How to Select a Tuxedo: 3 Essential Tips

Posted March 12, 2013 | ♥ 2 Comments

While the bride is busy shopping for the perfect gown, the groom may be wondering what he will wear on the wedding day. Today, we’re here to help with three tips on how to select a tuxedo. These essential tips will help you dress the part (and help groomsmen with attire), while looking your very best on your wedding day. Read on for more…

How to Select a Tuxedo

1. Consider your wedding theme.

Is your wedding an evening affair? Daytime? Country-chic or vintage? A garden soiree? Select a tuxedo or suit that will suit your theme, as it is important for your attire to coordinate with the overall look and feel of your wedding.

If you’d like, you can add a pop of color to your suit to coordinate with bridesmaids. For instance, here is one example of a groomsman wearing a blue tie and vest to coordinate with the bridesmaid’s dress.

2. Formal or informal?

Similar to your wedding theme, informal or formal is an important tone to consider. If your wedding is extremely formal (Black Tie), a tuxedo is essential. Black Tie is a term that includes a black dinner jacket, matching trousers, a white formal shirt, a black bow tie, and cummerbund or a black Windsor. Black formal shoes are also required.

Less formal? At a Black Tie Optional wedding, a tuxedo or dinner jacket may be worn, but is not required. Proper attire (like a tuxedo or a suit without a sport coat) is necessary; colored vests and ties, as mentioned above, are a great way to coordinate groomsmen attire with bridesmaids.

3. What to Wear in Warmer Weather

In warmer weather (or tropical climates), you’ll want to dress up, but remain comfortable. Consider skipping the jacket for a less formal look, as shown below:

For a beach wedding or tropical climate, you can skip the suit altogether for khakis and a linen shirt – a perfect solution for hot weather.

More Tips to Consider

No matter what formal wear style you decide, the groom and groomsmen should follow these etiquette rules for a flawless look:

• When wearing a two or three button tuxedo jacket, he should always leave the bottom button undone.

• The tips or flaps on a wing collar shirt should sit behind his bow tie, not on top of it.

• If he plans to remove his tuxedo jacket during the event, opt for a fullback vest. It’s a much cleaner, well-dressed look when his coat is off.

• Cummerbunds are worn with the pleats facing up.

• Cuff links are a must, especially when wearing a French Cuff shirt.

• Tails can be worn for very formal occasions in his choice of color.

• Allow his trouser color to dictate the color of his shoes and socks, which should always be the same or darker than his trousers. Patent leather or polished oxfords make the best formal footwear.

Need more inspiration? Check out formal wear styles for your wedding at Jos A. Bank.

This is a sponsored post by Jos A. Bank.

Happy Planning!

♥
-E.