With the wedding just weeks away, groom Callum tells us why he turned to Slater Made to Order in Glasgow for a custom velvet suit worthy of his big moment
Photography | Francis J Smith Photography
Callum married Rebecca at The Vu in Bathgate on 30th May 2025, wearing a custom three-piece tuxedo suit from Slater Made to Order, Slater Menswear’s bespoke suit design service.
Now he shares a first-hand account of his groomswear shopping experience and doesn't leave out any details...
Finding the right wedding suit
"Rebecca and I had a pretty whirlwind year. We welcomed our second child, Grayson, in July 2024, so wedding planning naturally took a back seat.
"By the time we reached the final stretch, just two weeks before the big day, we were still organising flowers, decorations and coach hire. It was stressful, but we got there in the end.
"Even though the timeline was tight, I had a clear idea of the look I wanted for the day.
"We’d chosen a black-and-white theme for our decor, the bridesmaid dresses and the groomsmen’s suits, and I knew I was after something sharp with a bit of presence – a velvet tuxedo with statement lapels.
"I’ve shopped at Slater Menswear before and always been impressed by the quality and service.
Meet the groomswear experts: Slater Menswear
"A close friend had also used its made-to-order service for his own wedding and his suit looked brilliant, so I had no hesitation in going straight to Slater when it was my turn."
Slater Made to Order bespoke suit fitting in Glasgow
"I booked my appointment over the phone and was given a full breakdown of the process, including turnaround times and material selection.
"When we arrived at the Glasgow store in February (I’d brought my mum and my best man with me for a second opinion), we were met by a member of the bespoke team and taken to a private fitting room.
"The whole experience felt relaxed and comfortable from the start. We were even offered refreshments, such as coffee and beer, which was a really nice touch.
"The team were great at bringing me a variety of options, all along the lines of what I was looking for, and I ended up trying on three different suits.
"But from the moment I put on the black velvet jacket, I just knew this was the one"
Designing a velvet tuxedo for the big day
"The service and knowledge of the in-store staff was exemplary. They were able to recommend the type and size of bow tie to match the statement lapels of my jacket and explain the process for selecting and printing the lining of the jacket and trousers.
"We even looked at adding personalised embroidery (Rebecca’s and my initials and the date of our wedding) inside the jacket.
"It was this five-star service – plus the high quality of the fabrics – that really persuaded me to go down the made-to-order route.
"Once I made my choice of the black velvet jacket paired with trousers in an Italian fabric and a matching waistcoat, there was only one fitting required and I was able to pick up the finished suit a week before the wedding.
"The Slaters team kept in touch via phone throughout the process and made everything feel really straightforward.
"I never felt anxious about how it would turn out. The whole thing gave me confidence at a time when there was a lot of stress elsewhere in the planning."
Custom wedding suit for a well-tailored fit
"On the day, everything came together perfectly.
"The tailoring was spot on, and the suit felt so comfortable that I could properly enjoy myself without constantly adjusting things"
"I added a few accessories: braces, silver cufflinks and a black-and-silver TAG Heuer watch, all finished off with black patent shoes and a velvet bow tie – both also from Slater Menswear.
"The jacket was definitely my favourite part. It had the sharp, formal look I was going for, but still felt a little bit different and special.
"I tend to dress quite formally in my day-to-day work, so it’s not a million miles away from my usual style – just elevated in all the right ways. Rebecca loved the whole outfit.
"She really liked the texture and style, and told me I looked handsome – which is what you want to hear on your wedding day!
"The black-and-white palette worked beautifully at The Vu and matched our wider wedding aesthetic really well.
"We got married at the end of May, and I’ve since had the suit dry-cleaned – it’s a reminder of the perfect wedding day and the perfect suit!
"I can’t recommend Slater Made to Order highly enough. The level of service, the attention to detail and the final result all exceeded my expectations.
"I went in with an idea and came out with a custom suit that felt completely me."
Experience groomswear shopping at Slater Made to Order
“When Mr Sharples first came into the store, he already had a good idea of what he was after,” says Cameron Whyte of Slater Made to Order.
“Eveningwear and tuxedos are very popular, and we decided on the velvet jacket with trousers and a waistcoat in a black Italian fabric.
"The appointment was relaxed, which allowed us to really take our time investigating the creative elements, throwing in some nice finishing touches, such as embroidery suggestions and alternative waistband styling.
“Once all the decisions were finalised, the suit was made for Callum and, a week before his wedding day, he picked it up from our Glasgow store. (Our second Scottish made-to-order branch launches in Edinburgh soon.)
"And we can’t forget Callum’s groomsmen, who purchased their matching suits from our Retail Tuxedo collection – which conveniently includes all alterations free of charge.”
From sharp suits to traditional kilts, explore our supplier directory to find your perfect grooms outfit
