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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would DH be unreasonable to wear a short suit to a wedding?

253 replies

toastofthetown · 13/05/2023 17:42

We have a few weddings coming up this July and August. Given the very hot weather last year and that DH runs warm, he’s considering wearing a short suit if the weather is hot. We’re young, and the weddings we’ve been invited to are relaxed and casual, rather than a traditional occasion. We’re not part of the wedding party, and as DH is tall he tends to be at the back of photos. Here are some examples for styles he’s looking at. I know some of these are styled casually, but DH will be in a shirt and smart shoes. I know it’s bit left field but would be interested to see what the view is as DH is considered about sweltering in a traditional suit but also doesn’t want to go totally rogue.

Would DH be unreasonable to wear a short suit to a wedding?
Would DH be unreasonable to wear a short suit to a wedding?
OP posts:
AlyssumandHelianthus · 13/05/2023 22:26

I think they look silly, but I'm a complete rando off the internet. Why don't you ask the people whose wedding it is. Or someone else in the wedding party?

JudgeRinderonTinder · 13/05/2023 23:11

If he wears shorts then he should just wear a nice shirt with them and no jacket. It looks absolutely ridiculous 😂

DemBonesDemBones · 13/05/2023 23:12

If he's over 12 no!

Geppili · 14/05/2023 01:48

If he is tall, slim and utterly gorgeous maybe. But he risks looking like an overgrown pageboy! He could carry a fan to cool him off.

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 08:26

Elvis1956 · 13/05/2023 22:19

As a man with traditional values, dress sense. Yes. I think he'd look like a cock. "Oh look at me, I'm soon I wacccy" twat. Don't let him do it. Suits now are light weigh...actually too light weigh..make him look like a man not a 7 year old

What on earth are traditional man values and what does it have to do with shorts?

Crippling toxic masculinity and a sense of desperation to fit in perhaps?

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 08:27

The longer this thread gets the more I think the DH should wear the shorts. Some people are so square and insecure about how other perceive them. So many comments are obsessed with how others might view the outfit.

Life is too short, wear the shorts.

midgemadgemodge · 14/05/2023 08:36

Astrak · 13/05/2023 21:44

No. Ghastly.

Loads of people west stuff I find ghastly - animal prints for example I find foul - I wouldn't go around expecting them to change because they are not my clothes

I think the only real reason people are being so dickish is because as a society we have far too rigid rules about menswear

He's clean, not exposing his privates - then wear what he wants

mdh2020 · 14/05/2023 08:40

Shorts are not suitable for a wedding. If it’s hot let him ditch the jacket. DH went to one wedding in a linen shirt with a Russian collar (no tie needed) and to another in a short sleeved linen shirt (it was very hot). All the men were jealous and he was comfortable.

electriclight · 14/05/2023 08:41

No. He will look like a postman, a little boy or someone who doesn't understand wedding etiquette. It is no more acceptable than a woman turning up in shorts - too casual. However informal the wedding is, it's good manners to dress well. It is possible for men to be cool in long trousers, many manage it. And he will look even more ridiculous if, as is entirely possible, it rains.

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 08:44

electriclight · 14/05/2023 08:41

No. He will look like a postman, a little boy or someone who doesn't understand wedding etiquette. It is no more acceptable than a woman turning up in shorts - too casual. However informal the wedding is, it's good manners to dress well. It is possible for men to be cool in long trousers, many manage it. And he will look even more ridiculous if, as is entirely possible, it rains.

Plenty of women wear shorts to weddings. Almost every spring summer wedding I’ve ever been to has at least one woman wearing a play suit which is just shorts as an all in one.

MeinKraft · 14/05/2023 08:47

Maybe he could wear a kilt and pretend he's Scottish?

MummyTo2GorgeousMunchkins · 14/05/2023 08:57

I would have been very happy for a guest to wear this at my wedding (Catholic church wedding). But then I just wanted people to feel comfortable and celebrate with us. Although it seems from reading the comments I might be in the minority! Probably influenced by the fact that my Dad is always wearing shorts; although he wore a kilt to my wedding.

PomPomtheGreat · 14/05/2023 09:14

The first thing that came to mind was this, which would mean a no from me!

Would DH be unreasonable to wear a short suit to a wedding?
Banditdog · 14/05/2023 09:39

HowToLearnToLoveMyself · 13/05/2023 22:10

Its fine.
I had 1 person wear it tracksuit bottoms and converse to ours. Did it affect my day? No!
Thats who they are and how they feel comfortable. Im happy they took time out if their lives to celebrate with us

Spoil my day, no, but I would upon reflection wonder why they didn’t think it was worth making an effort.

midgemadgemodge · 14/05/2023 10:23

Make an effort ?
So turning up , probably giving a gift , probably being polite to strangers isn't enough of an effort - they also have to dress Uber conventionally to be accepted as having made an effort ?

HappiDaze · 14/05/2023 10:26

Urm No

electriclight · 14/05/2023 10:31

"Plenty of women wear shorts to weddings. Almost every spring summer wedding I’ve ever been to has at least one woman wearing a play suit which is just shorts as an all in one."

We obviously mix in different circles.

Ariela · 14/05/2023 10:34

He'll stand out like a sore thumb unless you're at a beach party. Mostly the men take their jackets off when hot. Not bare legs. Linen trousers would be cool, especially in a paler colour to reflect heat of the sun.

M&S do some lovely tailored min-crease linen men's suits.
Next also have some nice linen suits.

electriclight · 14/05/2023 10:35

midgemadgemodge · 14/05/2023 10:23

Make an effort ?
So turning up , probably giving a gift , probably being polite to strangers isn't enough of an effort - they also have to dress Uber conventionally to be accepted as having made an effort ?

Yes. Weddings are probably the last place where etiquette dictates a particular standard of dress. They don't take up a big % of a person's life so it's not a massive chore for most. Wear what you want at home, at work, at the shops - probably making up 99.99% of your life - because it's now ok to where sportswear, pyjamas etc almost everywhere due to people being hugely affronted at any suggestion that they shouldn't wear exactly what they want at all times. But let's still have this one occasion where people celebrate by dressing smartly.

KimberleyClark · 14/05/2023 10:36

when I visited Bermuda years ago I saw plenty of men dressed in shorts jacket and tie for work. With shoes and socks. But the shorts were longer than in the pictures, virtually knee length. The shorts in the first picture are too short for a wedding. I’d go with linen trousers and a short sleeved shirt.

ecuse · 14/05/2023 10:39

Oh this is tricky.

My headline take is:

  • it's not inappropriate at all,
  • I've always felt sorry for men having to be trussed up like a turkey for summer weddings in the heat, when the women get to wear little floaty dresses
  • people should wear what makes them feel comfortable and not worry about other people's style opinions.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH...I've never seen anyone, male or female, in a short suit that I didn't think looked like a bit of a knob.

Honourable exception OF COURSE for Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/05/2023 10:47

😂😂 That looks ridiculous, sorry.
Over in Southern Europe you would be laughed out of the continent for this!
I have family in Australia that were this type of thing for the office though. Still looks wrong

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/05/2023 10:48

Wear Predictive text 🙃

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 10:52

electriclight · 14/05/2023 10:31

"Plenty of women wear shorts to weddings. Almost every spring summer wedding I’ve ever been to has at least one woman wearing a play suit which is just shorts as an all in one."

We obviously mix in different circles.

Perhaps.
I’m in the OPs demographic and from what a lot of the posters are suggesting as alternatives it’s clear they are not.

Most likely you just haven’t been able to tell the different between a playsuit and a dress though.

LittleBearPad · 14/05/2023 10:54

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 10:52

Perhaps.
I’m in the OPs demographic and from what a lot of the posters are suggesting as alternatives it’s clear they are not.

Most likely you just haven’t been able to tell the different between a playsuit and a dress though.

Show quote history

What demographic is that?