Style Guide: Fabrics and Colors
Here are a few things to consider when planning your elopement wedding outfit:
Take into account the season, weather, and location. You want to be comfortable, yet dapper, So, picking the right fabric is important.
For the colder months and locations, explore some heavier fabrics as some options. Fabrics such as cashmere, wool, silk, and velvet are all great choices to stay warm and stylish. Suits made out of these heavier fabrics will hold and maintain shape much better in comparison to a lightweight suit made for Spring or Summer. There are a couple different types of wool. Worsted wool is one of the most popular due its versatility and functionality. Other types of wool include tweed which is heavier than worsted, and flannel which is the heaviest of all, each giving you a different level of warmth and comfort.
Tweed is an ideal fabric for a fall or winter elopement. The fabric is composed of three or more different colored yarns giving you a unique pattern and thicker feel. It is warm and water resistant — perfect for an elopement in some cool, crisp mountains.
Cashmere is also a great option. It is incredibly soft and will give you that luxurious look and feel. However, it comes with the heftiest price tag usually and perhaps may not be the most suitable for an outdoor setting.
For the warmer months and locations, opt for lighter, more open fabrics. Linen, cotton, fresco, chambray, and seersucker are great as they will help you beat the heat and not your style. Unlike the winter fabrics we just discussed, these lighter, summery fabrics are much more deconstructed so they will not hold shape as well as for example wool or velvet. It is also important to know that due to the lightness of these fabrics, they might be see-through and become wrinkled more easily. Choosing a half-lined suit as opposed to an unlined one can help with that.
Whether you are going for a casual, semi-formal, or formal look, these warmer fabrics will give you exactly what you are looking for and not have to compromise on swagger.
Colors
Similarly, when taking season, weather, and location into account when exploring fabrics, the same must be done when choosing colors for your elopement suit.
Most importantly, consult with your partner and elopement wedding planner to get a feel for the theme and know what the aesthetic is. You can begin to narrow down colors, shades, and patterns by doing so.
Next, coordinate with the landscape. Do you want to blend in with the natural colors surrounding you, or do you want to make a statement and stand out in the scenery?
Style Guide: Brands and Budgets
The range of retailers and brands to buy your elopement suit from is extensive. Depending on what fabric, color, and budget you have in mind here are some suit brands that offer basically everything, even in-house customization and tailoring!
Suitsupply is a great place to get started. Their easy-to-navigate site will allow you to explore different cuts, styles, and fabrics. They have something for every type of wedding. They even offer customization for suits if you want something totally unique – can take up to 5 weeks so plan ahead.
Indochino is a great brand as well. The have hundreds of suits to choose from. They have very affordable, yet high quality two-piece options starting from the low $300s. The customization you can do on an Indochino suit is remarkable. You can even add on monogram lettering — for free! The possibilities are endless. They even have some showrooms you can visit around the U.S.
If you would like something more high-end, brands such as Hugo Boss, Brook Brothers, Ralph Lauren, just to name a couple offer exquisite, elegant pieces.
For the Bride’s dress, checkout our article on Wedding Dress Inspiration for Every Budget.
Suit Accessories
Accessories make up the small details that can make a big difference in your suit’s appearance. Let’s start with the ties.
Ties give you the opportunity to compliment your elopement destination. If you’re unsure what colors may compliment your elopement destination, it may be worth checking out something as simple as the Adobe Color Wheel. Turn the dial to Complementary and spin away. Turn to colors that represent the landscape you’re in and find what compliments it. Whether your tie is fat, skinn
y, solid or patterned, we trust you’ll look great and that your tie will make a great addition to your suit.
It would only be natural to follow up the discussion on ties with tie clips. Tie clips are there to hold your tie in place. I’d strongly recommend using a tie clip if you anticipate wind at your elopement destination as well as if you plan on doing any hiking or strenuous movements.
I would now like to touch on boutonnières. boutonnières give you a chance to represent the climate you’re in. Try finding a boutineer that could have been made using the flowers native to your elopement destination. It adds a thoughtful touch to your suit and will draw you that much closer to the land you’re eloping in.
Lastly, you’ll need someone to capture you during your special day. Visit our Photographer resource to find the perfect photographer for your elopement.
How to Pack
It’s not uncommon for an elopement destination to require a hike. The hikes can range anywhere from less than a mile to more than 5 miles of steep, rugged terrain. While we’re sure you’re planning to elope in your suit, we’d recommend hiking in with active, light clothing. This will require you to pack your suit. And that begs the question, “how can I pack a suit, carry it with me for miles on end, and ensure it stays clean and unwrinkled?” Let me tell you how.
If you have the capacity to carry a backpack or a duffel bag, I’d recommend checking out a great tutorial on how to fold a suit. This how-to article walks you through each fold required to ensure your suit comes out as unwrinkled as possible. Another piece of advice would be to wrap your suit in tissue paper to prevent fabric on fabric fiction on the hike in.
Simply carrying your suit in the garment bag is a great option too if you’re not looking to fold your suit and are willing to carry your suit in the garment bag it came in. If you do carry the garment bag, look for ways to fasten the hanger on your bag for easy transportation.
Whichever route you go, make sure whatever you carry your suit in is sand and dirt proof. Anything with a zipper is great and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep your suit wrapped in the protective plastic cover it comes with from the dry cleaner. And before you head out, make sure to checkout our Elopement Checklist to ensure you’ve covered everything you need to for a great elopement.