in Texas, go lighter in both colour and cloth weight.
Can you coordinate me with the groom’s father?
Yes, and it is worth doing. The two fathers appear in many of the same photographs, and a short conversation about formality and palette prevents an awkward mismatch. We can handle both if they are willing to come in.
Twelve weeks is comfortable
Start early
Ask the couple what the party is wearing, then come see us. The rest is straightforward.
100 S. West Street, Arlington, Texas 76010
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm · Closed Sunday
(817) 265-1116