Many brides have been dreaming of their wedding day since they were little girls! No wonder choosing the perfect wedding dress is one of their favorite parts about getting married. Many grooms, on the other hand, have never really thought about it and now that the time is here, it’s confusing! It’s honestly one of the most asked questions we get when we sit down with our couples to talk about their wedding and I am always happy to share what I’ve learned over the years – here are the basics:
What kind of suit? You mean there are different kinds?! Yes. But don’t worry, it’s really not complicated. The most popular option is a three-piece suit which consists of the suit jacket, vest and trousers all made from the same material. The vest can potentially be a different color but it’s best to have the pants and suit jacket match. A tuxedo is similar to a suit; only it’s more decorative and suitable for more formal weddings. A tuxedo has satin facing on the pocket trim, buttons, and lapels and on a satin stripe that runs down the leg of the trousers. Traditionally tuxedos are worn with bow ties (but you can wear a tie if you want!) and a vest or cummerbund.
No suit? Sure! If your wedding is small and casual and a suit is not your thing we’ve seen garden weddings where the groom wore dress pants and a blazer and casual weddings where the groom and groomsmen wore no jacket at all. You may still want to include a vest that matches your pants and tie or bow tie. Or you could go for classic suspenders with buttons for a casual vintage vibe.
The Dress Shirt
A crisp, clean white dress shirt is always a good option for your wedding day. You can even go with a pattern, just be sure you don’t overpower the bride – make certain her bouquet and accessories are enough to hold up next to your shirt pattern. Off-white or pale pastel colors can work too, as long as they coordinate with your wedding colors and don’t clash with the bride and bridesmaids. There are dozens of collar and cuff styles for shirts, so we won’t get into all of that here – just know when you go to choose your shirt, you can’t go wrong with white!
Pants
Your pants should be in a fabric-weight and color that match your suit or tuxedo jacket. They should not be cuffed and should fall an inch below the top of your shoe. Unless you are having a tropical destination wedding where the weather will be very warm, shorts are not usually considered formal enough for a wedding.
Seasonal Considerations
While our weather here in Tennessee can be mild compared to many other places, you’ll still want to take the season you’ll be getting married into consideration when planning your attire. A dark wool suit is appropriate across the board, Spring and Summer weddings allow for lighter fabrics like wool cotton blends or even linen + soft color variations like light blue, light grey and flax.
Speaking of seasons, you’ll want to purchase your suit a few months before the wedding – too much sooner and you won’t have as much of a selection for the seasonal fabrics and colors – too much later and you might stress about not finding something or getting it altered in time.
Location Considerations
Will your wedding be in downtown Nashville in a church? A country club in Knoxville? Or on a farm near Asheville with llamas and goats and a beautiful barn reception. Where you are getting married will help dictate how you should dress. For a church or city wedding you will want to dress more formal. A suit and jacket in navy, or dark grey is a good choice. Or, if your occasion is very formal a tuxedo is an option. An outdoor or smaller casual wedding allows for more flexibility in your attire.
To Buy or to Rent?
Tuxedo rentals are certainly a more budget-friendly option and usually cost 1/3 to 1/5 of what you would pay for the full purchase price of the garment. If your wedding calls for a tux and it is the only time in the next 10 years you’re going to wear one, then rent! By the time you need one again the style might have changed.
Think about your body type and how easy it is to find clothes off the rack in your size – do you have longer legs than most people? Do your broad shoulders warrant a size Large that usually leaves shirts gaping on your Medium frame? In this case it’s probably better to purchase a tux or suit so that you can have it tailored to fit you perfectly. After all, it is your big day and you are one of the stars of the show.
Check back next week for part 2 – Shoes and… accessories!
