You've seen the photos. Five groomsmen standing at the altar, and every single one looks slightly off. One guy's jacket is too boxy. Another's sleeves are eating his hands. Someone's pants are pooling at his ankles like he borrowed his dad's suit.
Rental suits promise coordination. What they deliver is five guys in the same ill-fitting uniform.
Here's the thing: custom suits cost about the same as rentals now. The difference is you actually keep them—and they actually fit.
The Rental Math Doesn't Work Anymore
Let's run the numbers.
Rental suit: $200-350 to borrow for a weekend. Add cleaning fees, damage deposits, the stress of returning everything on time. You walk away with nothing.
Custom suit: $650 and it's yours forever. Wear it to the next wedding. Wear it to job interviews. Wear it for the next decade.
The price gap has closed. The value gap hasn't.
Rentals work on a one-size-fits-most model. They have maybe 15 size combinations to cover every body type that walks through the door. If you're 6'2" with a 32" waist and broad shoulders? Good luck. If you're 5'8" with an athletic build? Same problem, different direction.
Custom means the suit is built for each groomsman's actual body. Not the closest approximation on a rack.
Why Draft Fitting Changes Everything for Groups
Here's what normally goes wrong with online custom suits: you submit measurements, they cut the fabric, and you pray.
We do it differently. Before we touch your final fabric, we send a draft fitting—a test garment in inexpensive material. You try it on at home, tell us what needs adjusting, and only then do we cut the real fabric.
For groomsmen, this solves the biggest coordination problem: everyone's body is different, but the process is the same.
Each groomsman gets their own draft. Each one provides their own feedback. Each suit is adjusted individually. But because you're all ordering from the same fabric bolt with the same tailor, the final result is consistent.
Same color. Same texture. Same quality. Different fits for different bodies.
That's actual coordination—not just matching tags on rental bags.
Color Strategy: Match or Complement?
The old rule was simple: everyone wears identical suits. The groom, the groomsmen, maybe even the dads—all in the same navy two-piece.
That rule is dead.
The 2025 approach is coordination, not cloning. Here's how to think about it:
Option 1: Same Suit, Groom Stands Out with Accessories
Everyone wears navy. The groom gets a different tie, a unique boutonniere, maybe a pocket square that picks up the wedding colors. Simple, safe, works every time.
Option 2: Same Color Family, Different Shades
Groom in deep navy, groomsmen in lighter blue. Or groom in charcoal, groomsmen in medium grey. You read as a unit, but the guy getting married is clearly the guy getting married.
Option 3: Complementary Colors
Groom in navy, groomsmen in tan or light grey. Works especially well for outdoor and summer weddings. More visual interest in photos.
The key for any approach: use the same fabric source. Different shades of "navy" from different mills will photograph as obviously mismatched. Same tailor, same fabric collection = guaranteed consistency.
We can match across an entire wedding party because we're cutting from the same CAVANI Sicily Collection bolts. See the full linen range here.
The Timeline: When to Order
Wedding planning runs on deadlines. Here's the suit timeline that actually works:
6 Months Before
- Choose your suit style and color
- Decide: matching groomsmen or complementary?
- Start collecting groomsmen contact info (this takes longer than you think)
4-5 Months Before
- Everyone submits measurements
- Place orders as a group
- Production begins
3-4 Months Before
- Draft fittings arrive
- Each groomsman tries on at home
- Feedback submitted, patterns adjusted
2 Months Before
- Final suits delivered
- Everyone tries on, confirms fit
- Minor local alterations if needed (rare with draft fitting, but buffer is smart)
1 Month Before
- Suits hanging in closets
- One less thing to stress about
Why start at 6 months? Because groomsmen are scattered. Someone's traveling. Someone will procrastinate on measurements. Someone will need a second draft round. Build in buffer for real life.
For detailed production phases, see our complete timeline breakdown.
Measurement Logistics for Scattered Groups
Your groomsmen probably don't live in the same city. Possibly not the same country. Here's how it works:
Option 1: DIY Measurements (Free)
Each groomsman follows our video guide and measures themselves. WhatsApp support if they get stuck. Works for 80% of people.
Best for: Groomsmen who can follow instructions, standard body types.
Option 2: Ultimate Precision ($49 per person)
Each groomsman ships us a garment that fits them well—a dress shirt, a jacket, whatever. We extract the pattern professionally.
Best for: First-time buyers, guys who've had bad fits before, anyone who doesn't trust themselves with a tape measure.
Option 3: Bangkok Hotel Service
If you're doing a destination wedding in Thailand—or even a bachelor trip to Bangkok—we can measure everyone in person. Suits ready in 5-8 days.
Learn about the hotel service.
Best for: Groups traveling together, destination weddings, anyone who wants the in-person experience.
What About the Groom Who Wants Something Special?
You're getting married. Maybe you want more than "same suit as everyone else, different tie."
Options:
- Three-piece vs two-piece: Groomsmen in two-piece suits, groom adds a vest
- Peak lapel vs notch lapel: Subtle difference, photographs distinctly
- Different fabric entirely: Groom in a textured weave, groomsmen in solid
- Custom details: Different buttons, contrast stitching, unique lining
All of this is possible with custom. If you don't see exactly what you want in our collection, we take custom requests.
Summer Weddings: Fabric Matters
June through September, you need breathable fabric. Nobody looks good sweating through a wool suit during outdoor photos.
Linen is the obvious choice. Our CAVANI Sicily Collection is 240gsm Italian twill linen—structured enough to hold its shape, breathable enough for heat.
For the full fabric breakdown, see Beyond Linen: Our Complete Fabric Range.
What We Actually Offer
Let's be specific:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| CAVANI Linen Suit | $650 |
| CAVANI Linen Blazer | $460 |
| CAVANI Linen Trouser | $190 |
What's included:
- Draft fitting for each groomsman
- Unlimited adjustments during fitting phase
- Pattern stored forever (reorder for future events)
- Worldwide shipping included
Group benefit: Same fabric guaranteed across all orders placed together. No shade variations, no texture mismatches.
We also have a fit guarantee—if something's off after delivery, we fix it.
Who Pays?
Traditionally, each groomsman pays for their own suit. That's still the norm.
But here's why custom makes that conversation easier: they're not paying $300 to borrow something. They're paying $650 to own something they'll actually wear again.
A navy or charcoal suit from a wedding works for job interviews, work events, other weddings, funerals—basically any occasion where you need to look put together.
"Hey, I need you to spend $650 on a suit you'll own forever" is an easier ask than "Hey, spend $300 on a rental you'll never see again."
The Photo Reality
Wedding photos last forever. The details you stress about now—centerpiece heights, napkin folds—nobody remembers in five years.
But every time you look at the wedding album, you'll see the suits.
Five groomsmen in properly fitted custom suits look like a team. Five groomsmen in rental compromises look like five guys who rented suits.
It's the difference between a photo you frame and a photo you scroll past.
Ready to Coordinate Your Wedding Party?
Start with the groom. Pick your style, your color, your fabric. Then bring in the groomsmen with the same specs.
We'll handle the rest—individual measurements, individual drafts, individual fits, one cohesive result.
Questions about group orders? Email support@linensuit.shop or WhatsApp us directly.
