Bridal Club Magazine
The Groom: Choosing a Jacket Style
The groom should select his formal wear based on the formality
of the wedding. For a semi-formal or formal wedding, the groom will
need a tuxedo. A tuxedo is the formal jacket worn by men on special
or formal occasions. The most popular colors are black, white, and
gray. Options: Use the following guidelines to select customary
attire for the groom:
Things to Consider: In selecting your formal wear, keep in mind
the formality of your wedding, the time of day, and the bride's
gown. Consider darker colors for a fall or winter wedding and
lighter colors for a spring or summer wedding. When selecting a
place to rent your tuxedo, check the reputation of the shop. Make
sure they have a wide variety of makes and styles to choose from.
Reserve tuxedos for yourself and your ushers several weeks before
the wedding to insure a wide selection and to allow enough time for
alterations. Plan to pick up the tuxedos a few days before the
wedding to allow time for last minute alterations in case they
don't fit properly. Out-of-town men in your wedding party can be
sized at any tuxedo shop. They can send their measurements to you
or directly to the shop where you are going to rent your tuxedos.
Ask about the store's return policy and be sure you delegate to the
appropriate person (usually your best man) the responsibility of
returning all tuxedos within he time alotted. Ushers customarily
pay for their own tuxedos.
Informal wedding: Business suit, White dress shirt and tie
Semi-formal daytime: Formal suit, White dress shirt, Cummerbund
or vest
Four-in-hand or bow tie
Formal daytime: Cutaway or stroller jacket, Waistcoat, Striped
trousers
White wing-collared shirt, Striped tie, Studs and cufflinks
Formal evening: Black dinner jacket, Matching trousers,
Waistcoat
White tuxedo shirt, Bow tie, Cufflinks
Cummerbund or vest
Very formal daytime: Cutaway coat, Wing-collared shirt,
Ascot,
Striped trousers, Cufflinks, Gloves
Very formal evening: Black tailcoat, Matching striped
trousers
White wing-collared shirt, Waistcoat
Patent leather shoes, Studs and cufflinks, Gloves
Choosing a Jacket Style
Before your wedding day can be complete, there is one last
accessory that you need to consider, your groom! it is important
that your groom complements your look in both style and formality.
just like you, your groom has many options when it comes to putting
together his wedding day look.
Regardless of your groom's decision to rent or purchase his
tuxedo, make sure he keeps the formality of your wedding in mind.
He will look his best if he is dressed appropriately for the
occasion. You can give your groom swatches from your dress and the
bridesmaid's dresses that he can show the salesperson at the tuxedo
shop. This will allow him to select a tux that complements both you
and your attendants.
If your groom is renting his tuxedo, he should do so
approximately three months before the wedding. Also, he and his
groomsmen should all rent from the same store to ensure a
coordinated look. Your groom should pick up his tux the day before
the wedding. he should try everything on, including the shoes he is
going to wear, to make sure everything fits.
Tailcoat
The tailcoat is a very formal jacket that can either be single
or double-breasted, with two or six buttons, respectively. The
front of the jacket is short and the back features two long tails.
A tailcoat can come in either black or white, and is best suited
for elegant evening weddings. This coat is traditionally worn with
a vest and bow tie, and can be further dressed up with gloves and a
top hat.
Cutaway Jacket
The cutaway is a formal daytime jacket that is short in the
front and tapers to one long tail in the back. This coat comes in
black or dark grey, and is traditionally paired with matching
trousers.
Tuxedo Jacket
There are many options with the tuxedo jacket. It can be single
or double-breasted with anywhere from one to six buttons. There are
also three different lapel styles to choose from. The peaked lapel
forms a "V" at the collar and points upward. The notched lapel has
an indentation at the collar in the shape of a triangle. The shawl
lapel has no indentation and smoothly curves around the neck.
Dinner Jacket
This white or ivory jacket resembles a tuxedo jacket, and is
best suited for warmer weather weddings. A dinner jacket can
accommodate both formal and semi-formal evening weddings, and is
one way your groom can set himself apart from his groomsmen.
Mandarin
This modern jacket has no lapel, a stand-up collar, and six
buttons extending from the neck down to the waist. The mandarin
jacket is worn with a mandarin-collared shirt, and does not require
any type of tie.
Long Coat
The long jacket is a variation of the tuxedo jacket that extends
down beyond the man's fingertips. since this coast has more length
than the other styles, it is best worn by tall, broad-shouldered
men. the long jacket is best suited for weddings held in colder
weather.
Under-Jacket Wear
Your groom has several choices when it comes to what he puts on
under his jacket. Though this piece of apparel can vary based on
the formality and style of the wedding, your groom should choose
what he is most comfortable wearing while still complimenting the
rest of the wedding party.