It might surprise you, but men can be fickle shoppers. They don't love shopping in the first place, but they know how much they feel better when they look good. Taking the "pain" of shopping out of the equation isn't easy – a no-pressure environment, a place that's comfortable and convenient, excellent service included. How can a guy know how a suit will make him feel if he doesn't see it in the mirror before he buys it? Suits are tricky enough as it is, with many measurement details like shoulders, sleeve length, cuffs, waist, not to mention all the pant measurements. If even one measurement is off, the suit looks – well, it doesn't look right. So as painful as it might be, it's crucial that you try on a suit before you buy it and you must trust the person you're buying it from. The pain is worth the price, as wedding photos live on forever!
Ed Williams Mens Wear is a locally owned, Calgary mens wear store that has been dressing guys for the last 30+ years, and they have hit the mark on all these points. They provide a great store, they have an excellent eye for style, and guys have loved shopping there for generations (literally!). Featuring Canadian and European made goods, their suits for grooms and groomsmen start at $595 each, and in classic guy fashion, most grooms get at least 5 – 8 years of wear out of their suit.
Scroll down for a roundup of their favourite looks they've dressed this past year and their tips for shopping for a wedding suit!
Tips for Purchasing Your Wedding Suit
The Canadian garment industry recognizes and honours it's European roots when it comes to quality, professionalism and work schedules. Here are a few tips that will help make your suit buying experience a whole lot easier.
when your first arrive to shop for wedding suits, you'll have two choices: an off-the-rack suit or a custom suit
an off-the-rack suit can be purchased and specifically tailored in store by our team of expert tailors, with a turn around time of 2 – 3 weeks. We usually carry about 200 off-the-rack suits at any given time, each with it's own unique fit, fabric style and details.
a custom suit is built to your exact body specifications – a custom pattern is created based on your body measurements. You'll have your choice of fabrics, cuts and finer details included in the process. A custom suit will take approximately 3 – 5 weeks to be built at the factory and shipped to the store, and then add fitting and tailoring time after that.
most grooms typically require 2 fittings
tailoring is included in the price of the suit
many manufacturers shut down their factories for the month of July, as is custom in Europe. If you are planning an August or September wedding, it's best to start your suit search in April or May
price points for suits start at $600
Many grooms can not only see and feel the difference between a rented suit and a purchased suit – they show it through their confidence. Comfortable to wear, a well made suit can last up to 10 years, only needing slight alterations from time to time – a worthwhile investment.
