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For the boys

“There are many factors that will determine what to wear – climate, time of day, venue etc – but the biggest is what the couple getting married want. It’s their day, no one else’s, so they should decide on the dress code. Personally, I think it’s a great opportunity to dress up, and do something special,” says Olie Arnold, style director at Mr Porter, an online luxury fashion retailer.

Whether you go formal or casual, men should be wary of matching outfits. There’s a fine line between coordinating looks and looking like carbon copies. When lawyer Jason Ng and his partner Jack Chang wed in Toronto they opted for classic tuxedos styled differently.

“In fact we shopped together in Hong Kong, in the US and online. We thought coordination was important because we wanted to present ourselves as one unit, but at the same time we didn’t want to look like twins. To avoid looking identical, we chose tuxes with different accents, such as a shawl vs peak lapel, and one of us wearing a cummerbund and the other not,” says Ng.

Incorporate small details that speak to your personality while differentiating you and your partner. The idea is that you look unique, but that your outfits are still complementary. Going bespoke is the easiest way to achieve this; otherwise Arnold suggests exploring tailoring brands that offer ready-to-wear pieces, such as P. Johnson, Thom Sweeney and Saman Amel.

As a final touch, accessories can make a world of difference.

“It’s a reflection of you and your fiancé’s personalities, so anything will work as long as it’s about you. Shoes can be a real game changer, and opting for something a little special on your feet can transform any outfit. If the Beckhams can wear purple outfits and sarongs, you can wear anything!” says Arnold.

For women

Women tend to be more experimental when it comes to their wedding look – a fact that can make choosing an outfit that much harder.

Theme and colour palette may still play an important role, but this is also one day where you don’t need to stick to tradition. Play with different shades of white, dress styles or even chic separates.

“I think the white tradition is long gone. You no longer have to be in the same colour, or wear lace and so forth. Pick something that makes you feel incredible,” says Natalie Kingham, fashion and buying director at online fashion retailer Matchesfashion.com.

For her wedding in Europe last year, marketing consultant Candy Kwong decided to eschew tradition.

“With traditional weddings you have this set idea of what the couple will look like, but we wanted to showcase ourselves rather than the ceremony. This meant being true to our personalities.

“Neither of us wore white specifically – my dress was blush, but only because it was a more flattering shade. My partner wore an aubergine-coloured velvet smoking jacket with a pair of navy checked trousers. Even our guests had a broad dress code,” she says.

If brides-to-be are opting for matching looks, there are a few points they should take into account. Explore combinations together and choose outfits in complementary fabrics and colours. It’s important to keep the look cohesive.

And while details add individuality, don’t go over the top. If one dress has embellishments, ensure that they are subtle and won’t overshadow your partner. There’s nothing worse than two brides fighting to steal the spotlight.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: A wedding guide designed to keep both parties in spotlight

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