Mens Formalwear Tips
What It Costs The average tuxedo rental is $50 to $200, depending on the style and where you rent from. Rental generally includes a jacket, trousers, shirt, vest or cummerbund, studs, cufflinks, and a tie. If you have reason to wear a tuxedo at least two or three times a year it might pay for you to buy one for your wedding-they run $300 to $700.
Ways to Save Wear a basic black, non designer tux. A formal tailcoat or daytime cutaway coat will cost more. If your wedding is semiformal, the groom and groomsmen can wear nice suits they already own. If you're all renting at the same place, you should get a certain amount off, or the groom's rental may be free.
Stand out in Style The groom should have a slightly different look than the groomsmen. Consider a different-color vest or cummerbund, a different tie or shirt style or color, or a slightly different jacket style (or a white dinner jacket with
the groomsmen in black).
Get Comfortable To make sure your formalwear fits correctly, check the following:
(1) with arms at sides, the jacket hem is not longer than the tips of your fingers; (2) your shirt just peeks out from the jacket sleeves;
(3 ) the jacket sleeves hit the tops of your hands;
(4) your pants touch the heels of your shoes and have a small fold in front over the shoes;
(5) you can squat without splitting seams; and
(6) you can comfortably lift your arms to just below shoulder height.
Don't Be Colorblind If you and your bride are determined to match the men's accessories (vests, ties) to the bridesmaids' dresses, bring a fabric swatch to the formalwear store or when you go tie shopping.
Wear the Right White If the bride is wearing a pure white dress, the guys should not wear ivory.
Order All At Once Rent all the groomsmen tuxedos from the same store. Ask the shop for measurement cards to send to out-of-towners. Make sure they have time to visit the formalwear store a day or so before the wedding for a final fitting.
Pay Their Way Groomsmen pay for their own rentals, but it is a good idea to place one big order and get paid back. Don't rely on everyone to make their own arrangement- it won't happen.
Avoid Tux Shortages If your wedding is around the holidays or during the high seasons for weddings or proms, visit the formalwear store six months in advance.
Return Rules Arrange for someone to return all the tuxes to the shop after the wedding-the best man is a good candidate.
Courtesy of The Knot via Scripps Media
