How Far in Advance Should a Groom Get His Suit? Your Stress-Free Timeline

If you think grabbing a wedding suit is like buying jeans for a night out, think again. Grooms underestimate how many things can go sideways—ill-fitting jackets, delayed deliveries, or worst of all, that awkward feeling when your arms can't move during the first dance.

Here's the real deal: most guys need more time than they think. Hunting down a suit isn’t just about finding something that technically fits. You’ve got to factor in discovering your style, nailing those measurements, scheduling group fittings if you have groomsmen, and allowing time for little tweaks by the tailor.

The timeline isn’t just about fashion, either. Stores get slammed during peak wedding season, and rental places run out of popular sizes fast. The sooner you start, the more style options you’ll have—plus way less stress. Don’t bet your best look on last-minute luck.

• Why Timing Matters for Grooms
• When to Start Shopping for Your Suit
• Getting Measured and Placing the Order
• The Perfect Time for Fittings and Alterations
• Tips for Rentals vs Buying
• What to Do If You're Running Late

Why Timing Matters for Grooms

Getting a groom suit isn’t just about having something to wear—it’s about looking sharp, feeling good, and actually enjoying your day without worrying about what’s on your back. Nobody wants to be that guy sweating over a tight collar or a missing button hours before showtime. Timing can make or break your entire wedding experience.

Suits don’t just appear on racks in your exact size. Retail stores usually need 6-12 weeks for special orders. Tailors ask for about 2-6 weeks, depending on adjustments. If you want something custom-made, you might be looking at three months or more. The wedding world is busy—most guys are aiming for summer or fall, so shops get slammed in those months.

If you wait too long, two things can happen: you’re stuck with slim pickings, or you pay rush fees that burn a hole through your wedding budget. And don’t even think about ignoring fittings. Statistically, 7 out of 10 wedding suit issues in the US happen because grooms skip or delay their fittings. Men’s sizing isn’t universal, so what fits off-the-rack elsewhere might look awkward in wedding photos.

Need a second reality check? Rentals can save money, but popular sizes—like 40R or 42R—run out fast, especially during peak wedding months (May through October). If you don’t get in early, you risk looking mismatched with your groomsmen or squeezing into a size that just doesn’t work.

Here’s what can go wrong if you cut it close:

• Limited color/fabric choices that don’t match your wedding palette
• No time for proper alterations, so the fit is off
• Extra costs for rush shipping and emergency tailoring
• Rental shops running out of your size or forgetting add-ons like ties or cufflinks

The bottom line? Start your groom suit hunt earlier than you think you need to. It’ll save you stress, money, and even some awkward dance moves later.

When to Start Shopping for Your Suit

The best time to start looking for your groom suit is about five to six months before your wedding. This isn’t just a safety net—it’s the sweet spot if you want solid options, stress-free fittings, and enough time to fix anything that pops up. If your wedding falls during busy summer months or around the holidays, get started closer to the six-month mark. Shops get busy and tailors book up quickly when wedding season really kicks in.

For a made-to-measure or custom suit, think even earlier. Those can take eight weeks or more just for the initial creation, plus you want a few extra weeks for any tweaks you might need. If you’re eyeing a suit off the rack, you can technically start later, but waiting until the last minute will limit your choices and might mean more expensive rush tailoring.

• 5-6 months ahead: Ideal for starting your groom suit search, especially if you want something custom or if your wedding lands during prime season (May–September).
• 3-4 months ahead: Still good if you go with an off-the-rack suit and your size is common, but you’ll want to move quickly to snag your first choice.
• 2 months or less: This is panic territory. You’ll have to pick from what’s left, and you might pay extra for rush jobs or overnight shipping.

Here’s a look at what a typical groom timeline might look like for snagging that sharp suit:

This timeline isn’t just for guys who want to play it safe. Small things—a late delivery, a brand-new diet, or last-minute style changes—can throw off even the best plans. So do yourself a favor: put suit shopping on your calendar early and keep your options open.

Getting Measured and Placing the Order

This step is basically the deal-breaker for a sharp-looking groom suit. Forget "eyeballing it" or trusting what you wore to your cousin’s prom. Your wedding suit needs way more accuracy. Head to a reputable shop or tailor so the measurements are done right—shoulders, chest, inseam, sleeve, and even details like jacket length.

For most guys, the smartest move is to get measured about 6 months before the wedding, especially if you’re buying. Want to rent? Four to five months still works great. Why so early? If a shop has to special-order anything, or if you want something custom, that window gives breathing room for both you and the store.

• Bring shoes similar to what you’ll wear on the day; it actually matters for pants length.
• If you’re losing (or, let’s be real, gaining) weight, let the tailor know upfront. Most are used to last-minute tweak requests, but it’s less stressful to plan for it.
• Order your wedding suit as soon as you’ve picked the color and style. Don’t wait on every groomsman to make up his mind—it slows you down and shops can only help those ready to commit.

Here’s a quick look at how waiting can mess with your options:

A solid fit for your groom suit makes all the difference. Don’t be that guy who finds out his jacket doesn’t button the day before the wedding.

The Perfect Time for Fittings and Alterations

Once you’ve picked out your groom suit, the clock starts ticking for alterations. Here’s the deal: you want to schedule your first fitting about two months out from the wedding day. This isn’t just about getting the pants hemmed. Tailors deal with a line-up of weddings every spring and fall, so don’t slide in too close to your date thinking they’ll fit you in last minute.

If you’re going the custom route, try for an initial fitting as soon as the suit arrives—ideally six to eight weeks out. For off-the-rack suits, two months is still solid because you might need more than one round of tweaks. The golden rule? If you drop or gain a few pounds, you’ll have time for an extra adjustment.

Here’s a practical timeline lots of tailors follow:

• 6-8 weeks before the wedding: First fitting and initial alterations.
• 3-4 weeks out: Second fitting to check progress and make small fixes.
• 1 week before: Final try-on to make sure everything fits just right.

This schedule gives you a cushion if something feels off—or if Aunt Marge's fancy rehearsal dinner means the waistline needs a quick touch-up. And don’t forget, rental suits also need fittings! Some rental places only offer small alteration tweaks, so earlier is always better.

Fun fact: In a 2023 survey of wedding tailors in the U.S., over 65% said last-minute suit emergencies were always because the groom booked fittings less than three weeks out. Yikes.

Bottom line: Book those fittings early and check your calendar twice. Your future self will thank you when your suit actually fits and you’re not scrambling the week before the wedding.

Tips for Rentals vs Buying

A big question for a lot of grooms is whether to rent or buy their groom suits. Each option has its perks and headaches, so it really depends on your priorities, budget, and how picky you are about style.

If you rent, it’s usually cheaper upfront. Most rentals run between $150 and $300 for decent quality, while buying can easily push you over $500, especially if you want something custom. If you don’t see yourself rocking this suit again, renting just makes sense.

• Buying: You get to keep your suit. Pick any cut, color, or fabric you like. If you’ve got a unique body type or want a certain look, off-the-rack rentals may not cut it. Plus, if you attend events often, it ends up saving money in the long run because you skip repeat rental fees.
• Renting: It’s fast and usually stress-free, especially with group wedding parties. Good rental shops will handle group orders, fittings, and last-minute swaps—lifesaver if your best man lives out of state. But, the selection isn’t as wide, especially if you want a specific shade or a trendy pattern.

Timeline matters for both. Rental places often recommend booking your wedding suit two to three months out, especially during spring and summer. Buying, especially if you want tailoring, means starting way earlier—three to six months is safest.

One tip if you choose to rent: always try your suit on as soon as it arrives. Occasionally, rental companies mess up sizing or mix up accessories. It gives you breathing room to solve problems, not panic the morning of.

Buying works great if you want to feel extra sharp in a unique colour or slim cut, or if you’ve got a body type that doesn’t fit standard sizes. But if the suit's a one-hit wonder for you? Renting keeps things simple and saves cash. Think about your future plans and budget and go with what makes sense for your day.

What to Do If You're Running Late

Okay, so things got away from you and the wedding is around the corner. Don’t panic—there are still options that keep you looking sharp in your groom suit. The trick is to act fast and stay flexible.

First, skip custom suits and instead focus on off-the-rack. Big-name stores like Men’s Wearhouse and SuitSupply usually keep lots of classic wedding suits in stock. Plenty of places can even do same-day or next-day tailoring in a pinch. Just call ahead to confirm what sizes and services are available.

For rentals, places like Generation Tux and the Black Tux offer last-minute delivery if you order at least 10–14 days out. Around 65% of grooms using rentals do so less than a month before the big day—it's common, but you really can't push your luck past seven days. After that, you’re stuck with local shops only, and those pickings can be slim.

• Bring dress shoes and your shirt when trying on ready-to-wear suits. It helps you see the real fit (and avoids ankle-baring disasters).
• Don’t bother with complicated colors. Stick to navy, black, or gray—they’re almost always in stock.
• If you’re in a serious time crunch, consider express delivery options, but read the fine print for rush fees.
• Skip monograms and fancy buttons. Fast tailoring = simple fixes.

If you need to buy, major retailers like Macy’s and Nordstrom can usually sort out hemming or sleeve tweaks within 48 hours. If you’re really out of time, straight-off-the-rack with minimal tweaks is 100% better than something that doesn’t quite fit or arrives late.

Whatever you do, don’t try to wing it on the day of the wedding. Even a quick pit stop at the tailor helps you avoid crooked hems and floppy sleeves. In a worst-case scenario—grab a suit that fits the best, throw on a pocket square, and hold your head high. Confidence and a decent fit will get you way further than you think.