How to plan custom wedding shirts for the getting ready photos, groom crew, rehearsal and after party, collect sizes and names, and order on a wedding week timeline.
Custom wedding shirts give the wedding party something to wear in the hours the formal clothes are not on: getting ready photos, the rehearsal, the morning golf or beach outing, and the after party. One coordinated set for the bride's side and the groom's side photographs beautifully and doubles as a keepsake. This guide covers getting ready shirts, groom crew ideas, rehearsal and after party designs, what to print, and a wedding week timeline. When you have the plan, design your wedding party shirts online and preview each one before you pay.
Where do custom wedding shirts fit into the wedding weekend?
Custom wedding shirts fit into the parts of the weekend before and after the ceremony: the getting ready hours, the rehearsal or welcome night, daytime group activities, and the after party. They are not meant to replace formal clothes, but to make the casual moments look planned and to give the wedding party a matching look in candid photos.
That is what separates them from bachelorette shirts, which belong to a trip weeks earlier with a smaller group. If you are planning that trip too, our custom bachelorette party shirts guide covers it. Wedding weekend shirts usually include both sides of the wedding party, sometimes parents, and often the couple themselves.
What should the bride squad wear for getting ready photos?
For getting ready photos, the bride squad usually wears matching shirts with a soft color, a simple design, and each person's role, such as "Maid of Honor" or "Bridesmaid," while the bride wears a contrasting version that says "Bride." Plan to slip the shirt off carefully before the dress goes on, so hair and makeup stay intact.
Photographers love a coordinated getting ready scene, but it only works if the shirts suit the light and the room. A few practical choices:
- Pick colors from the wedding palette. A pale version of the bridesmaid dress color ties the photos to the rest of the day.
- Make the bride's shirt the opposite color. If the squad wears blush, the bride wears white, or the reverse, so she stands out in group shots.
- Keep the design small and clean. A small script word on the chest looks elegant in close portraits; big graphics fight with makeup and flowers.
- Print the date on the back. A short line with the date and the couple's last name turns the shirt into a keepsake.
What are good groom crew shirt ideas?
Good groom crew shirt ideas are short, a little funny, and tied to the groom: "Groom Crew" with the wedding date, a nickname list on the back, or a playful title for each groomsman, like "Best Man, Head of Logistics." Darker shirt colors suit most groom crews and hide the occasional spill during setup.
Ideas groomsmen actually wear again:
- "The Groom" for him and "Groom Crew" for everyone else, same design, same color.
- A simple line drawing of something the groom loves, such as his dog, his boat, or his hometown skyline, with "Groom Crew" and the date.
- Each guy's role on the back: "Best Man," "Ring Security," "Toast Writer," "Driver."
- A joke about the wedding day, such as "Here for the Open Bar" or "Last Day of Freedom (Officially)."
Keep jokes kind enough that the couple's grandparents can laugh at them in photos. Try a few versions in the custom wedding shirt designer before deciding.
Which wedding weekend event needs which shirt?
Each wedding weekend event suits a different shirt: getting ready shirts are soft and simple, rehearsal and welcome night shirts carry the couple's names and date, daytime activity shirts are bright and fun, and after party shirts can be bolder and funnier. The table below helps you plan one set or several.
| Event | Who wears it | Design idea | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting ready | Bride squad, groom crew | Role titles in small script or block letters | Choose colors that look good in soft window light |
| Rehearsal or welcome night | Wedding party, close family | Couple's names, date, a simple icon | Make it wearable with jeans for a casual dinner |
| Daytime activity | Wedding party and friends | Beach, boat or golf themed design with the date | Light colors stay cooler in the South Florida sun |
| After party | Couple and guests who stay late | "Just Married" or a funny line from the toast | Bold design that reads in dim lighting |
| Morning after brunch | Couple | "Mr. and Mrs." with the new last name | Order these with the rest so they arrive together |
Most couples pick one or two of these, not all five. A single shirt for the wedding party plus a "Just Married" pair for the couple covers most weekends.
What should you print on rehearsal and after party shirts?
On rehearsal and after party shirts, print the couple's first names or new last name, the wedding date, and one design element from the invitation, such as a monogram, a flower or a skyline. Using the same art as the invitation makes every photo from the weekend look connected without extra design work.
If you have a monogram or crest from your stationery, ask your designer for a transparent PNG, ideally 4500 x 5400 px at 300 dpi. For the couple's own pair, our matching couple shirts post has ideas for coordinated designs, dates and coordinates. When a wedding turns into a gathering of the extended family, the ideas in our family reunion shirts guide apply, and the same art can go on family shirts for the rehearsal dinner.
A note on designs: original art and your own photos are perfect. We do not print trademarked logos, characters or song lyrics without permission, so use your own words for that favorite line instead.
How do you collect sizes and names for a wedding party?
To collect sizes and names for a wedding party, send one short form or group message with three questions: shirt size, the name or title to print, and preferred spelling. Set a deadline a few days before you plan to order, and assign one person, often the maid of honor or best man, to chase replies.
Wedding parties are spread across cities, so a single list prevents mistakes. Double check names with accents, hyphenated last names and nicknames, then type them exactly as they should print. Since the price per shirt stays the same with no minimum, you can add a late cousin or an extra size later without changing the deal.
When should you order custom wedding shirts?
Order custom wedding shirts about three to four weeks before the wedding. Orders ship within 2 business days, but shipping transit time is extra and not promised, and wedding weeks are full of surprises. Ordering early leaves room to fix a spelling, add a guest, or steam the shirts before photos.
Here is an illustrative timeline counted back from the wedding day. Adjust it for your carrier's transit time.
| When (illustrative) | What to do |
|---|---|
| Six weeks before | Choose which events get shirts and pull art from the invitation |
| Five weeks before | Send the size and name form to the wedding party |
| Four weeks before | Build designs, check every name in the preview |
| Three to four weeks before | Place the order, allowing for shipping transit |
| Week of the wedding | Unfold, hang and steam the shirts for photos |
Shirts arrive folded, so give them a quick steam before the getting ready photos. Our guide on how to iron a printed t shirt covers it. When your list is final, order the wedding party shirts with time to spare.
Why order wedding shirts from Imperial Custom Apparel?
Imperial Custom Apparel prints wedding shirts in house in Hollywood, FL, in the Miami area, with full color direct to garment printing on industrial Kornit equipment. That handles soft script fonts, monograms, watercolor flowers and photos. You preview every shirt on the real color before paying, and a real person checks every file.
- From $25 per shirt with a full color front print, no minimum, so one "Just Married" pair is a normal order.
- Pick your shirt, color and size in the designer for each person.
- A real person checks every file, including the spelling you typed.
- Ships within 2 business days across the US, or local pickup in Hollywood, FL for South Florida weddings.
- Damaged or misprinted orders are reprinted or refunded.
Make the weekend photos match: create custom wedding shirts for the bride squad, the groom crew and the couple.
Frequently asked questions
What are custom wedding shirts used for?
Custom wedding shirts are used for the casual parts of a wedding weekend: getting ready photos, the rehearsal or welcome night, daytime group activities and the after party. They give the wedding party a coordinated look in candid photos and become a keepsake from the weekend.
Can I order just two custom wedding shirts for the couple?
Yes, there is no minimum, so you can order just two custom wedding shirts for the couple, such as a "Just Married" pair. The price starts at $25 per shirt with a full color front print and stays the same whether you order two shirts or a set for the whole wedding party.
How early should I order custom wedding shirts?
Order custom wedding shirts about three to four weeks before the wedding. Orders ship within 2 business days, and shipping transit time is added on top. Ordering early leaves time to fix a name, add a late guest and steam the shirts before the getting ready photos.
Can you print our wedding monogram on shirts?
Yes, your own wedding monogram prints well on shirts in full color. Send it as a transparent PNG, ideally 4500 x 5400 px at 300 dpi, and preview it in the designer. A real person checks every wedding monogram file before printing to catch soft edges or a background box.
Where can I get custom wedding shirts made online?
You can get custom wedding shirts made online with Imperial Custom Apparel. Upload your design or type names and roles, preview each shirt on the real color, and order from $25 with no minimum. Shirts print in Hollywood, FL and ship within 2 business days across the US.
Wedding party shirts that match the photos, from $25
Add names, roles and your date, preview every shirt on the real color, and order one or the whole party. Every file is checked by a real person, and orders ship within 2 business days. Text or call (954) 280 0627.
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