The 19 Best Wedding Bow Ties for Grooms, Groomsmen and Guests (2023)

FAQs

What is the best color bow tie for a wedding? ›

If you're the traditional type, a black or white bow tie is undoubtedly your best bet. Shades of gray and navy are rather timeless, too, as are subtle patterns like stripes or polka dots.

As you mention, white (and also ivory/off-white) are often popular for grooms because those colors typically complement the bride's gown. If white or ivory is not your thing, and your groomsmen are wearing solid color ties you may want to consider a patterned variation of the groomsmen tie.

Grooms and groomsmen can absolutely wear bow ties. As a rule, very formal occasions that do not happen often are especially appropriate to wear a bow tie to.

If you have a formal wedding coming up, the right choice is definitely a bow tie. If you see “black tie” or “black tie optional” on your wedding invitation, trust us, it means a bow tie. But that's not the only reason to wear a bow tie to a wedding. Bow ties can make an excellent accessory for a more casual event too.

The Classics: Black, White, & Silver

These three colors are by far the most popular bow tie colors with black being right at the top of this list.

Regular-sized bow ties look good on just about any face shape while jumbo thistle bow ties are better for men with larger heads. The curved proportions of butterfly bow ties serve to balance out the angularity of Square, Triangle, and Diamond face shapes.

Blue is really the most common option when it comes to weddings. Blue especially in the shades of midnight blue, cobalt blue or solid blue, is said to be a charming colour, which gives an enduring impression of impressive formality to the men who wear it.

Simply put, there's no rule that the father of the bride has to match the groomsmen when it comes to what he wears. While many people prefer to have some kind of coordination in terms of color and style, it's really up to the couple to decide.

A: No, the groom and groomsmen do not have to match their accessories exactly. They can have different but coordinating colors or patterns of ties or pocket squares. Some wedding parties may choose to wear different color shirts for a unique look.

As a general rule, a bow tie is an inappropriate choice for a somber event. Bow ties are associated with happy and celebratory occasions. Unless you are known for “always” wearing one, you would be considered disrespectful to wear a bow tie at a funeral or wake.

Do you need a special shirt to wear a bow tie? ›

Bow ties work with most types of shirts, no matter their collar. So whatever shirt you already have in your wardrobe at home, you can use it with a bow tie. The shirt can be tucked in, but will also look good untucked. Combining it with an untucked shirt is the most casual way to wear a bow tie.

It's also important to note that the father of the bride and the father of the groom don't necessarily have to match the groomsmen's accessories. Dad can wear a tie, bow tie, and/or pocket square that complements what the groomsmen are wearing, or he can choose to coordinate his accessories with his partner's attire.

A list of bow tie wearers consists of academics, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, political leaders and writers. Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Mark Twain wore bow ties.

Formal or Casual

Solid black neckties and bow ties are the most formal ties, followed by solid white or ivory ties. For formal weddings that aren't quite black tie, choose those 3.25- to 3.5-inch standard ties. Typically, the skinnier the necktie the less formal the look.

The best choice will depend on how casual or formal an event would be. More formal occasions demand a bow tie, while less formal events may allow for a necktie or no tie at all. Of course, if the event's formality isn't dictating what you wear — it all comes down to your style!

The bow tie is in close contact with the collar of the shirt, so make sure you choose a shirt with a collar with a gap between the ends of the collar proportional to the wings of the bow tie. Go with classic collars with a medium to narrow gap, such as French, English, club or broken.

Some gentlemen reserve their bow ties for special events. Others do not have any bow ties in their wardrobe at all - and even wonder, “Are bow ties in style in 2023?” (Chagrin!) We are delighted to inform them that bow ties indeed are still very much in fashion and are not likely to go out of style any time soon.

Often black bow ties are worn by respected and conservative people. Bow ties are the most attractive men accessory, so to make it less eye-catching, men may choose a black one – it's a traditional and neutral.

For creative black tie, you've got some leeway to inject some colour into your black and white outfit. However, you're still usually expected to wear a dark bow tie here, but you can get a little loose with the colour of a vest or cummerbund.

For tie color, a neutral shade of navy or gray can never do you wrong. To summarize: When in doubt, a neutral colored silk tie will always get you through the day — cold or warm.

Can I wear a colored bow tie to a black tie event? ›

The Bow Tie

Your bow tie should be black (never white), made from silk and hand-tied. Other colours – such as burgundy – can work, but only if the event allows it. Most importantly, ensure that it's proportionate in size to your shirt collar and face shape.

A general rule when it comes to picking out the perfect tie is that your tie should be darker than your shirt. This way, it will stand out against your chest, and draw attention to the fact that you've made that extra effort.