SELECTING MEN'S FORMALWEAR for the WEDDING

 

SELECTING MEN'S FORMALWEAR for the WEDDING

By Rose Smith

 

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 best-man 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!