Selecting Men's Formalwear For The Wedding
by Rose Smith, Copyright 2004
Have you ever noticed that weddings seem to be all
about the bride? There's information available for
the wedding dress, shoes, makeup and accessories.
But...what about the groom and his ushers? After
all, they need to wear something to the wedding too!
So, what should the groom (and his attendants) be
wearing to a wedding? In most cases, it depends on
the time of day that the wedding is to take place.
If the wedding is to be a very formal evening
affair, a tuxedo is required. For a morning or
afternoon wedding, the attire of the men will depend
more upon a combination of preference and the type
of wedding theme you've chosen.
For example, the groom should not be showing up in a
formal black tuxedo for a wedding on the beach. A
lightweight and lighter color suit would be more
appropriate. If you're planning a very casual
wedding, then lightweight dress pants, shirt, tie
(optional) and blazer would be appropriate as well.
The groom, father-of-the-bride, and groomsmen should
all visit a professional formalwear shop for
guidance and information on the type of attire that
is available. Most men don't realize just how many
decisions go into choosing a wedding suit or tuxedo.
You'll need to choose from single-breasted and
double-breasted jackets; collars that are peaked,
notched or shawl; cummerbund or vest; bow tie, ascot
(these are double-knot ties with ends folded over)
or a casual tie.
Also, it's very important that everything
coordinates with the attire of the bride and
bridesmaids, so make sure you know exactly what they
will be wearing and the colors chosen. (Take a
fabric sample or a picture of the dresses).
Unless you plan on attending a lot of formal
occasions after the marriage, most men are better
off renting their formalwear as opposed to buying
it. There are a lot of men's stores that carry large
selections of wedding attire and they will do
alterations on rented suits. However, before you
rent anything, make sure you know what comes with
the package. Do you need to buy the cummerbund
and/or vest? Are the shoes included? What about the
tie and shirt? Make sure you get a written receipt
that states what is and is not included in the
rental.
The groom and other gentlemen should be measured for
their suits approximately three months before the
wedding. For any groomsmen who live out of town,
they can go to a local shop for measurements, then
send the information to the groom so he can set up
the rental. Please make sure your ushers understand
that they are not to make their own rental
arrangements in another city. You will have no way
of knowing if they actually picked the correct suit,
color, or accessories until they show up for the
wedding, at which point you will have one very
unhappy bride - not a good thing!
The groom should look after all the rental
arrangements at one store only. Any groomsmen coming
from out of town should arrive at least 2 to 3 days
before the wedding for final measurements in case
there needs to be last minute alterations done.
Most rentals can be picked up a day or two in
advance. Check the suits/tuxedos over carefully
before leaving the store with them. Look for any
stains, rips, snags or possible cigarette burns.
Everyone should try their suit on to be sure it fits
properly and the length of the pants and jacket
sleeves are correct. Be sure to wear the shoes you
will be wearing at the wedding for this. Check the
cuffs and collar for frayed material, and make the
jackets don't have any buttons missing.
After the wedding, the bestman usually returns his
own and the groom's suit to the formalwear shop by
the next business day. The groomsmen are responsible
for returning their own suits, also within the next
business day to avoid late charges. Small food or
beverage stains can usually be removed easily
enough, however if a suit is heavily damaged, be
prepared to pay for it. So fellows, be careful
during the wedding!
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Resource Box:
Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More,
a website designed to help you discover your perfect
wedding theme.
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