It had to happen at some point, and with the shortest day of the year behind us and the first spring weddings of the new season fast approaching, it seems a suitable time to broach the somewhat taboo subject of wearing shorts at your wedding.
Yes, I’m serious. Shorts can be perfectly acceptable as part of your wedding outfit, and in fact teamed with suit jackets or blazers they are very in right now. Just check out the fashionistas at the latest Pitti Uomo in Florence:
Image via Daily Details
But just like kilts and mankinis, the decision on whether wearing shorts is appropriate depends on context. So firstly consider:
1. The Setting
What type of space will you be exchanging your vows in? If the answer is an orthodox church you can stop reading now and head back to Facebook. But if you’re going to be outdoors in a park, on a beach or ideally on a yacht off The Hamptons coast, then it’s game on and shorts will perfectly reflect your relaxed environment.
2. The Bride
It should go without saying that the apple of your eye needs to at least be aware of what’s going to be awaiting her at the end of the aisle. Her approval would be ideal but I say stay true to yourself and, let’s face it, she should know you well enough by this stage that nothing you do will shock her. But also consider your bride’s attire. If she implies there may be a short, vintage lace dress involved then you’re going to be a good match for the photos. But if you get the slightest whiff of a ball gown then it’s time to reconsider.
3. The Shorts
Know this: there are shorts and shorts and what we are talking about here is the latter i.e. clean, smart and tailored; those of the board, denim, cargo and boxer varieties have absolutely no place at a wedding. For inspiration head to Mr Porter or J Crew and you’ll find no end of shorts that look good enough to wear into the boardroom. You can never go wrong with cotton twill and a washed out pair in pink, blue or green would perfectly match a vintage or boho theme. Alternatively if you can afford a pair of Orlebar Brown Bulldog’s then a) I will be extremely envious and b) you will have a pair of stylish mid-length swim shorts that are perfect for resort weddings where you can enjoy a morning dip and then slip on a shirt and blazer for the main event.
Image via Mr Porter
4. The Pins
Let’s not beat around the bush here. If the shorts look is going to work you need to have suitably tanned and toned legs and ideally be a tennis coach. If that doesn’t quite sound like you there’s still a few months to go until the spring / summer season, so now’s your chance to start hammering out squats, hitting the bike, working on your tan and considering a good dose of exfoliation. And if you’re going to wear sandals, flip flops or go barefoot then needless to say you can never have enough pedicures.
If all the boxes above are ticked then you’re good to go. But even if you’re the bravest of grooms it’s best not to wait until your wedding day to don the short pants. Instead I highly recommend checking out this video clip from our friends at Mr Porter who show five ways to wear a smart pair of J Crew’s finest. Then experiment by incorporating shorts into your daily uniforms until you’ve reached a plateau of comfort that will give you an air of supreme confidence come the big day.
About Milton Gan Photography: Milton Gan combines his artistic flair, eye for detail, and passions for love, style and elegance to create a finely crafted photographic experience for each and every one of his clients.
Milton writes regularly for Polka Dot Groom as well as being a ridiculously talented wedding photographer. You can read his previous posts here. Find Milton on Google+
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