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Urgent help - wedding tomorrow - how to wear 3 piece suit correctly

AdamUK

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Hi everyone,

I have a 3 piece suit for my wedding tomorrow.

The suit is two buttons single breasted.

Wasitcoast 5 buttons single breasted.

When should I button up my jacket if at all? I was thinking top button at the alter. I am not sure if it should be done up for photos with my partner and the group ones? The throwing of confetti and walking about? I have seen some articles saying if you wear a 3 piece the jacket should never be buttoned.

Should I leave the bottom button of the waistcoat undone there seems to be lots of conflicting advice.

Lastly I have read with a 3 piece suit I should not be wearing a belt? I have got a black belt which matches my shoes and the trousers have the buckles.

Any help appreciated
 

breakaway01

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Congratulations!

Buttoning the jacket is optional but I would personally button the jacket at the altar.

I generally would not wear a belt with a 3 piece suit. When you say that your trouser has "buckles" do you mean side adjusters? If so, use those instead if your pants will stay up without a belt. Side adjusters and/or braces are best for a 3pc. If you must wear a belt, you never want the belt to be visible, so whether your belt matches your shoes is irrelevant. Even if the belt is hidden, the buckle prevents the bottom of the vest from laying flat.
 

AdamUK

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Congratulations!

Buttoning the jacket is optional but I would personally button the jacket at the altar.

I generally would not wear a belt with a 3 piece suit. When you say that your trouser has "buckles" do you mean side adjusters? If so, use those instead if your pants will stay up without a belt. Side adjusters and/or braces are best for a 3pc. If you must wear a belt, you never want the belt to be visible, so whether your belt matches your shoes is irrelevant. Even if the belt is hidden, the buckle prevents the bottom of the vest from laying flat.
Thank you!

By buckles I mean the outside of the trousers has buckles all the way around the outside for a belt to be slotted through.

I think my trousers stay up without a belt but will need to double check. Never realised people did not wear belts with a 3 piece
 

breakaway01

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Ah . Those are called belt loops. It is more important for your trousers to stay up. Wear a belt if you need to.
 
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Three piece suit is meant to be worn with braces, also known as suspenders. A belt is not "proper" when wearing a vest. Still, it is more important to keep your pants up, so if you don't have any braces, wear the belt. There are also a lot of others that wear belts with vests, and I do as well for any casual setting, though formal is always braces.

Buttoning the jacket while wearing a vest is not necessary, though it's also not frowned on to my knowledge. It originates with braces and shirts being considered undergarments. Since the vest already covers the shirt (largely), then the jacket can be unbuttoned. Of course, this was also a time where men in formal settings would button everything completely. So, I would think that buttoning the jacket while wearing a vest is more of a personal decision.
 

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