In this article
The short answer
To dress groomsmen cheaply, choose a plain navy or grey suit they can reuse, then match the ties, pocket squares and buttonholes across the party. Hire only when the outfit is specialist. Bridebook says you are unlikely to be expected to pay for their suits unless you want them to match.
Groomsmen outfits can become an unexpected line in a budget that is already under pressure. Hitched's Wedding Industry Report, published in January 2026, puts the average UK wedding at £21,990 and found that 56% of couples married in 2025 overspent. The good news is that a matching party depends far more on colour and small accessories than on what each suit cost. This guide covers who pays, whether to hire or buy, and how to make different suits look like one group.
Who Pays for Groomsmen Suits?
There is no fixed rule, so decide early and say it plainly. Bridebook's guidance is that paying for the best man and ushers is your decision, and that you are not likely to be expected to pay unless you want them in matching suits.
In practice, that gives you a fair test. If you are asking someone to buy a specific outfit they would not otherwise own, it is reasonable to pay or contribute. If you are asking them to wear a navy suit they already have, with a tie you supply, you are asking very little. Tell the group what you expect and what you will cover before anyone orders anything.
Sources: Bridebook
Three Ways to Do It, Compared
The right route depends on how formal the wedding is and how many people are involved. Prices below are Bridebook's starting points, not quotes, so check current prices for your size of party.
As a worked example for a party of five, using those starting prices: hire comes to about £250 in total, and buying the same high-street suit comes to about £750. If everyone wears a suit they already own, you pay only for five sets of accessories. In our judgement, real quotes will usually be higher, so use this to compare routes rather than to set a budget.
| Route | Starting cost per person | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wear their own suit + supplied accessories | Cost of ties and pocket squares only | Relaxed weddings; friends who already own navy or grey | Shades and fits will not match exactly |
| Buy the same high-street suit | From around £150 for a high-street suit | Colour-matched parties; suits they can reuse | Sizes can sell out, so order together and early |
| Hire | From around £50 for wedding suit hire | Morning dress or anything they would not wear again | Book early, attend fittings, return on time |
Sources: Bridebook
Where the Savings Actually Are
These are our recommendations for keeping the cost down without the party looking as if it has.
Illustrative imageChoose a colour they will wear again
Debrett's describes grey and navy as the traditional colours for a wedding suit. A plain one has a life after the wedding, which makes the cost easier for everyone to justify.
Compare two-piece and three-piece prices
Do not assume the two-piece is cheaper. Across the complete suits we listed on 1 November 2026, the median three-piece was about £340 against about £400 for a two-piece. That compares a mix of retailers rather than like for like, so check both options at the retailer you choose.
Put the colour in the accessories
Ties, pocket squares and buttonholes are cheap, they can be bought in one batch, and they tie a mixed group together.
Hire only what is specialist
Hiring makes the most sense for morning dress. It makes less sense for a plain suit, since a hired suit leaves your groomsman with nothing afterwards.
Confirm every size before ordering
On 1 November 2026, only 8 of the 89 navy suits and 5 of the 32 grey suits we listed cost £200 or less, so budget choices are limited. Check that the suit is available in every size you need before anyone orders.
Sources: Debrett's
How to Match Suits That Are Not Identical
If people are wearing suits they already own, exact matching is not possible, so aim for one clear family rather than a uniform.
- 1
Set one colour family
Ask for dark navy or mid-grey, not just "a blue suit". Ask for a photo in daylight, because shop and indoor lighting hide differences.
- 2
Keep the shirts identical
White shirts are simple and most people own one. A shirt with a turndown collar works with any tie.
- 3
Supply identical accessories
Buy the ties, pocket squares and buttonholes yourself, in one order, and hand them out. This is the main thing guests will read as matching.
- 4
Agree the shoes
Pick one colour, then let each person use their own pair. Ask everyone to polish them.
- 5
Agree the small rules
Same tie knot, same top button. Debrett's suggests a four-in-hand or half-Windsor, and says not to wear a belt with a waistcoat or double-breasted suit.
Sources: Debrett's
A Sensible Timeline
Most budget problems here are really timing problems, because late orders mean paying for delivery, rush alterations or a second-choice suit. The timings below are our suggestions, so adjust them to your supplier's lead times.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 months before | Choose the groom's outfit first, then agree the colour and budget with the party |
| 4 months before | Collect measurements, including anyone who lives away, and order or book hire |
| 2 months before | Try everything on and arrange alterations |
| 2 weeks before | Final try-on with shoes, and hand out the accessories |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the groom have to pay for the groomsmen's suits?
No. Bridebook says it is the couple's decision and that they are not likely to be expected to pay unless they want matching suits. If you ask for a specific outfit, offering to pay or contribute is the fair approach.
Is it cheaper to hire or buy groomsmen suits?
Hire has the lower upfront cost. Bridebook says it can start as low as £50, against around £150 for a high-street suit. Buying can be better value if the suit will be worn again.
Do groomsmen have to match exactly?
No. One colour family with identical shirts, ties, pocket squares and buttonholes will read as a coordinated group, even when the suits are not identical.
What colour suit is best for groomsmen?
Navy or grey are the safe choices. Debrett's names them as the traditional colours for a wedding suit, and they are the easiest for people to wear again.
How early should groomsmen suits be ordered?
As a guide, around four months before the wedding, which leaves time for fittings and alterations. Check your supplier's lead times, since they vary.
Conclusion
A well-dressed party does not need a large budget. Choose a plain navy or grey the group can reuse, put the wedding colours into identical accessories, hire only what is specialist, and be clear early about who pays. Order in good time, because the avoidable costs mostly come from leaving it late.
References
- The average cost of a wedding in 2026? Around £21,990, according to Hitched — Hitched / The Knot Worldwide, 2026
- How Much Do Wedding Suits Cost? — Bridebook, 2026
- Good Morning: variations on the traditional wedding suit — Debrett's, 2018
- Addressing the Dress Code — Debrett's, 2025
Alexander West writes dress-code and buying guides for Search For Suits, working from published etiquette guidance, careers-service advice and dated price checks of the suits listed on the site.