“How Is The Bride Okay With This?”: 35 Grooms That Deserved To Be Shamed For Their Looks
Interview With ExpertYour wedding is meant to be one of the happiest days of your life. Although you have to be somewhat realistic with your expectations, you still want to make the celebration as meaningful, beautiful, and authentic as you can. That also includes showing off the best possible version of yourself through what you choose to wear.
However, the reality is that some people can’t be bothered to put in the effort, even when it’s their own wedding. Our team at Bored Panda has collected pictures of the most underdressed grooms that guests have ever seen. This goes beyond embracing an easygoing wardrobe or opting for a slightly more casual tone. Scroll down to see some fashion disasters and how drearily shorts, crocs, and T-shirts look next to gorgeous dresses. Just remember, the point isn't to make fun of anyone—it's a reminder that many of us could stand to brush up our fashion sense and self-awareness a bit.
Bored Panda reached out to Jessica Harvey, the director of Suave Owl Menswear, for some advice for grooms who want to wear a slightly more casual style at their wedding. She was kind enough to share some practical advice on what to avoid doing. Read on for her insights.
This post may include affiliate links.
This Is My Dad When He Married My Mom
I asked him, "Why were you dressed like this to the wedding?" and he said, "Your mom invited me to the wedding, but she didn't tell me whose."
Even if it was someone else's wedding, this isn't the proper way to dress.
Before we get into it, here’s a quick reminder that you should do what makes you and your partner happy at your wedding. If you want a small and intimate ceremony, go for it. If you want to invite all of your friends, family, and neighbors, go do that. If you want a specific theme for the reception or a particular dress code, embrace it and have fun. Make sure that you and your partner are happy and that your guests are entertained, and you’ll have a great time.
That being said, let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: if your partner dresses up very nicely for your wedding but you saunter in wearing dusty crocs, torn shorts, and an icky T-shirt, something’s gone incredibly wrong somewhere. And generally, we don’t like to judge—but some fashion choices merit at least a dash of healthy criticism. It’s your wedding day: you want to look polished, not sloppy.
Monster Energy Drink Flowed Freely At This Wedding
These Two People I Went To High School With Got Married Today, And This Was Really The Groom's Fit. I'm Crying
Those Croqs! Which self-respecting woman says yes to this level of a man child?
“Taking a more casual approach to groom’s wear is not to be sniffed at. But your outfit does still require careful consideration so that you don’t end up looking like you’ve picked up yesterday’s clothes from the bedroom floor!” Harvey, the director of Suave Owl Menswear, which is based in the UK, told Bored Panda via email.
“Whatever you choose to wear, make sure it fits well and is clean and pressed. Jeans or a T-shirt are absolute no-go’s. Stick to a 3-color rule to ensure consistency through your ensemble,” she shared some great advice for all grooms-to-be.
According to Harvey, something that we should all consider doing is matching the shoes that the groom’s party wears. A unified style and color scheme can add a lot of oomph to photos... while the opposite is also true.
“Ensure that all members of the groom’s party wear the same shoes, too, or at least the same color. Perfect outfits but mismatched colored footwear stands out in the photographs!” she said.
Another Case Of A Groom Being Underdressed At His Own Wedding
The Groom's Idea Of Dressing For The Occasion
Husband Showing Up To The Wedding Like This
What really helps take a lot of the stress off a groom’s shoulders is turning to professionals for help. For example, Harvey told us that Suave Owl Menswear’s setup doesn’t allow for mistakes to be made.
“Advice from beginning to end gets it right every time!” she said.
And though fashion advice from family, friends, and loved ones can be invaluable, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
“Allowing input from too many people will always pull the groom away from their personal style and comfort. We encourage the groom to visit our shop alone or with their fiancé/e before making a group booking,” the director told us.
If you’d like to take a peek at what Suave Owl Menswear has to offer, check out their website, as well as their Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
Why Even Bother?
According to the original post, this is in Russia. Camping tuxedo.
What Kind Of Wedding Is This?
Not Exactly A Shotgun Wedding But
According to Stephan Detwiler, Brooks Brothers' Vice President of men’s merchandising, there are some things that grooms should “never, ever wear.”
He told ‘Brides’ magazine that they should most definitely avoid wearing jeans or T-shirts, as well as ripped, torn, or overly tired-looking articles of clothing.
Detwiler urges grooms to try to look their best for their wedding and get their clothes tailored so that they fit them perfectly. “The bride spends so much effort and energy on what she’s wearing. You should put in a similar amount of effort to make sure you look your best, as well,” he told ‘Brides.’
This matches up with our personal experience, too. Tailored clothes are a whole other level of quality.
Utterly Gobsmacked Over This Groom's "Very Normal" Wedding Outfit Choice
The Groom's Whole Outfit Really Took Me Out
The Bride Was Prepared And The Groom Wore This During His Vows. Stains And All
I guess changing into a clean T-shirt was too much to ask.
If you don’t want to wear a tuxedo or suit, you can always decide to dress more casually. However, Detwiler notes that casual wedding garb does not mean dressing sloppily.
“Don’t show up in a wrinkled T-shirt and jeans. You don’t want to be the most casually dressed person there.” According to him, a navy blazer, non-iron shirt, cotton-linen chinos, and boat shoes are a good idea, as is cashmere knitwear (e.g., polos or turtlenecks). He adds that you can even wear a good pair of sneakers, depending on the context.
It's A Good Movie But At Your Wedding?
There is another guy in the back wearing that shirt as well. What a weird, total bro theme 😁
The Groom And His Groomsmen Had An Interesting Take On Attire
The Most Redneck Wedding In Southern History
Let’s be real here for a moment—you and your partner need to be on the same page when it comes to the wedding.
You’re getting married, after all. So, it would be ironic if you started your marriage with a disagreement about dress codes, style choices, and whether or not low-quality and ill-fitting clothes are appropriate for evening wear. It makes sense to speak about all of this before the Big Day.
How Is The Bride Okay With This
The Bride Made An Effort, While The Groom Did Not
Groom's Shirt. It Looks Like He Doesn't Want To Be There
If your partner is fine with you dressing super casual as though you’re heading to a bar with your pals, so be it. More power to you. But we have a sneaking suspicion that they’d prefer it if you matched their level of fanciness.
Showing that you care is important. It’s also a good sign that you show you’re willing to look for compromises instead of being stubborn about wearing your fave T-shirt that’s been through a hundred washes.
We Drove 3 Hours All Dressed Up To Reach A Wedding, Only To Find The Groom In His T-Shirt And Jeans
Might as well let the person standing, with his hand near his neck, be the groom
"The Wedding Was Simple But Memorable" Is An Understatement
This is a girl I went to school with. She’s 20? 21? And already has two kids with this guy, and they just tied the knot.
Yes, That's The Groom Wearing Crocks And Shorts
The issue that lies at the core of most of these photos is that they demonstrate a fundamental level of miscommunication between the grooms and their brides. Of course, nobody can tell whether a relationship is going to be healthy and happy from just a few wedding photos.
However, not dressing in a tux/suit/something nice and opting for overly casual clothes sends a somewhat confusing message to the bride, as well as the guests.
A Kid From My High School Got Married In A Discount Tire. Looks Like The Groom Didn't Even Try
She Looks Great. Him? Not So Much
The Bride Was Beautiful, And Her Dress Was A Stunner. The Bridesmaids Top Notch, And The Groom… Well, That's Southern Maryland For You
At least he has his keys ready to go. Don't want to have to dig in your jeans pocket for those.
It’s as though the grooms are treating the entire ceremony as a prank. Something casual. Nothing overly serious. Just another random day. If both partners are in on the joke, that’s great.
Humor and playfulness are incredibly important parts of long-term relationships, sure. However, there are some sacred and serious moments in our lives when we could all stand to focus on their magnitude.
This Groom With His Very Casual Wedding Look
On Today's Episode Of "Sir, This Is Your Wedding"
He must be a cowboy. ;) They're in a barn and he's wearing a brand that makes riding apparel.
She Looks Stunning And He Looks Like A Schoolboy
There are times when we should be more serious and show our commitment through how we act, how we speak, and how we dress. No, the fashion police won’t arrest you for failing to put some effort into your outfit. But looking at your wedding photos, you and your partner might feel some regret that you didn’t dress up for such a momentous day.
Though, to be fair, you might both end up laughing aloud and asking each other what you were thinking. That's always a possibility!
He Wore His Best Hat For The Wedding
What Kind Of Wedding Is This?
Doesn't The Groom Know He Isn't Supposed To Wear White?!
We’d like to hear your thoughts about wedding clothes, Pandas. What did you think of the grooms in these photos? Do you think they were ‘criminally’ underdressed, or do you personally like a much more casual wardrobe? What did you and your partner wear for your wedding? Tell us all about it in the comments!
Saw Someone Selling Wedding Items - The Mismatch Here Hurts
And did she even tell him that it bothers her? The world may never know.
Groom Definitely Stood Out In His Orange Shirt
Why Do People Dress Like This For Their Weddings?
The paradox is that these guys are super uptight about dressing casual and they refuse to wear grown-up clothes because they are so laid back and don't want to look stupid in their telling. I grew up and have been to a few weddings with folks like this.
A Couple In My Town Got Married And This Was The Groom's Reception Attire
Jeans, Sneakers, And A Cap - The "Perfect" Outfit For Your Wedding
This isn't as bad as some - that might just be their kinda thing.
Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
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There were definitely terrible ones here, but I think some of them, we might be judging a bit harshly. We've only got a photo from one moment, we don't know if they changed (especially if the photo isn't from the ceremony), if they have an inside joke, a problem with usual formal clothes, if their wedding is very casual (yeah we can compare to the brides but I feel like most brides will really dress up), what the place they're getting married in is like (some of the farm and beach ones aren't too bad, they're just dressed to the situation)
THIS. And also, we don't know any of their financial situations. A marriage is not about the wedding day. At least most of them look really happy and that's great. :)
Load More Replies...Why do we care so much about what people are wearing on their wedding. Don't get me wrong, some are gros/dirty but if you're on a tiny budget and you want your bride to have the dress she dreams of, it shouldn't be called ridiculous to wear a pair of clean jeans and a shirt...
Maybe but many of these photos were much worse. I really doubt those brides dreamt of their dream dresses next to a guy in cargo shorts or crocs. It's a lack of respect to not at least wear SOMETHING formal. Those guys are all man-children.
Load More Replies...Ye gods ladies - have some self respect. You deserve so much better 😔
As someone getting married this year and as a woman in fashion, I am horrified. The brides also, I'm sure, worked so hard and the grooms (besides the joking ones) had such a little job and put in zero effort. I would cry lol and walk out.
Surely on at least some of these, there would have been discussions / requests of how to dress. Some of them may just be that the groom didn't see a reason to dress up but even that isn't necessarily because they didn't care - maybe they grew up with the idea that weddings are casual, for example. My point is basically, don't judge people without having all (or any) of the facts.
When I had my high school prom, I took pictures before and after getting ready. Maybe some of the pics are before-and-after as well.
I would never say yes to a guy like this but in a hypothetical world where this is the man I love - I would just absolutely cry if he didn't at least want to wear something special. Maybe he's not a tux guy, but at the very least find a funky vintage suit or something formal. My god. All those women were in wedding dresses, it's not like they BOTH decided to go casual.
Wonder how long those marriages will last. My sister's first husband did this. I think it lasted 2 years
What's the point here other then to say, you don't mean enough to me to even bother on a day that should be special to you both. If she is wearing a wedding dress, spent time planning a special day, cake, flowers, loved ones.. then IT DOES matter what you wear.
These make me so sad. I lost my guy last year before we had the chance to get married (hey, we spent 24 years making sure we made the right choice, lol). Due to his Scottish heritage, he was going to get fully kitted-out for the big day in a kilt and with a wedding saber, the whole nine yards. And here most of these dudes can't be bothered to wear their cleanest jeans and Crocs.
At least not interested in their bride's feelings. The brides go all out to look a certain way and their grooms just up and dis it? But in the pics, the brides seem to not mind, so more power to 'em.
Load More Replies...I did not look these over. I came to downvote and leave this comment. I think it's shallow and harmful to shame people who aren't hurting anyone (that we know of). If the bride knew the groom was going to do this, then who is being harmed? Why shame these strangers online? My son has not worn anything except sweatpants since he purchased a parkour gym. He's sweet, very principled, very generous, the most loyal friend, very smart. If the worst thing he ever did was not dress up for a wedding (so long as his bride was okay with it), I'd be a very proud Mom.
Here we have examples of 40 young women so desperate to have a wedding (not a marriage) they'll take any warm body to make it happen. This is the day their relationship peaks. Everything goes downhill from here. How disturbing.
You're reading a LOT into one pic from complete strangers' wedding days.
Load More Replies...It's not about hitting a high enough degree of formality. I'm all for casual or even themed weddings if that is what makes the couple happy. The problem I have with these is in most of them it is clear the bride went to great effort to plan a special day and dress up for it. For the grooms to show up looking like they just rolled out of bed is disrespectful to the brides, and even the guests. In several of these there are bridesmaids or even guests who clearly made more of an effort than the groom.
Most brides ask the groom what they are wearing and unless he lied and said it was a tux and showed up looking like one of the Beverly hillbillies how could she be mad? I could give a c**p less how people dress for their special day, its their day. And maybe they could only afford for one of them to dress up and how many brides are giving up the wedding dress so the groom can wear a tux?
It wouldn’t be so bad if both bride and groom wore casual clothes, but to see one person all dolled up and the other all frumpy is just sad.
There were definitely terrible ones here, but I think some of them, we might be judging a bit harshly. We've only got a photo from one moment, we don't know if they changed (especially if the photo isn't from the ceremony), if they have an inside joke, a problem with usual formal clothes, if their wedding is very casual (yeah we can compare to the brides but I feel like most brides will really dress up), what the place they're getting married in is like (some of the farm and beach ones aren't too bad, they're just dressed to the situation)
THIS. And also, we don't know any of their financial situations. A marriage is not about the wedding day. At least most of them look really happy and that's great. :)
Load More Replies...Why do we care so much about what people are wearing on their wedding. Don't get me wrong, some are gros/dirty but if you're on a tiny budget and you want your bride to have the dress she dreams of, it shouldn't be called ridiculous to wear a pair of clean jeans and a shirt...
Maybe but many of these photos were much worse. I really doubt those brides dreamt of their dream dresses next to a guy in cargo shorts or crocs. It's a lack of respect to not at least wear SOMETHING formal. Those guys are all man-children.
Load More Replies...Ye gods ladies - have some self respect. You deserve so much better 😔
As someone getting married this year and as a woman in fashion, I am horrified. The brides also, I'm sure, worked so hard and the grooms (besides the joking ones) had such a little job and put in zero effort. I would cry lol and walk out.
Surely on at least some of these, there would have been discussions / requests of how to dress. Some of them may just be that the groom didn't see a reason to dress up but even that isn't necessarily because they didn't care - maybe they grew up with the idea that weddings are casual, for example. My point is basically, don't judge people without having all (or any) of the facts.
When I had my high school prom, I took pictures before and after getting ready. Maybe some of the pics are before-and-after as well.
I would never say yes to a guy like this but in a hypothetical world where this is the man I love - I would just absolutely cry if he didn't at least want to wear something special. Maybe he's not a tux guy, but at the very least find a funky vintage suit or something formal. My god. All those women were in wedding dresses, it's not like they BOTH decided to go casual.
Wonder how long those marriages will last. My sister's first husband did this. I think it lasted 2 years
What's the point here other then to say, you don't mean enough to me to even bother on a day that should be special to you both. If she is wearing a wedding dress, spent time planning a special day, cake, flowers, loved ones.. then IT DOES matter what you wear.
These make me so sad. I lost my guy last year before we had the chance to get married (hey, we spent 24 years making sure we made the right choice, lol). Due to his Scottish heritage, he was going to get fully kitted-out for the big day in a kilt and with a wedding saber, the whole nine yards. And here most of these dudes can't be bothered to wear their cleanest jeans and Crocs.
At least not interested in their bride's feelings. The brides go all out to look a certain way and their grooms just up and dis it? But in the pics, the brides seem to not mind, so more power to 'em.
Load More Replies...I did not look these over. I came to downvote and leave this comment. I think it's shallow and harmful to shame people who aren't hurting anyone (that we know of). If the bride knew the groom was going to do this, then who is being harmed? Why shame these strangers online? My son has not worn anything except sweatpants since he purchased a parkour gym. He's sweet, very principled, very generous, the most loyal friend, very smart. If the worst thing he ever did was not dress up for a wedding (so long as his bride was okay with it), I'd be a very proud Mom.
Here we have examples of 40 young women so desperate to have a wedding (not a marriage) they'll take any warm body to make it happen. This is the day their relationship peaks. Everything goes downhill from here. How disturbing.
You're reading a LOT into one pic from complete strangers' wedding days.
Load More Replies...It's not about hitting a high enough degree of formality. I'm all for casual or even themed weddings if that is what makes the couple happy. The problem I have with these is in most of them it is clear the bride went to great effort to plan a special day and dress up for it. For the grooms to show up looking like they just rolled out of bed is disrespectful to the brides, and even the guests. In several of these there are bridesmaids or even guests who clearly made more of an effort than the groom.
Most brides ask the groom what they are wearing and unless he lied and said it was a tux and showed up looking like one of the Beverly hillbillies how could she be mad? I could give a c**p less how people dress for their special day, its their day. And maybe they could only afford for one of them to dress up and how many brides are giving up the wedding dress so the groom can wear a tux?
It wouldn’t be so bad if both bride and groom wore casual clothes, but to see one person all dolled up and the other all frumpy is just sad.