Wedding Articles to help you plan your wedding

Tuxedos - Formal wear for the groom and ushers

You have decided to have a Black tie formal affair. Now what should the groom, best man, and others wear.

The following people should be thought of when choosing formal wear:

• Groom
• Best Man
• Groomsmen
• Ushers
• Ring Bearer
• Fathers of the Bride and Groom
• Grandparents

Formal wear can be purchased or rented. If you are having a large wedding party it would be nice to check with your groomsmen to see if they own their own tuxedos before choosing a style. If a majority have a two-button notch collar, then you could consider choosing that style. Speaking of styles, tuxedos come in many different shapes, with many different lapels. The more popular styles are:

• Lapels
  • Notch
  • Shawl
• Type of suit
  • Single-Breasted (Traditional)
    • One-Button
    • Two-Button
    • Three-Button
    • Four-Button
  • Double-Breasted
  • Tails
• Ties
  • Bow-tie (Traditional)
  • Four-in-hand
  • Euro-tie
• Shirt Collars
  • Wing-tip (Traditional)
  • Laydown
  • Banded (Worn without a tie)
• Shirt Style
  • With studs
  • Without studs
• Possible Accessories
  • Cumberbun or Vest
  • Suspenders
  • Cufflinks
  • Studs
  • Shoes
  • Handkerchief
  • Top Hat

Once you choose the styles for yourself, and the others, you must order them at least two weeks before the wedding. The easiest way to coordinate all the guys is to order through a retail chain that has numerous locations. ask the people in your wedding party to go to any local tuxedo shop and get measured. Most shops will do this as a courtesy. Once they get their measurements give the order to the retailer. It is your choice whether or not you wish to pay for the rentals or not.

Usually, the groom looks different than the rest of the wedding party, as does the best man. The groomsmen and the ushers generally dress alike, as do the fathers of the bride and groom. The ringbearer could dress like the groom, best man, or groomsmen, the choices are limitless.

At my wedding I wore a four-button notch collared tux with an exquisite wingitpped collared shirt with a canal (Can't see the tie from the back), a black vest, silver four-in-hand tie, silver and black onyx cufflinks, and new shoes. My best man wore a two-button notch tux, with a wing tip shirt, a black vest, black four-in-hand tie. The groomsmen wore a two-button notch tux, with a Laydown collared shirt, a black vest, black Fourinhand tie, and the parents wore a two-buttoned shawl tux, wing tipped shirt, black vest, and black bow-tie.

As you can see, the choices are infinite. Have fun, look good, and best wishes.

Stephen Tiger
WedAlert

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