In the family photo on a wedding day, there is a detail few people notice: the two fathers of the couple standing side by side. Their suits say a great deal about how well the two families prepared. That is why the choice between suit rental for the father of the groom (and the father of the bride) and having suits made to measure for the parents on both sides so often leaves a family undecided. Renting is convenient, tailoring lasts, and each suits a different situation. This article sets the two options side by side so you can decide on cost, fit and how many times the suit will be worn again.
Quick answer
Renting works when the parents will wear the suit only once, time is short or the budget is tight. Made-to-measure works when they have a mature build that rental stock rarely fits, will wear the suit on many more occasions, and need colours that coordinate with the groom. Weigh three things: cost, fit and how often the suit will be worn again.
Renting or made-to-measure: side by side
| Criterion | Renting | Made-to-measure |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | Higher |
| Total cost if worn on many occasions | Paid again each time | Paid once, reused on many occasions |
| Fit for a mature build | Fixed standard sizes, limited alterations | Cut to each person's measurements |
| Fabric and colour | From the styles available | Your choice, to suit the wedding concept |
| Coordination between the two families | Depends on the rental stock | Fully under your control |
| After the wedding | Returned | Belongs to the parents |
| Preparation time | Fast | Needs measuring, baste fitting and finishing appointments |
This is not a scorecard to add up. Each row only matters if it touches your own family's situation.
Cost: think in terms of “price per wear”
Renting charges for each use and leaves you with nothing after the wedding. Made-to-measure costs more up front, but the suit stays with you for relatives' weddings, Tet and holiday gatherings, clan reunions and the two families' events. If the parents expect many more occasions to wear it, made-to-measure usually comes out ahead in total. If they will wear it exactly once, renting makes more sense.
For reference, Mon Amie's made-to-measure price range: the Essential line runs from VND 4.8 – 10 million for a complete jacket and trousers, and the Signature line from VND 10 – 20 million. See the price list for details. If you want a closer cost comparison, read how much it costs to rent a suit compared with having one made.
A mature build: why many rental suits do not fit
Most fathers of the bride and groom, at middle age, have features that off-the-rack clothing struggles to accommodate: a fuller stomach, a slightly stooped back, sloping shoulders, a short neck and arms of unequal length. Rental suits are cut to standard sizes, so one may fit the stomach but be short in the shoulders, or fit the shoulders with sleeves that are too short. A tailor can adjust only the sleeves and trouser hems; the shoulders and chest are very hard to alter.
Made-to-measure solves this by cutting for each individual: extra room at the stomach, trousers with a slightly higher rise for comfort, a collar that hugs the neck and a shoulder line that follows the real shoulder. The result is a suit that fits the body, creases less and sits comfortably through the whole banquet. If you want to learn how to choose a cut for a mature build, the article suits for middle-aged men: how to choose the cut answers it in more detail.
Coordinating the parents' suit colours with the groom
The groom is the centre of attention, so the suits of both sets of parents need to keep in step with his without competing for the light. Four small rules:
- Same tone, not the same suit. Both fathers can wear navy or grey, with no need to match exactly.
- One shade deeper than the groom. If the groom wears a bright navy or smoke grey, the father wears deep navy or charcoal.
- No tuxedo to match the groom. The tuxedo is for the groom and groomsmen; the parents should wear a suit.
- Tie and pocket square in the palette of the wedding flowers. Burgundy, bronze gold or moss green, with a white pocket square, is the safe choice.
Below are suggestions by the groom's colour.
| Groom's suit colour | Suggested suit for the father | Tie |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke blue, bright navy | Deep navy or charcoal | Burgundy or moss green |
| Light grey, beige-cream | Navy or charcoal | Wine red or copper brown |
| Black or navy tuxedo | Charcoal or black, in a suit cut | Silver or matte black |
Getting the tones right shows in the family photos, not only in the couple's portraits.
When to rent, when to have a suit made
Rent when: the parents will wear the suit only once; there is not enough time for fitting appointments; their build is close to a standard size; or you want to keep the budget focused on other parts of the wedding.
Go made-to-measure when: the parents have a particular build that rarely fits standard sizes; there will be many more occasions to wear the suit; you want to coordinate colour and fabric across both families; or you have time for several measuring and fitting sessions. Mon Amie's Groom Styling service schedules fittings backwards from the wedding date, so you can arrange the tailoring for the groom and the parents in one go.
For parents who are older and find it hard to travel, the home tailoring service sends an artisan to your home, office or hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing fabric samples so you can choose on the spot. It is a gentle option for the parents.
If you have suits made for the parents: three notes from the master tailor
- Comfort over a close fit. The parents will sit, stand, shake hands and pose for photos throughout the event, so the jacket must allow them to raise an arm and sit comfortably.
- Choose a fabric that resists creasing, in a subdued colour. Closely woven wool, two buttons, in navy or charcoal, suits almost every build.
- Trousers with a medium-to-high rise. A slightly higher rise lets a man with a fuller stomach sit comfortably without the trousers slipping down.
Common mistakes
- Renting without a real fitting. Collecting the suit just before the wedding and finding the shoulders too short leaves no time to exchange it.
- Waiting until the last minute. Both renting and tailoring need a free slot in the schedule.
- The father outshining the groom. A colour that is too light or a large pattern draws the eye to the wrong centre of attention.
- The two fathers at different levels of formality. One in a two-piece suit and the other in a denim blazer looks very uneven in the group photo.
- Forgetting shoes and belt. Matching the shoes and belt for both men is a small detail, but it makes the whole set of photos tidier.
Tips from Mon Amie's master tailor
When choosing for an older man, try the suit with the shirt and shoes he will really wear, and test the posture of raising an arm for a photo and sitting down. Shoulders cannot be altered, so choose by the shoulders first.
Renting a suit at Mon Amie
If the parents on both sides will wear the suit only once, Mon Amie offers suit rental by the occasion at the showroom. You can book an appointment or message Zalo 0888.111.118 to hold the suit you like, then bring the parents in to try the size in person before the wedding; the suit rental page introduces this service. Rental prices and conditions are quoted by style when you get in touch. For a mature build, remember to try both jacket and trousers, and to test raising an arm and sitting down, before settling on a suit.
Frequently asked questions
What colour suit should the groom's father wear?
Deep navy or charcoal are the two safest colours, since they suit any wedding palette and any build. Choose one shade deeper than the groom so that he stands out.
Will a rented suit fit the father of the bride or groom?
It can if his build is close to a standard size, but it is difficult with a rounded stomach, sloping shoulders or a short neck. Try it on properly before the wedding rather than choosing by the measurements on paper.
Do the two fathers need to wear matching suits?
No. They only need the same tone and the same level of formality. Two suits that differ slightly in fabric or tie still harmonise if they share a colour family.
Is a suit for the in-laws different from a regular suit?
Not in the cut; only in the choice: a subdued colour, little pattern, easy to sit in and easy to photograph. The jacket should have more ease than the one made for the groom.
Does a tailored suit for the in-laws need many fittings?
It needs at least one baste fitting before finishing, to adjust the shoulders, chest and stomach. The home service saves the parents from travelling many times.
Choose a direction and schedule early
Whether you rent or have the suits made, the most important thing is to schedule early. Renting suits parents who will wear the suit only once; made-to-measure suits those who have many more occasions to wear it again, and Mon Amie offers both. If you lean towards made-to-measure, book a measuring appointment or call the hotline 0888.111.118 so Mon Amie can arrange a session for both the groom and the parents; if you choose renting, simply message the same Zalo number to hold the suit early.