A Guide for Your Groom’s Attire

Choosing your bridal gown is usually one of the most exciting preparations during your wedding planning stage.  Chances are your groom would not spend the same time or effort it took you to pick your gown in deciding what to wear at your wedding.  However, his attire should be as well chosen as your gown (without upstaging your bridal gown, of course); after all, it is his wedding, too.  Here are some tips to help you and your groom, in choosing his wedding attire.

It is also customary for all the other male members of the bridal party to wear similar attire, although the groom’s attire is often a little different from the groomsmen. There are many ways to distinguish the groom from the rest of the bridal party.  Typically, color is a good way to do this. For instance, a groom could wear an all-ivory suit to match your ivory bridal gown or, just an ivory vest and tie, and then use color in the vests and ties for the rest of the wedding party, perhaps to match the bridesmaids. This puts together a very even, attractive look.

Traditionally, what determines men’s wedding attire is the time of day that the wedding will take place, the season and the location.

•    For a traditional formal daytime wedding, it is customary to wear a black or gray cutaway jacket with dark striped trousers, matching or contrasting waistcoat, white wing-collared shirt and formal ascot or cravat tie.

•    For a traditional semi-formal daytime wedding, choose a regular length gray or black stroller jacket and dark trousers worn with a vest, wing-collared shirt and striped or checked conventional tie.

•    For a traditional informal daytime or evening weddingg, a solid black, gray or navy suit with white dress shirt and bow or conventional tie in winter: white or off white jacket with gray trousers, navy jacket with white flannel trousers, or white suit in summer, which are colors in contrast and will give you an awesome look.

•    A traditional formal evening wedding attire calls for a black tailcoat and matching trousers, white pique waistcoat, dressy wing-collared shirt and a white bow tie.

•    For a traditional semi-formal evening wedding, a black or dark color dinner jacket and trousers are worn if the wedding is in winter, or white if it is in summer. A vest or cummerbund that coordinates with the bridesmaids’ attire will go well with a white dress shirt and bow tie.

Recent fashion trends have changed a lot; and so has the way of the wedding wear, too.  Here are some recent trends.

•    Formal Daytime Wedding: A groom can wear a contoured long or short jacket, white in summer and a dark colored jacket in winter; with striped trousers, wing-collared shirt and ascot tie, with a vest if needed.

•    Semi-Formal Daytime Wedding: A tuxedo jacket worn with matching or contrasting trousers, wing-collared shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie will look great for the groom.

•    Formal Evening Wedding:  A contoured long or short jacket is worn with matching trousers, wing-collared shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie.

•    Semi-Formal Evening Wedding: One can opt for a tuxedo jacket with his own taste of colors and styles with matching or contrasting trousers, white or colored dress shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie.

Definitions:

Jackets:

•    Cutaway or Morning Coat: A very formal jacket. This is similar to the tailcoat, short in the front, but has just one long tapered tail in the back. It tapers from the front waist button to a wide back tail.  Cutaway jackets are either black or gray and are worn with matching striped pants.

•    Stroller Coat: A semi-formal jacket, the stroller coat is cut similar to the tuxedo but is typically worn at weddings that take place before six o’clock in the afternoon. Usually comes in black or charcoal gray.

•    Tails/Tailcoat or Full Dress: The most formal coat, the tailcoat is short in the front with two long tails in the back and a two- to six-button front. This style of jacket is usually worn at ultra-formal evening weddings.

•    Tuxedo: The most common and classic formal jacket typically worn after 6:00 o’clock in the afternoon. It may be either single breasted with a one to four button front, double-breasted with a two to six button front or a 3 lapel choices – peaked, notched or shawl.

Lapels:
•    Peaked Lapel – This broad, V-shaped lapel points up and out just below the collar line.

•    Notched Lapel-Features a triangular indention where the lapel joins the collar. This is considered the least formal lapel style.

•    Shawl Collar-Features a smooth, rounded lapel with no notch.

Shirt Collars:
•    Band collar – Also known as a mandarin collar, this collar stands up around the neck and is the most contemporary-style tuxedo shirt. For those who don’t like to wear ties, this is the perfect choice!

•    Laydown collar – most popular today

•    Wingtip Collar-This is the most formal choice and the collar style most worn with tuxedo jackets. Features a stand up collar with downward points. classic look

Neckwear:
•    Ascot – This is a wide, formal tie that is usually patterned, folded over, and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack. Usually reserved for ultra-formal daytime weddings and worn with a cutaway coat and striped gray trousers.

•    Bow Tie – Usually worn with a classic tux. They come in several colors besides basic black. White is reserved for ultra-formal events, while colored ties are suitable for any occasion.

•    Necktie – You can also wear a classic tie with your tux, to create a more casual, yet elegant, wedding look. A silver or blue tie will be dressy enough for a tux.

Accessories:
•    Cuff Links – These can be used as a personal touch to your wedding ensemble.

•    Cummerbunds – These are pleated swatches of fabric worn around the waist when you’re not wearing a vest. They are usually basic black, but you can choose that match the bridesmaids’ dresses or the wedding colors. Remember that the pleats of the cummerbund face up.

•    Vests - Also known as waistcoats. They can be full-back or backless vest. Full-back vests are a complete vest which has a “back” to it.  Backless vests only have a nylon strip. Choose a white tie and waistcoat for an ultra-formal evening wedding. A colored waistcoat instead of a cummerbund is also acceptable. If you are wearing a vest and plan to take off your jacket, choose a full back vest.

Additional guidelines for choosing the groom’s wedding attire:
•    The groom’s attire should not upstage the bridal gown

•    Colors should not clash with the colors the bride has chosen.

•    Formal shoes should always be worn with a tuxedo. Black dress socks and shoes should be worn with black or dark-colored tuxedos. White and ivory shoes should be worn with white and ivory tuxedos.

•    Wear suspenders with a cummerbund, but never with a vest.

•    If you choose a formal tuxedo, the trousers should match the jacket in style and color. If you’ll be having a formal daytime wedding and the groom will wear a stroller or cutaway coat, he should wear gray or gray pinstriped trousers.

•    There are usually 3 trademarks that make a tuxedo: the satin in the lapels of the coat, the satin stripe going down the side of the trousers, and shiny, patent leather shoes. The only formal wear trousers that don’t have some sort of stripe going down the sides are “Stroller” pants. These trousers are usually reserved for “Morning or Daytime” weddings where party members are wearing “Cutaway” suits.

Make sure all of the men’s wedding attire is rented from the same location.  This will ensure that the style, color and accessories are the same. It’s also important to make sure that rentals are confirmed at least three to five weeks ahead of time and that the men present themselves for one fitting in case a suit needs to be altered.

Your formal wear specialist will be able to guide you in choosing the formal attire that best represents the mood you want to create.

Photo Credits: Tuxedos – The Brides of Oklahoma; Wedding Couple – After Six; Jackets – Als Formal Wear; Lapels & Shirt Collars – Tuxgear; Ascot tie – Nation Master; Bow Tie – CalebGo; Necktie – Elen Gray Writer