Quick answer
Do groomsmen ties need to match bridesmaid dresses exactly?
No. An exact match can look polished, but tonal and complementary colours often work just as well. Start with the actual bridesmaid fabric, consider the suit colour, then compare physical tie swatches before ordering for the whole wedding party.
See a real wedding where the groom matches the bridesmaids →Matching the groomsmen to the bridesmaids sounds simple until you put the fabrics next to each other. A bridesmaid dress may be described as sage, rust, blush or navy, but the same colour name can look very different in satin, chiffon, crepe and knitted fabric.
The aim is not always to find a tie that is an exact copy of the dress. The better question is: what makes the whole wedding party look coordinated when the suits, dresses and accessories are seen together?
Should groomsmen ties match bridesmaid dresses?
They can, but they do not have to. There are three good approaches:
- Exact or close match: use the bridesmaid colour again in the ties for a very coordinated look.
- Tonal match: stay within the same colour family but use a lighter, darker or softer shade.
- Complementary colour: choose a different shade that works with the bridesmaid dresses and the suits rather than trying to copy the dress exactly.
All three can work. The right choice depends on the dress fabric, the suit colour and how much you want the groom to stand apart from the rest of the party.
1. Start with the bridesmaid fabric, not the colour name
Colour names are useful for narrowing the search, but they are not a reliable final match. One brand's olive can be another brand's sage, and satin can make a shade look brighter or deeper than the same colour in a matte knitted tie.
If the bridesmaid retailer can provide a fabric sample, use it. Put that beside the suit and the tie swatches in natural daylight. A phone or laptop screen is useful for inspiration, but it is not the best place to make the final colour decision.
Broni&Bo has 36 coordinated wedding colours, and you can order 50p colour swatches before buying for the full wedding party.
2. Decide whether you want exact, tonal or complementary
Exact or close matching
This works particularly well when one colour is a strong part of the wedding palette. It creates an obvious visual connection between the bridesmaids and groomsmen and photographs very cleanly as a group.
A good example is our real wedding with taupe suits and Coral Fusion knitted ties. The coral accessories were chosen to echo the bridesmaids' dresses, while the neutral taupe tailoring stopped the overall look becoming too busy.
Tonal matching
Tonal matching is useful when an exact shade feels too forced or when the bridesmaids are wearing slightly different colours. Keep the accessories within the same family — for example soft pink with Antique Rose or Rose Quartz, or green dresses with Sage, Olive, Moss or Dark Olive depending on the tone of the fabric.
Our Teal and grey real wedding shows this well. Teal runs through the groomsmen's knitted tie sets while the bridesmaids use a mixture of teal and deeper green shades. The colours are connected without every item being identical.
Complementary matching
Sometimes the strongest wedding party looks are the ones where the ties do not copy the bridesmaid dresses at all. Instead, one colour links to the dresses while another gives the groomsmen their own identity.
In our Ink Blue groom and Champagne groomsmen wedding, the groom's Ink Blue tie connects directly with the bridesmaid dresses while the groomsmen wear Champagne. Everyone feels part of the same colour story, but the groom is clearly different from the rest of the group.
3. Check the tie colour against the suit as well
A tie can match the bridesmaid dress perfectly and still be the wrong choice if it disappears into the suit or clashes with the tailoring. Always judge the three elements together: dress, suit and accessory.
If you already know the suit colour, these guides are useful starting points:
- What colour tie goes with a navy suit?
- What colour tie goes with a green suit?
- What colour tie goes with a grey suit?
- What colour tie goes with a brown suit?
4. You can use more than one colour across the wedding party
Matching does not mean everybody has to wear the same thing. One of the most useful ways to create a coordinated wedding party is to repeat the colour palette in different roles.
Our Dark Olive and Burnt Orange real wedding uses two colour groups. Some bridesmaids wear green, others burnt orange, and the groomsmen accessories mirror those same two shades. The groom then stands apart in ivory. The palette is consistent even though the party is not dressed identically.
5. Decide whether the groom should match the groomsmen
There is no rule saying the groom and groomsmen need the same tie. If you want the groom to stand out, change one element while keeping the palette connected.
You could:
- match the groom directly to the bridesmaids and put the groomsmen in a complementary colour;
- use the same tie colour for everyone but give the groom a different suit or waistcoat;
- keep the same colour family but use a darker or lighter shade for the groom;
- use a bow tie for the groom and ties for the groomsmen, or the other way around.
The Ink Blue and Champagne wedding is a good real-world example: the groom takes the colour that links to the bridesmaids, while the Champagne groomsmen remain coordinated with him without being identical.
6. Use physical swatches before ordering for everyone
This is the step that saves the most guesswork. Put the bridesmaid fabric, suit fabric and a few shortlisted tie swatches together in daylight. Look at them from a distance as well as close up.
Knitted fabric has texture, so it catches light differently from a smooth bridesmaid dress. A shade that looks slightly different close up can sometimes look far more natural once the whole outfit is assembled.
We recommend shortlisting two to four likely shades rather than trying to choose from a screen. Order Broni&Bo swatches for 50p each, compare them with the actual dress and suit, then order the full wedding party once you are happy.
A simple matching process
- Get the bridesmaid fabric sample if one is available.
- Confirm the suit colour before locking in the tie.
- Choose your approach: exact, tonal or complementary.
- Shortlist a few Broni&Bo colours rather than relying on the colour name alone.
- Compare 50p swatches in daylight beside the dress and suit.
- Then buy for the full party, including matching pocket squares or children's accessories if required.
Real wedding inspiration
If you are still deciding, use our Real Weddings & Wedding Style Inspiration page. You can filter the customer weddings by both tie/accessory colour and suit colour, which makes it much easier to see combinations on real people before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Do groomsmen ties have to be the exact same colour as bridesmaid dresses?
No. An exact match can look very coordinated, but a tonal or complementary colour often looks more natural. The important thing is that the ties work with both the dresses and the suits.
What if the bridesmaids are wearing different shades?
You can choose one tie colour that sits comfortably across the whole palette, or mirror the mixed-colour approach with more than one accessory shade. The Dark Olive and Burnt Orange wedding is a good example of using two colours without losing consistency.
Should the groom's tie match the bridesmaids?
It can. Matching the groom directly to the bridesmaids while putting the groomsmen in a second coordinated shade is an effective way to make the groom stand out without breaking the wedding colour scheme.
How do I know which Broni&Bo shade is closest?
Use the actual dress fabric where possible and compare it with physical swatches. Colour names and screens are only a starting point. Order 50p swatches and make the final decision in person.
Ready to start comparing? Browse all 36 wedding colours or go straight to the 50p swatch service.
See it on real wedding parties