Grooms tend to pack the night before and hope for the best. Most destination wedding packing lists are written for brides, with a line or two for the groom at the end. This groom's packing list is the opposite: written for you, for a wedding weekend in Italy, with three or four different moments to dress for, summer heat, marble floors and a photographer who will notice the missing cufflink.

The wedding look

• The suit or tuxedo, in a garment bag, in your carry-on. Never checked.
• Two shirts. One for the ceremony, one in case of coffee, wine or heat.
• Tie or bow tie, plus a spare.
• Cufflinks, studs, belt or suspenders, and the pocket square.
• Dress shoes, broken in before the trip, and dark dress socks that reach over the calf.
• A light undershirt that doesn't show through the shirt, for the heat.

Fabrics for an Italian summer

If you're buying or commissioning a suit for the wedding, the fabric matters as much as the cut. A lightweight, open-weave wool, sometimes called fresco, breathes surprisingly well and holds its shape. Wool-silk-linen blends are elegant and cool. Pure linen is wonderful for the welcome party but creases within an hour, which some grooms love and some don't. For black tie in summer, an ivory or white dinner jacket is a classic Italian evening look, if the dress code allows.

If you'd like a suit made by an Italian tailor in Rome, Naples or Florence, plan it on an earlier trip. Bespoke tailoring takes several fittings over weeks or months.

For the rest of the weekend

• Welcome party: a linen suit or a light blazer with trousers, no tie unless the dress code says so.
• Farewell brunch: a linen or cotton shirt, chinos, loafers.
• Free days: comfortable shoes for cobblestones, and long trousers for visiting churches; St. Peter's and other major basilicas don't let anyone in wearing shorts above the knee.
• Evenings: a light knit. Summer nights in the hills of Tuscany or on Lake Como cool down quickly.

Shoes, and marble floors

Italian venues are full of marble, stone steps and polished terrazzo, and new leather soles are slippery. Wear your shoes at home for a couple of weeks before the wedding, or ask a cobbler to scuff or add thin rubber soles. Bring a second pair you can dance in, and loafers for the rest of the weekend.

Grooming

• A haircut about a week before the wedding, not the day before. If you want an Italian barber, book one near the venue in advance.
• Your razor and skincare, tested on your skin. Shave the morning of the wedding, carefully.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses for the days before. A sunburned forehead shows in every photo.
• Lip balm, a small comb and blotting papers for a shiny forehead in the heat.
• Your cologne, which we'll photograph with the rest of your details.

In your pocket on the day

• Your vows or speech, on paper.
• A handkerchief. You'll need it more than you think.
• Your phone, switched to silent, then handed to your best man.
• The rings, if you're the one carrying them. Decide early who has them, and who has them at the altar.

The practical things

• Documents for a legal ceremony, originals and copies, in your carry-on. Read about getting married in Italy as a foreigner.
• A European plug adapter. Italy uses Type L and Type F sockets at 230 volts.
• A lint roller and a travel sewing kit for buttons and loose threads.
• Gifts for your groomsmen, your parents or your partner, wrapped and labeled.
• Something to help you sleep through jet lag in the first nights.

Timing on the day

Plan to be fully dressed at least an hour before the ceremony. That leaves time for portraits, a quiet moment with your parents, a first look if you're having one, and a walk to the ceremony that doesn't involve running. If it's hot, put the jacket on at the last minute and keep a fan nearby; the shirt will thank you.

Questions grooms ask us

Can I rent a tuxedo in Italy?

In the big cities, yes, but choice and sizes are limited, especially in peak season. For the wedding itself, bring your own, fitted at home.

Can I take my jacket off?

After the ceremony and the formal portraits, absolutely, especially in July. Tell your groomsmen when it's allowed, so the whole group looks consistent in photos.

What should the groomsmen pack?

Send them this list, plus the dress code for each event. Matching socks and ties are easier to buy together before the trip than in a village in Tuscany.

For your partner's side of the suitcase, see the bride's packing list and how to travel with the wedding dress. If you're planning your own wedding in Italy, see our wedding photography or write to us.