URGENT - Black Tie event - 3 piece charcoal suit or Navy?

[KiloRomeo]

Lucky me. My wife just notified me that the wedding we are going to in 3 hours is a black tie event. I don't own a black suit nor do I own black shoes (last pair needed to be retired and I haven't replaced them yet.)

I'm about to run to the store to pick up some last minute shoes but I don't really want to spend the money on a cheap suit to wear for one night. My options are a 3 piece charcoal/gray suit or a standard 2 piece navy suit. What do you think is more formal/appropriate for the evening? Even though gray is more formal I'm leaning navy as it's more in spirit with the event.

Thanks folks.


Shoes thoughts?

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...e-monk-strap-oxfords-only-at-macys?ID=4485464

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...=Black#fn=sp=1&spc=404&ruleId=78|BS&slotId=29

 

[Jacobs]

Navy if it's dark enough. Nothing wrong with a midnight navy dinner jacket. Plain white shirt, muted tie, and black oxfords and you're set.

ETA don't do the monkstraps and I'd avoid the wingtips if at all possible. The most detailing you want on your black shoes is a cap toe.

 

[maxalex]

Too late for your dilemma but I hope it worked out. I'm guessing you were not the only guy at the wedding who relied on his wife, girlfriend or mother to inform him of the dress code. Lesson learned: beyond the age of bar mitzvah or first communion, do not ever expect, or trust, a woman's style advice.

 

[The Millennial Gentleman]

^ This man is a prophet lol

 

[KiloRomeo]

No worries folks. Contrary to what the invitation suggested, this was not a Black Tie event. There were plenty of more casual attendees.

Nevertheless, I tried to formalize the navy suit with the white shirt+cufflinks, black tie, white pocket square and black shoes

Also, the shoes I linked were incorrect. I bought a standard black Florsheim cap toe. For the price, I'm pretty impressed!

 

[KiloRomeo]

These are the shoes I had bought:
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...xfords-only-at-macys?ID=4401929&CategoryID=65

 

[KiloRomeo]

Too late for your dilemma but I hope it worked out. I'm guessing you were not the only guy at the wedding who relied on his wife, girlfriend or mother to inform him of the dress code. Lesson learned: beyond the age of bar mitzvah or first communion, do not ever expect, or trust, a woman's style advice.

It wasn't that I was relying on my wife's style advice. I just never saw the invitation and assumed my standard suit+tie would have been sufficient. To me Black Tie signifies a level of formality which is higher than the standard wedding, which is closer to business formal (at least around here).