Formalwear Protocol
Looking perfect
A beautifully dressed bride requires a handsomely suited groom. When choosing a tux, note the time of day and the season in which the wedding will take place.
A morning wedding with a brunch reception will require much less formal attire than a late evening ceremony and formal sit-down dinner.
Keep in mind the style and formality of the bride and her attendants’ attire when choosing appropriate formalwear. An experienced formalwear shop can guide you successfully through these choices.
The basic elements of a groom’s outfit may include a jacket, pants, shirt, bow tie or ascot, cummerbund or vest, suspenders, pocket-handkerchief, socks and shoes. Special shoes are often worn with tuxedos and can be found at formalwear shops for purchase or rental.
Many options are available to fill out the groom’s attire. In addition to all the new styling and fabrics for today’s tuxedos, high-fashion accessories include ties, suspenders, cummerbunds, shirts that preclude bow ties, cuff links and shirt studs in almost any style you can imagine. Choose designs and accessories to suit your own style and express your unique personality. If you prefer to play it safe, a traditional black and white tuxedo ensemble never goes out of style, giving you the added confidence that you will look your best on your wedding day.
Visit the formalwear shop four months before the wedding. Bring along swatches of the bridesmaids’ gowns if you plan to coordinate the groomsmen’s tuxes. While formalwear shops provide measurement forms for out-of-town grooms and attendants to complete, the danger of confusing or incorrect measurements increases. It is best to get the groom and his men into the shop to be measured in person.
GROOM TRENDS
Groom’s bling This season has jewelers creating diamond-encrusted wedding bands just for grooms.
Today’s Bond Appeal Look debonair on your big day by donning a classic tux with a twist, like shawl collars, satin detailing and velvet trims. Notch-lapels, peak lapels, textured vests, the Windsor tie, the Ascot and the Euroband are the trend in groom’s attire. Or, shed the tux altogether and go with a morning coat or custom suit.
Party All Weekend Long The new trend is to take a trip. Celebrate off the coast of Mexico, in Rio, Monte Carlo, even Vegas for an exciting event filled weekend. Think along the lines of the film, “The Hangover”, minus the crazy shenanigans.
Do What You Love To Do A bachelor party can involve an evening at a casino, golfing, fishing, a barbecue, a game of touch football at the park, or attending a professional sporting event—whatever you love to do!
Creative Bouttonieres Personal, creative boutonnieres are very GQ. Instead of solely floral elements, add touches such as textures, masculine ribbon choices, unique elements. If fishing is your favorite psttime, add a colorful lure, if football is your game, add your team’s logo, a small helmet or a bobblehead!