Tuxedo Vest/ Waistcoat dilemmas for May Wedding

[wotan]

Hi All,

I'm wrestling with seemingly endless choices - most of which seem to break some style guideline or other - about choosing a waistcoat to wear to my wedding in the UK in May 4.

This is an early evening wedding going into reception, hence black tie dress code.
I have a new MDM dinner suit with peaked lapels. The groom (me), best man, three groomsmen and fathers of groom and bride will have colourful buttonholes.

I dislike cummerbunds intensely and as my new dinner suit is single-breasted would like to add some extra formality and stand out a bit by wearing a light waistcoat. I say light because the wedding is in a conservatory with lots of exotic plants, it is warm to say the least!

So, questions:

1. Safest and smartest to stick to black? The wedding colours subtly being observed are silver, a deep pink and a racing green, all of which I think would look too loud if they were extended to the waistcoat. There is also the option of going for a pique white waistcoat a la 1920s but is that too old-fashioned?

2. If black, how about double-breasted? (I think this looks quite good) V or U neck? How many buttons, and would backless be a no-no? The problem is finding something cool and lightweight enough for the venue.

3. Finally, If I have a waistcoat, do my best man and groomsmen need to have them to? If so, should they all be exactly the same? We are not all wearing exactly the same type of dinner suits.

any advice gratefully appreciated.

Wotan

 

[alliswell]

Originally Posted by dopey

1 v. 2
These look good to me. But then I think that a black cummerbund looks good.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

1. Black, probably. However, if the suit is black or dark blue, for example, it might look like you unsuccessfully have matched the jacket and vest. If the maker of the suit offers a matching vest, consider it.
2. Backless is fine. It's not like you will be taking your jacket off at the wedding. It's cooler, too. You said it will be warm. That also is why DB isn't a good idea. Just a few buttons, please.
3. No, they need not wear matching waistcoats.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by mensimageconsultant

1. Black, probably. However, if the suit is black or dark blue, for example, it might look like you unsuccessfully have matched the jacket and vest. If the maker of the suit offers a matching vest, consider it.

I would absolute not do a black waistcoat. I'd consider creme or pale grey.