Suit shopping made easy

Choosing the outfit to wear on the most important day of your life can be daunting, especially if the only clothes shopping you've done recently is for jeans and T-shirts! You're going to be the centre of attention and appearing in hundreds of photographs, so you want to look the best you possibly can.

The groom's outfit is often overlooked, says Adrian Barrows of tailors Clements & Church: "It always seems to be quite far down the list of jobs to do when arranging the day but you must remember, there are two people getting married and the groom’s look will be an important part of day Рand the photos for years to come."

So what are the options? Firstly, you could hire your suit. If you're not somebody who's likely to wear a suit again, if you want a morning suit, or if there are lots of men in the wedding party who you need to kit out, this might be the best option for you. Suit hire typically starts from around £50, which makes this the budget option. Popular places to hire include Moss and Debenhams.

A second option is to buy your suit off-the-peg. If you're a standard size then it may be possible to pick up a suit on the high street that is perfect for you. Prices range from under £100 to more than £500, and you'll generally get what you pay for in terms of fabric. Next offer a reasonably-priced selection, or try Ted Baker for something a bit more special.

Finally, the luxury choice is to have a suit tailor-made. This is the most expensive option, with prices starting from around £600, but its worth it if you've always dreamed of having a garment personally tailored to fit or simply can't find what you want on the high street. Clements & Church are award-winning in their field, or try asuitthatfits.com, where you can choose from an online measuring service or the traditional in-store tailoring.

Adrian advises that it takes between six and 12 weeks to tailor a suit, depending on the time of year, so planning is key. But whether you're buying off-the-peg or tailor-made, there are a few key questions to ask yourself before you start shopping, says Adrian: "What time of the year are you getting married? Where are you getting married? Is the wedding abroad? What is the feel of the wedding? What is the colour theme of the wedding?

By answering these questions, you will be able to determine colours, styles, weights of fabrics that would be appropriate and how long before the garment is required to be cut."

Giving yourself plenty of time to shop around will ultimately make the decision process easier. Just don't forget to take your best man along for some truthful advice!

Top tips for happy shopping!

Find your dream suit without stressing out!

1 Always talk through the colour scheme and style of the day with your bride-to-be before going out and choosing your outfit.

2 Decide whether you want to buy or hire. If you wear a suit often then it might be worth investing in a great suit to wear again.

3 Consider where your wedding is – a castle in Scotland needs a different type of suit to a beach in Cyprus!

4 If you find it hard to find off-the-peg suits that fit well, then go to a tailor who'll make a bespoke suit just for you.

5 Don't buy immediately – get photographs taken of yourself in the suit and only go back if you're happy!