A Gentleman’s Guide to Refined, Custom Looks for his Engagement Shoot, Parties and Wedding Day… Plus 10 Questions with Owner, Stephen Richards, Jr.

Recently I teamed up with Stephen Richards, Jr., a Nashville native and owner of Richards Bespoke, one of the most respected men’s fashion brands in the country. He’s won numerous awards and has obtained some of the world’s highest profile clients (more about that in the Q&A at the end of this post). His custom clothing has been featured in respected publications including People Magazine, GQ, Vanity Fair and Sports Illustrated, to name a few.


I also reached out to my friends at Southall Farm, a luxury farm resort and wedding venue here in Franklin, TN, to shoot on their beautiful property. It was a gray, misty day, but I love the mood it gave us, complimenting the farm’s earth tones and the refined rustic exteriors of the inn including warm natural wood, black stain and stone.


Franklin is full of rare and classic sports car enthusiasts, so we also brought along a local collector’s air cooled Porsche 911 and special edition Mercedes Silver Arrow S Class convertible, because what gentlemen doesn’t love to arrive in style?

Grooms, it’s so important that your clothing is the perfect fit, especially in the most important photographs of your life. Unless you are a celebrity, your wedding day will be when you are photographed the most in your lifetime and you want to look your best. Your bride has purchased a custom dress for the occasion, shouldn’t you purchase a custom tailored tux? After all, your bride will only wear her dress one day, but you can wear your new bespoke suit and/or tux over and over to friends’ weddings as well as work, holiday, and charity events. As a professional wedding photographer who has photographed weddings for the last 15 years, I assure you it’s absolutely worth the investment. The difference between a rented or off the rack tux and a custom tux is night and day in images. And, as always, details matter. I love the details that Stephen includes with his designs — from monogrammed cuffs, to custom designed coat linings and personalized labels. Shoes? Yes, he offers those too.

Here are three looks Stephen chose for our shoot, and whatever you dream up he can create for you.

Engagement Shoot or Informal Wedding Day:
2-piece Suit, Button Down Shirt, Tie & Pocket Square

Wedding Day: Custom Tux, Button Down Shirt, Pocket Square, Bowtie & Slippers

Q&A with Stephen Richards, Jr

1. Where are you located and do I need an appointment?

Wedgewood Houston- 1254 Martin St., Nashville, TN 37203. By appointment only.

2. Give us a quick snapshot of the custom process and experience.

We start each fitting appointment with a consultation to see what our client is looking for. We’ll then take their 40+ body measurements and go over fit preference. Lastly, we’ll sit down and design their garments by selecting fabrics, jacket linings, buttons, thread colors, etc. Our average turnaround time is roughly 5-8 weeks.

3. Why is a custom fit and selection so much better than off-the-rack?

No two people are made exactly alike, so neither should their suits. Even if someone can fit into an off-the-rack suit with minimal alterations needed, they’re still limited to what fabrics, patterns, colors, styles, etc. they can choose from. Custom allows you to design exactly what you’re envisioning without having to sacrifice fit or style. 

4. What should I expect the investment to be?

Our 2pc suits start out around $1400 and go up to the multi-thousands. The average is somewhere between $2,500-$3,000.

5. Recommend two looks for an engagement shoot.

Sport Coat/Blazer, jeans, button-down shirt, pocket square or 2pc Suit, no tie, pocket square

6. Recommend two looks for cocktail wedding parties.

Spring/Summer: Beige/tan linen 2pc suit, tie, pocket square

Fall/Winter: Mid-grey or navy flannel 3pc suit, tie, pocket square

7. Are there different tux styles/fabrics for a summer and winter wedding?

Summer: Fabrics: Linen/wool blend, silk, mohair. Styles: Single-breasted/2pc tuxedo

Winter: Fabrics: Velvet, mohair. Styles: Single or double-breasted 2pc tuxedo, or 3pc tuxedo

8. Do you recommend a pocket square with and without a tie?

Yes. A pocket square can compliment a tie or replace the tie altogether.

9. Who have you dressed that we might recognize?

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, AJ Brown, Jordan Rodgers, Lane Kiffin, Tua Tagovailoa

10. What is your favorite item of clothing you own?

That’s like picking your favorite child…I have different favorites for different reasons. One that might be close to being my favorite is a green donegal tweed car coat we made a few years ago. 

Reach out to schedule your appointment with Stephen and tell him I sent you. I can’t wait to see what you choose. Richards Bespoke | 615.669.6845 | Make an Appointment

Book a vacation to Southall Farm, a luxury farm resort and spa located in Franklin, TN.

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