Another Darn Wedding Question

My fiance wants me to wear a black tuxedo with a white long tie, while the groomsman will wear long black ties. All of her wedding magazines have this typical ensemble. I told her that those pictures are probably suits. Then she said fine, have everyone rent a black suit.

The wedding takes place at 3:30 with the reception afterwards. She has already put her foot down over morning dress.

So, what is the difference between a "tuxedo" and "suit" in terms of wedding attire. Most of the rental companies we are looking at don't rent "suits".

Any help would be most appreciated!

The biggest difference is a dinner jacket will have silk facing.

How about you compromise with a stroller ensemble?

Well, if it doesn't have satin faced lapels, buttons, or pocketing, it isn't a tuxedo. Simple as that. There are rental places selling things as tuxedos that really aren't, like tone on tone striped suits (sometimes zoot suits!) and whatnot. I don't get why they do this. I've never gotten married before, but I'd push for traditional evening attire if you can. Nothing can beat a traditional shawl or peak single button dinner jacket with a bow tie. I'll let some other folks with more experience in this weigh in on it, of course. Good luck. EDIT: I like the stroller idea. Yeah, morning attire won't be "correct" past 6, but it'll make for some really excellent wedding photos during the day. Where's Manton? He could give some great tips regarding semi-formal morning attire.

If the wedding is at 3:30 he shouldn't be wearing black tie anyway.

I tried the morning dress thing, but she thinks that the gray will clash with the chocolate brown bridesmaid dresses. Plus, her words "I don't want to look like we are getting married in the English countryside." I think she wants to black suit/white tie thing in order to not clash.

Originally Posted by Jovan

Click to expand...

Well, if it doesn't have satin faced lapels, buttons, or pocketing, it isn't a tuxedo. Simple as that. There are rental places selling things as tuxedos that really aren't, like tone on tone striped suits (sometimes zoot suits!) and whatnot. I don't get why they do this.

I've never gotten married before, but I'd push for traditional evening attire if you can. Nothing can beat a traditional shawl or peak single button dinner jacket with a bow tie.

I'll let some other folks with more experience in this weigh in on it, of course. Good luck.

EDIT: I like the stroller idea. Yeah, morning attire won't be "correct" past 6, but it'll make for some really excellent wedding photos during the day.

Where's Manton? He could give some great tips regarding semi-formal morning attire.

Ah, she even said no to a stroller? Stamm, this is a tough call. What about everyone just wearing dark suits?

EDIT: I meant their own dark suits.

Does everyone really need to rent a suit? Have things gotten that bad? Why can't you just ask the groomsmen to wear dark suits? BTW, a black suit with a white tie is going to look really bad. Why don't you get a classic wedding tie (black with white or silver in a check pattern).

The same pattern ties would tie together (no pun intended) all the groomsmen even if one was wearing black, the other charcoal, and another navy.

Unfotunately, she keeps running into the room with more pictures of the black suit/white tie look. It is also on the cover of her most recent wedding magazine. Her comment "if it is such a faux pas, why is everyone wearing this ensemble at these high end weddings".

Originally Posted by Random987

Click to expand...

Unfotunately, she keeps running into the room with more pictures of the black suit/white tie look. It is also on the cover of her most recent wedding magazine. Her comment "if it is such a faux pas, why is everyone wearing this ensemble at these high end weddings".
Because they don't know any better. If you were in the 70s, would she insist that you wear a powder blue jacket with a ruffled tuxedo shirt?

"Because they are tasteless tramps with no respect for tradition who threw money at someone to plan it for them"

Tell her that's a quote from some guy on the internet who owns his own formal wear

Actually the ruffled powder blue bit is exactly the point. I was at a great wedding earlier this year where they had photos of all of the parents and grandparents at thier weddings. There were some ruffled 1970s photos, along with great classic photos from the 40s and 50s. The brides and grooms from the 40s and 50s could walk into a wedding today and look great. The couples from the 1970s would look like a joke. If she wants the photos to age well, having every man wear a black suit with a white tie is not a good idea. If she is going for the high-school prom look, then this is spot on.

I think I love you, crazyquik.

Originally Posted by Random987

Click to expand...

Unfotunately, she keeps running into the room with more pictures of the black suit/white tie look.

Print out a large collection of James Bond photos to counter with.

Bond > bridal magazine guy

Originally Posted by Random987

Click to expand...

I tried the morning dress thing, but she thinks that the gray will clash with the chocolate brown bridesmaid dresses.
Being formal wear, strollers are completely acceptable in black and probably midnight blue. But more importantly, conventional colour matching says that nothing will clash with chocolate brown as badly as the black she's proposing!

Very good point! Fortunately the wedding is in October, so we have a little time to sort this out.

Originally Posted by crazyquik

Click to expand...

Print out a large collection of James Bond photos to counter with.

Bond > bridal magazine guy