Perhaps the most important consideration when it comes to buying a men’s wedding suit is understanding just how long the process will take. A proper made-to-measure suit will involve a series of fittings, measurement-taking appointments and final showings, not to mention the prep and production time. In my experience, you’re best off giving yourself anywhere between six and eight weeks from the initial appointment to the big day, however, it doesn’t hurt to add a week or two for good measure. Sure, you could grab an off-the-rack option, but for a day as special as this, bumping the price point up to made-to-measure level is definitely worth it.

When it did finally come time for me to pick my wedding suit, I definitely felt a wave of anxiety and indecisiveness creep in. On one hand, I really want to do something fun and different, while on the other, I didn’t want to completely ruin the photos. There’s nothing worse than looking back at happy snaps and realising those flared bell bottoms weren’t as cool as you originally thought, but the idea of wearing a stock-standard suit on arguably the most important day of my life filled me with dread. According to Wakefield, I certainly wasn’t alone in my concerns, with the InStitchu co-founder revealing that the inner battle between outstanding and standing out is extremely common.

Playing it safe isn’t always a bad thing, particularly when it comes to wedding suits, and as Wakefield points out, you can always add a touch of personality through the way you style your suit. The biggest consideration here is making sure it fits the overall style of the wedding. In fact, I actually found it way easier to have my fiancé on hand to see the process come to life, that way she could help steer the design in a direction that fit in with her dress.

One major thing I learned from my wedding is that accessories can really elevate an outfit. For all intents and purposes, my suit was a fairly standard beige two-piece, however, it was always designed with a few key additions in mind. In honour of the great Dolly Parton, my wife and I wanted things to be just a little bit country, so my suit was always going to feature a bolo tie and Stetson, but therein lies the importance of getting that information out early.

Another major thing to put on wedding suit consideration list is the weather. The location, season and setting of the event can help dictate the need for certain fabrics and styles, which will certainly narrow the scope.

Instead of simply slapping on any old thing you’ve got in the cupboard, buying a wedding suit that you can be proud of is an important first step in your next life chapter. Within that, there are some major things to consider. According to InStitchu co-founder and suiting expert James Wakefield, these are the things to keep front of mind when you step foot in the tailor’s room.

If you’re not quite ready to tie the knot, or you’re looking for something outside of the nuptial style space, why not check out our articles on the best suit styles for whatever occasion you’ve got coming up?