Groom and Groomsmens Attire buying guide

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Contents

1 Renting Versus Buying
2 Attire Rules
3 The Options
4 External Links

Groom and Groomsmen Attire Buying Guide

While you may be happy in jeans and a t-shirt, chances are your bride may want you to look a little more dapper on your wedding day. And although the fuss over your dinner jacket may pale in comparison to the one made over the wedding gown, there's still a lot of important prep work that goes into selecting the right formal attire for you and your groomsmen. Season, time of day, style and budget are all influential factors, and we've put together a guide to help send you straight down the path to wedding chic.

Renting Versus Buying

The decision on whether to rent or buy you and your groomsmen's attire will probably come down to a matter of cold, hard cash. Renting a dinner jacket will cost you only 10-30% of the full retail price of a new one. So the only real reason for buying one is if you plan on going to a lot more black tie events in the future--only then would it be a wise investment.

If you do go down the rental path, here are some tips:

You should rent your attire 2-3 months before the wedding.
Choose a store that updates its inventory regularly so that you know they are carrying the latest trends.
Choose a store with all the necessary accessories--from ties to cuff links and even suspenders--so you can make it an easy one-stop shopping trip.
Make sure your groomsmen get their suits at the same shop, so you can match perfectly. A lot of places will offer you discounts for bagging a bunch of get-ups at once.
Choose a dealer who can fit you properly and will listen to your needs. Don't let him talk you into a silver vest with sequins, no matter how much he begs.

Attire Rules

There are certain rules when it comes to being well-dressed for your wedding.

For Grooms:

Married After 6 P.M.: Dinner jackets are acceptable. Any time before that and you should thinking about wearing a formal suit.
Married in the Morning: Go for a morning coat, stroller coat or a light-coloured daytime suit.
Married on a Winter Evening: A black dinner jacket with a vest in a dark solid meshes with the season. Avoid cummerbunds that can add to the winter tummy, and avoid bold vest colours that may also attract eyes to a less than pretty belly.
A Semi-Formal Marriage in the Fall: Avery dark suit over a tone-on-tone set (blue, greens, silvers and purples are popular choices) looks crisp.
A Casual Summer Marriage After 5 P.M.: A platinum suit with a crisp, white shirt an a colourful tie will pop in the summer sun.
Any Time: Wear a boutonnière that's different from your groomsmen, along with a shirt or vest that's a different colour or style.

For Groomsmen:

Matching blazers and khakis work well for less formal weddings.
Coordinate ties, belts, pocket squares and maybe even socks for a put together look.
Complement the bridesmaids with vests or cummerbunds that match the colour of their dresses.