How to choose a wedding tuxedo is one of the most important choices in a man’s life.
Wedding tuxedos have traditionally been all black or midnight blue with matching accessories to match, but these days it’s become much more common to see different colored tuxedo jackets. If you’re trying to decide if the groom should wear a blue or charcoal gray suit, charcoal is usually considered better since black can make you look washed out in photos. It may not seem like a big deal now, but trust us; you’ll be glad when you look back at your wedding photos, and everyone looks their best.
The significant aspects to consider when choosing a wedding tuxedo are color, style, and materials. There are two types of materials that you need to be aware of:
- formal
- informal
Formal tuxedos usually have satin or grosgrain lapels, while informal tuxedos have generally notched lapels. Another general differences between formal and informal tuxedos are that formal tuxedos usually have satin-covered buttons. In contrast, informal tuxedos do not, and that most formal tuxedos pants will come with matching fabric along the inside of the waistband for added strength, while informal style pants tend to be either plain or only have the tailor’s stitch marks.
Tips to choosing the best Wedding Tuxedo
- Wedding Tuxedos usually have satin or grosgrain lapels. Informal wedding tuxedos usually have notch lapels. If you decide if the groom should wear a blue or charcoal gray suit, charcoal is generally considered better since black can make you look washed out in photos.
- It is always advised to wear a pocket square since it will add some color and contrast. For the best appearance, opt for plain white fabric with no design.
- Use accessories to add color and life to your formal outfit! A blue necktie, a blue vest, or even some colorful dress socks can be a great splash of color. Bright cufflinks and studs can also add some flair to your outfit!
- Your shoes should always match the suit – not only is it appropriate for black tie events, but it will help you avoid any potential fashion mishaps with formal/informal, black/charcoal confusion.
- When it comes to weddings, nothing creates a better look than stylish cufflinks. Pick sleek and classy styles for your wedding outfit, so your formal wear is comfortable and stylish.
There are many different styles of tuxedos for weddings. The most popular types include the following:
1 Formal Tuxedo
Black Tie (maximum formal) is the most eloquent of all tuxedos and consists of a black, long-sleeved, single-breasted, peaked lapel jacket with matching black pants. Most often, this will be paired with a white shirt and a bow tie for maximum formality. This style is typically only ever seen at black-tie events.
2 Black Tie Optional
This style can be seen at formal weddings and usually consists of a black, long-sleeved jacket with matching pants. Like the Black Tie outfit, this is typically paired with a white shirt and bow tie for maximum formality. The difference lies in that it is not mandatory to wear a white shirt and bowtie; if you choose to, you can wear a white shirt and black bowtie.
3 White Tie Optional
This style is always seen at formal weddings and usually consists of a tailcoat with matching pants. Unlike the first two styles, men are not required to wear a dress shirt with this outfit; in fact, most opt not for a more casual look by donning a white vest.
4 Stroller (Dinner)
This style is informally referred to as a dinner suit and is worn at semi-formal weddings. It consists of a black jacket, long pants, and a white dress shirt; a bow tie or necktie are optional.
5 Formal Suit
This style is informally referred to as an American tuxedo or black lounge suit and is worn at semi-formal weddings. It consists of a well-fitted, dark (usually black) single-breasted jacket with matching pants.
Tuxedos are usually rented for any formal affair, including proms, wedding ceremonies, and black tie events. When it comes time to rent a tuxedo, you may be tempted to go with the first one that you see. After all, the rental prices are correct! Just remember that every other man at the event will probably have the same idea, so try to find your best look by looking through multiple
6 Daytime Formal (maximum formal)
This is the long-sleeved jacket with peaked lapels and matching pants in a dark color such as charcoal gray. This style will typically have satin lapels and matching satin-covered buttons. An added touch to this style is a waist covering in the form of a self-fabric cummerbund or vest instead of suspenders. This allows you to remove the jacket while keeping your pants in place without belts which are not permitted with formal tuxedos. Like the Black Tie, this style will be paired with a white shirt and bow tie for maximum formality. This style is typically only ever seen at black-tie events.
7 Daytime Formal (semi-formal)
This is a step down from the previous level of formality with the same style of the suit as above, but with notch lapels and matching satin-covered buttons. This is sometimes referred to as a “semi-formal” suit. A self-fabric waist covering or cummerbund may also be included in this style to add formality and keep your pants in place without belts, which are not allowed with formal tuxedos. This style is appropriate for daytime black-tie events where the invitation does not explicitly request “Black Tie.” However, it will still be more formal than most other tuxedo styles, so if you are unsure which option to choose, this may be your best bet wedding tuxedo.
8 Evening (Semi-Formal)
As described, this suit is a step down from the previous level of formality with a notch lapel and matching satin-covered buttons. This is not as formal as black-tie but more formal than most other tuxedo styles. Paired with a white shirt, this style can be worn too much in semi-formal daytime or nighttime weddings.
9 Informal (daytime)
This tuxedo is appropriate for daytime black-tie events where the invitation does not specifically request “Black Tie.” However, it will still be more formal than most other tuxedo styles, so this may be your best bet if you are unsure which option to choose. It will typically consist of a notch lapel, a single-breasted jacket with satin lapels, and matching self-fabric covered buttons. A self-fabric cummerbund or waist covering is also included for added formality to keep your pants in place without belts which are not allowed with formal tuxedos. This style will typically be paired with a white pique shirt and black bow tie for maximum formality. This style will normally only ever be seen at black-tie events.
10 Informal (evening)
This wedding tuxedo is appropriate for most black-tie evening events where the invitation does not specifically request “Black Tie.” However, it will still be more formal than most other tuxedo styles, so this may be your best bet if you are unsure which option to choose. It will typically consist of a notch lapel, a single-breasted jacket with satin lapels, and matching self-fabric covered buttons.
A self-fabric cummerbund or waist covering is also included for added formality to keep your pants in place without belts which are not allowed with formal tuxedos. This style will typically be paired with a white pique shirt and black bow tie for maximum formality.
11 Lounge Suit / Dinner Suit
This is the standard suite that you would wear to a formal event during the day. It will typically consist of a notch lapel, a single-breasted jacket with satin lapels, and matching self-fabric covered buttons. A self-fabric cummerbund or waist covering is also included for added formality to keep your pants in place without belts which are not allowed with formal tuxedos. This style will typically be paired with a white pique shirt and black or grey/silver satin bow tie for maximum formality.
Conclusion
Style is also an important aspect to consider when choosing your tuxedo. The idea behind wearing a tuxedo is to create an elegant formal appearance. This means that some tuxedos are better than others.
Although almost any tuxedo will be more stylish than a suit, some tuxedos are less modern than others. What you should look for are clean lines that don’t appear overbearing or heavy. It would help if you also avoided large patterns or designs; instead, look for subtle ways like small repeating lines.