With summer approaching, we are in high wedding season. Sacred celebrations where they exist, nuptials are not only grand occasions for ring exchangers, but an exam of refinement for lovers of formal tradition. Unless you're the reincarnation of Kurt Cobain and believe pajamas are the most appropriate wedding attire, keep these wedding rules in mind.

I'm getting married: what should I wear?

The important thing for a groom is to dress according to his preferences and the type of wedding he has organized, avoiding eccentricities. The most recommended is the morning suit, although a double-breasted American suit, a semi-frock coat or even a tailcoat will also work. What few know is that the watch is a vetoed complement to the groom. Another accessory with which we must be careful is the one we choose to wear on the lapel: "You can choose between a scarf or a flower, but never both, although this use is widespread in British fashion," says Ruth García Broto, deputy director de Protocolo, a textile company dedicated to taking care of the good dress of gentlemen.

And what should the best man wear?

The protocol is set here by the groom: if he wears a suit, the best man must wear his own; if he decides on a morning suit, the best man should wear this outfit as well (although, in this case, he is allowed to opt for a half-tie suit, such as a jacket and pants set).

And the rest of the guests?

This one is simple: the wardrobe that must be followed is the one indicated on the invitation. If this topic is not mentioned, a dark suit is a safe bet for an afternoon or evening ceremony, while lighter colors will work better for a morning wedding. García Broto adds a piece of advice for witnesses: "If the groom is wearing a morning suit, he must wear this outfit."

Why should the groom sit to the right of the bride?

In case some scoundrel decides to attack her. It's not a joke: in the old days, the knights sat to the right so that they could quickly draw their swords in case some unwelcome guest decided to steal their girl.

Which button on a jacket should be buttoned?

García Broto sees no hint of doubt: “If the jacket only has one button, it must always be buttoned. If it is two, only the superior one. If I had three, always the middle button and sometimes the top one. And, if it is crossed, all the buttons must always be fastened. When sitting down, if necessary, you can unbutton your jacket”.

And, when can the groom unbutton his jacket or frock coat?

Although these garments must always be buttoned before the ceremony while the groom receives and greets the guests and when he enters the space where the wedding takes place, they can be unbuttoned once the groom meets his bride-to-be at the altar.

Why do Canarian grooms wear tailcoats?

In mainland Spain, the morning suit is the quintessential male wedding outfit. The same is not the case, however, in the Canary Islands, where the tailcoat is the protagonist. This is so because in the Canarian hotel sector the maitre d' wears a morning suit.