Believe it or not, wedding fashion is not just about the bridal gown. Those guys have a lot of choices to make too. Choosing a tuxedo is more than double breasted vs. tailcoat, or what color cummerbund to wear. Men have more fashion choices now than ever before and it makes for a beautiful wedding unique to his style.
Here is a breakdown of some of the choices you make when choosing men's formal wear for your wedding. Hopefully this will help you be a little prepared when you visit your retailer.
Coat Style
Traditionally, there were three types of coats to choose from. There was the morning coat, also known as a cutaway, for weddings scheduled before 4:00 PM. The tuxedo was for "black tie" formal weddings, usually in the evening. And then there was the tailcoat for the most formal, or "white tie" weddings and it was traditionally worn with a white pique shirt, vest and tie. Now, the formal traditions have been lost and people choose almost any style for any time of the day.
The tuxedo looks like a business suit coat with a satin lapel and one or two buttons in the front. It is worn open with a cummerbund or vest and bow tie. Most tuxedo stores can tell you if the coat you considering is European or traditionally cut. A European cut tuxedo is tapered inward around the waist, and works better for men who are athletically built with broad shoulders and narrower waists.
A double breasted tuxedo has six buttons on the front with three running down each side. The coat is worn closed and buttoned with a cummerbund and bow tie. This style is great for men who want to hide their waistline.
The tailcoat is short in the front and has "tails" that are longer in the back. This is the most formal style tuxedo and is worn best with a vest and bow tie. Tall, slender men look best in tails.
Tuxedos traditionally come in 3 collar styles. They are peak, shawl and notch. They are exactly as they sound. The peak lapel points upward, the notch has a notch cut out of the side (like a business suit), and the shawl is a rounded collar. The collars are usually satin or trimmed in satin.
Many tuxedo stores offer some contemporary style tuxedos such as a long coat with 4-7 buttons in front. Some have shorter collars, and some are collarless. Also, instead of a bow tie, you can choose an asc
ot or you can get ties that simply button in front in a short length without the bow.
Color
Tuxedos are not just black or white. Most wedding professionals carry colors like grey, blue, and chocolate brown - a favorite wedding color this year. You can also choose pin stripes or different fabric materials.
A word of advice - try to stay away from 100% polyester tuxedos. Most tuxedos of quality are a cotton/poly or wool/poly blend which is more comfortable for your wedding party.
Tuxedo shirts
Tuxedo shirts also come in three basic styles. There is the wing collar, which has two short pointed ends that are folded down over the bow tie. There is the lay down collar which is like a regular dress shirt collar. And then there is the mandarin collar which is a collar that hugs the neck without any pointed ends. Mandarin collars can be worn with a stud at the neck instead of a bow tie.
Most tuxedo shirts are pleated in the front. A pique (say "Peekay") shirt is not pleated but has pique material in the front section of the shirt. Pique material is textured - think of the texture of golf shirt material.
Tuxedo shirts have two sets of button holes. One set is to button your shirt closed - usually clear or white buttons. The second set is for your studs and cuff links to go through to finish off the look of your tuxedo. Most rentals come with studs and cuff links.
Ties, Cummerbund, Vests
Every tuxedo is completed with tie and cummerbund or vest. Typically a bow tie is used, but there are other styles available such as the ascot or a traditional tie. An ascot is wider than a regular tie.
Cummerbunds and vests come in all sort of colors and patterns. It's best to take samples of your wedding colors when choosing a tuxedo if you want to match them. Cummerbunds are pleated and wrap around the waist. Most rental vests are open in the back and are adjustable around the neck and waist.
Tuxedo Accessories
Yes, men have wedding fashion accessories too. One of my favorites is the pocket square. This is just a square piece of fabric that is folded and tucked into the front pocket of the tuxedo. It's a great way to incorporate your wedding color without overdoing it.
And if you want to go all out, your tuxedo rental store will have scarves, gloves, canes and hats available for the men in your wedding party.
Shoes
Don't forget about shoes! Most men rent shoes with their wedding tuxedo. Most formal shoes are patent leather in a slip-on or string-up style. However, some formal wear stores now supply leather rental shoes in more contemporary styles.
Final tips
Take time when choosing your tuxedos for your wedding. Give yourself at least a few hours to look through the styles and make choices. Compare styles and pricing at different stores.
Make sure all of your men have their measurements into the rental store at least a month before your wedding.
And, if you remember nothing else, please remember this one. Make sure every man in your bridal party tries his tuxedo on before leaving the store with it. Rental stores can make last minute alterations to make sure your entire wedding party looks perfect in their tuxedos.
Labels: groom, party, tuxedo, wedding
