Morning Coat or White Tie

Getting married "around" 5PM in Argentina and have been trying to pick the best option for my outfit considering the time and formality of the event. Trick is and what I am unsure about is that all of my research says no Morning Suit AFTER 5pm but no White Tie until 6PM. What do you suggest for this hour of ambiguity? Do we scoot the start time up a touch? I don't want to dictate the start time of this wedding based on my suit but the idea was to have the sunset and the mountains as a backdrop (getting married out in Mendoza) so later doesn't really work. The other thing I keep hearing is that "down there" they (Argentines) don't follow these conventions and people wear Morning Suits even at night and that White Tie is very pretentious. Silly to me as isn't a Morning Suit the formal equivalent of White Tie? Anyway, would love feedback so I can share with them not to mention I am having this made. BTW - a saw the earlier thread about a dinner jacket vs. a morning coat - sorry for the subtle difference when starting this thread.

JV

i think if the sun is still visibly up you should stay away from formal wear, particularly if it won't be well received by the rest of the party or the bride's family. you could always change to white tie or black tie for the reception though.

also if the groomsmen aren't in evening wear you probably shouldn't be either.

Given the fact you are getting married around sunset, I'd suggest white tie as much more appropriate than morning attire.

I remember an Emily Post column that specifically forbid evening wear at 5:00, saying striped trousers were the way to go. I suppose 6:00 P.M. is meant to be an electric fence. There's also the old rule that if a groom wears morning dress to a day wedding, he is allowed to wear it even to an evening reception.

Of course, season is relevant. Given the sunset, I suppose white tie could be the way to go. It's harder to apply the rules here, because they derive from British weddings which only take place in the day.

Your research is right if your wedding is in the late afternoon then you do not want to go with a morning coat, since moring coat is just that a coat ment to be worn in the morning.

There is only one answer to this question for any number of reasons. Morning suit.

1 The wedding is before sunset.
2 Morning suit is the locally accepted formal style for weddings.
3 Any formal European wedding will wear their morning suits into the evening and Argentina follows this code.
4 A white tie would not only be wrong it will mark you out as a gauche foreigner.

Sorry to be so dogmatic but you were getting some duff advice from others.

Whatever you choose, don't change mid-wedding. It would put some moral pressure on your guests to do the same.

Originally Posted by culverwood

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There is only one answer to this question for any number of reasons. Morning suit.

1 The wedding is before sunset.
2 Morning suit is the locally accepted formal style for weddings.
3 Any formal European wedding will wear their morning suits into the evening and Argentina follows this code.
4 A white tie would not only be wrong it will mark you out as a gauche foreigner.

Sorry to be so dogmatic but you were getting some duff advice from others.

thank you thank you - this is what I was assuming... and you are spot on with the gauche foreigner. They really seem to dislike WHite Tie...

There are two other factors in favor of a morning coat. It looks so much better than white tie and is much more comfortable.

true as well... anyone have suggestions for a maker of said suit? I visited Oxxford which will do a completely custom suit. Very nice but would like a couple more options to look at before going to a Bespoke Tailor.

Originally Posted by bowtielover

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Your research is right if your wedding is in the late afternoon then you do not want to go with a morning coat, since moring coat is just that a coat ment to be worn in the morning.

Nonsense - think of it as formal DAY dress which is really is. Morning dress is what the Americans deem to be a stroller and does not have a tail coat.

Think Royal Ascot - tails look quite appropriate at luncheon and in the afternoon.

Your wedding is in the day not the evening so...

Originally Posted by knittieguy

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There are two other factors in favor of a morning coat. It looks so much better than white tie and is much more comfortable.

Nonsense. White tie done right is the sharpest thing a man can wear. As for comfort, well, Fred Astaire didn't complain.

Originally Posted by culverwood

Click to expand...

There is only one answer to this question for any number of reasons. Morning suit.

1 The wedding is before sunset.
2 Morning suit is the locally accepted formal style for weddings.
3 Any formal European wedding will wear their morning suits into the evening and Argentina follows this code.
4 A white tie would not only be wrong it will mark you out as a gauche foreigner.

Sorry to be so dogmatic but you were getting some duff advice from others.

1+

Some texts say 7PM is the limit. There is no magic cut-off time after which the morning coat turns into a pumpkin, and you have to look at the specific set of circumstances carefully.

Morning coat.

Originally Posted by amplifiedheat

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Nonsense. White tie done right is the sharpest thing a man can wear. As for comfort, well, Fred Astaire didn't complain.

Nonsense it may be, but it's true. Honestly, which would you rather wear for your wedding?



vs.