Wedding tie

For grooms that go to work in jeans and t-shirts, wearing any sort of tie on their wedding day will be daunting, and those that wear a tie to the office every day might be looking for something more exotic than their usual necktie. Here is a short glossary of wedding tie types, along with some common groom questions on choosing their wedding tie.

Common wedding tie types explained

The necktie

A necktie is the long tie that many businessmen wear to work with an office style suit. It can still be dressy enough for a wedding, however, but the groom might want to look for something he wouldn’t usually wear to work such as a silver or gold tie. It is the ideal choice for a less formal wedding where the groom is wearing a lounge suit.

The Ascot

Also known as a cravat, the Ascot is a very formal tie which is usually worn with a cutaway jacket and grey striped trousers. Many grooms enjoy the chance to wear a cravat or Ascot which certainly isn’t an everyday tie. The material of an Ascot is usually patterned and the tie is very wide in shape, being folded over and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack.

The classic bow tie

A bow tie consists of a ribbon of fabric which ties around the collar symmetrically in such a way that the two opposite ends form loops. It is usually worn with a tuxedo and the standard colour choice is black, although bow ties are available in a wide range of colours, fabrics and patterns. Many grooms choose to match their bow tie with the bridesmaids’ dresses. Black is usually considered a more formal option, so a coloured bow tie is a good way to dress down a tuxedo

The Euro tie

The Euro tie is the perfect compromise for grooms seeking the formality and novelty of an Ascot style cravat, with a little less of the pomp and ceremony. It is a long square bottomed tie which is tied at the neck and worn with a wing or spread collar shirt. Like the Ascot it is best worn with a morning suit.

Here are three of the questions that grooms often ask about the wedding tie:

Can the groom wear a black tie?

Traditionally black neckties were reserved for funerals and mourning so weren’t seen as very appropriate for weddings. However, these days the rules have become more relaxed, and any colour can be worn to any occasion. If a black tie looks great with the groom’s outfit then he should go for it; but try to make sure there is a little colour somewhere in his ensemble.

Must the groom wear a self tie bow tie?

Clip on or ready tied bow ties can look as good as self tied ones, and sometimes neater if the groom isn’t great at tying one. However, there is a certain satisfaction from tying a bow tie, and an untied bow tie hanging loosely around the neck by the end of the reception can look really sexy.

Must the groom’s tie match the groomsmen?

Traditionally the groom would wear exactly the same as the groomsmen, but as with most wedding etiquette, the rules have become more relaxed. The wedding tie is often the place where the groom can express his own personality, and while the ties should preferably be the same style, they can certainly be different colours.