While many modern weddings are less formal than they have been in the past, a lot of grooms still opt to wait at the altar in a wedding tuxedo or at least nice pants with a dinner jacket. If the bride is wearing a white gown, the groom may still wear either a white or black tuxedo. The black tuxedo which is traditionally worn with a black bow tie, is often reserved for an evening wedding or “black tie” event. However, black tuxedos may still grace the stage of a daytime outdoor wedding.
If the wedding is very formal, with many wedding attendants (ie. bridesmaids and groomsmen) then all of the groom’s attendants will wear the same type of tuxedo (these will be the groomsmen tuxedos or the groomsmen suits), while the groom himself, wears a more elegant style. The tuxedo for the groom may be distinguished by satin accents on the jacket’s lapel and pearl cufflinks or studs on his tuxedo shirt, for example.
Tuxedo Styles
You may think that all mens tuxedos for a wedding are the same. There are, however, a variety of styles with most tuxedo jackets and slacks made of a wool blend.
A tuxedo jacket can have one button or two buttons. This basic style can then be altered with a ruffled or non-ruffled shirt and by wearing a vest, suspenders (also called braces) or a cumberbund (that wide sash around the waist). Your pants may be pleated at the waist and are usually accented with a satin stripe down the outside seam of the leg. A very formal wedding tuxedo will have a black tail coat or be “with tails”.
If you are having a beach wedding ceremony or flying to somewhere exotic for a destination wedding, you may want to consider a more lightweight, cooler, destination
wedding suit. Typically this will be white or off-white in color and of a lighter material than wool.
Buying Your Wedding Tuxedo
While it is possible to buy your tuxedo online, you will probably want to be fitted in person for the jacket, shirt and pants. Many department stores, men’s stores and big and tall stores offer a wide selection of wedding tuxedos to fit most mens sizes and budgets. Larger stores like Macy’s, Sears, Nordstrom and The Men’s Wearhouse usually will carry tuxedos. Other stores are specifically set up for selling formal wear such as tuxedos, wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses and prom dresses.
Find a store where you feel comfortable with the staff and customer service for getting that special attention as you are measured and fitted for your tux. Once you select a style that you like, your jacket and pants will very likely need some alteration to fit you just right, especially in the length, shoulders and around the waist. The other items to complete your suit will be fairly standard off-the-shelf. These necessities include your shirt, vest and highly polished tuxedo shoes along with accessories like jewelry, tie, cumberbund or suspenders.
The big name designers like Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers and Calvin Klein will have a number of styles available. The amount you spend on a tuxedo can range very widely, however, if your timing is right, you should be able to take advantage of one of the sales being offered at these stores.
Renting a Wedding Tuxedo
If you don’t want to own your wedding tuxedo, to be able to wear on another special occasion, the most popular styles are available for rental. You will very likely find either a black tuxedo or a white tuxedo at any number of formal wear or tuxedo rentals shops located in your neighborhood or in a nearby large city. Your rental package will include the basics of tuxedo jacket, vest, pants, belt, shirt, tie and shoes. Your body size will be matched fairly well to the sizes they have in stock. You will be able to adjust the fitting of some items such as the tuxedo vest.
A tuxedo rental is also more appropriate for the grooms men who are not customarily to be burdened by the expense of such a purchase.
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You are sure to look sharp in all of those wedding photos wearing your elegant, formal wedding tuxedo.
