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What Should A Groom Wear At The Wedding: Five Essential Questions
Even the most go-with-the-flow couples feel the pressures of wedding planning. When and where should we tie the knot? Will that coworker be offended if we don’t have room on the list? Did we remember the 2nd cousin your mother wanted? What will we serve, how do we seat everyone, and how much is all of this going to cost?! For many, the to-do list can feel endless and overwhelming.
In the midst of this busy period, wondering “how do I choose the suit for my wedding” shouldn’t be another source of anxiety. As custom clothiers, we work to ensure that choosing your outfit is the most enjoyable part of the process. Here are our answers to the most common questions asked by grooms in the Vicegerent studio.
Should I wear a suit or a tuxedo when getting married?
Throw out any preconceived notions and close your eyes. What do you see when you imagine going through the vows? Your aim is to envision a look that you can own—not one that owns you. The fit should enhance your complexion, eye color, hair color. You want to feel confident and comfortable in clothes that match your personality when all eyes are on you.
Consider when and where the wedding/reception will take place—is it in a city or out in nature? On a sunny summer beach or in an air-conditioned ballroom? A tuxedo is the most formal a guy can dress, and many men want to look as sophisticated as possible on the biggest day of their lives. The other choice, a three-piece suit, is also a fantastic option, and while slightly less formal than a tux, it can easily be worn across a variety of occasions in the future. You can immediately rule out a tuxedo if you’re not into wearing a bow tie, but ask your partner for their preference if you’re indecisive.
Do I have to wear a certain color at my wedding?
No! It’s more popular than ever to showcase your personality with the wedding outfit. That said, you will want to put your partner in focus and complement their look, so ask yourself what they’ll look like on the special day. If they’ll be in a dress, there’s a good chance it’s white—a midnight black suit or tux will complement everything, and deep navy likewise goes with most looks. If they’ll be in a suit, you’ll have a bit more freedom to get creative, but you’re not totally restricted in either case. Your wedding location and season will open up many color options that still enhance your natural features. Lighter shades and pastels can certainly work outdoor in warmer climates. If your partner is going with an airy or floral aesthetic, consider creating a look for yourself that is darker with depth and gravity. This will give the two of you an awesome contrast and synergy in the wedding pics.
Should I rent or buy my wedding outfit?
Like planners, florists, and cake makers, tailors are wedding professionals with years of expertise that you can trust. Don’t underestimate the value of hiring a passionate artisan to take a vested interest in your marriage. When you and your partner (or groomsmen) sit down together to design the outfit, it transforms an otherwise stressful errand into a personal, exciting, and collaborative experience. The best part? You leave with a garment that fits perfectly, highlights your personality, and can be worn for many special occasions throughout your lives together. We recommend meeting with your tailor at least two months before the wedding day, but earlier is always better.
How can I customize my wedding suit or tux?
If you’re still undecided between suit/tux, don’t worry. Your tailor will walk you through fabrics, colors, and patterns until one stands out as your favorite. In terms of jacket construction, half-canvas is the standard Vicegerent deploys to provide the best feel, durability, and versatility. We suggest soft, natural shoulder construction for all jackets. It’s in vogue to flex your heritage and personality with clothes, and the jacket lining is an ideal place to do this. You can also incorporate a thoughtful touch that is special to your partner—the wedding date, their initials, a liner with their favorite place—and then show this off to surprise them on the big day. It would make for even more awesome wedding pics and a fun conversation piece.
In most cases, we also recommend a vest for your tux or suit. This is one item that always pays to have custom-made for you; when done correctly, it will hug your torso precisely and creates the illusion of a slim figure for heavier guys. When your jacket is off while eating or dancing, the vest will also help you maintain a more elevated look than the rest of the wedding crew.
For such a special occasion, it’s worth it to have a shirt made along with everything else. A good tailor will walk you through collar options to suggest one that works well with your lapels and tie. These are the pieces that will be framing your face for the wedding pics, and when done thoughtfully, you’ll have great photos to look back on in five years. Go with a crisp white shirt; you can still flex your personality when choosing fabric texture, button choice, shirt cuffs, monogramming, etc.
What do the groomsmen wear at a wedding?
You’ll want to direct the groomsmen toward a standardized look; one that mimics the groom without taking the spotlight off him. A general rule is to dress them in a slightly lighter shade, while other variables like tie type/color and whether they wear a vest/jacket can also set them apart. One popular way to make the suit shopping process more fun is to include your crew—these are your best friends and family, after all! If you have the budget for it, we’re seeing more and more grooms choose to buy the outfits or cover part of their cost as the groomsmen’s gift. At Vicegerent, we’ve done several ‘fitting parties’ and travelled to work with groups over a weekend. Many guys today are including a half-day for fitting and design as part of their bachelor parties.
Working with a knowledgeable tailor takes the stress out of the planning process and leaves you with an outfit that you’ll be eager to wear again—but don’t just take it from us. A recent client shared the following about her husband’s experience with Vicegerent:
“Words can’t express how AMAZING working with Vicegerent has been! My husband and his entire wedding party got their custom suits made by Osman. Every single suit came out better than anything we could have imagined! The fitting was exceptional and the quality was extraordinary! The entire experience from learning about the suit, to picking fabrics, to the fittings was so seamless! Osman listened to every little detail and made sure everything was exactly want we wanted!”
Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, one where you’ll want to be at your most confident while offering your best self to your partner. The best way to guarantee this is by designing your own custom suit or tuxedo. Get in touch with us today to schedule your obligation-free consultation and learn more about the experience.