Mind Your Ties

A tungsten wedding ring isn’t the only accessory you get to rock on your big day. Time to get familiar with everything related to semi-formal and formal attire for your wedding!

What Time is the Wedding?

If you want to stick with traditional rules about wedding attire, the time of day is important in determining what you will wear. Usually, weddings before 5:00 pm allow for a morning coat, lounge suit, casual attire or an informal suit. After 5:00, and things get decidedly more formal. Check your venue and/or consult your bride or wedding planner. And be sensible: if you are in the blazing sun for an outdoor affair, be kind to yourself and your guests. Suffering in a tux makes for some very unhappy guests.

Check out these sharp ties. Looking good, gents!

A Semi-Formal Affair

If you are having a a semi-formal wedding (for example at a beach hotel or on a boat) a business suit, white (or any color) dress shirt, tie and either a Bermuda or a casual hat will work just fine. You do not have to wear a tie if the dress shirt is classy and has a nice collar. Scan Nordstrom Rack and J. Crew for elegant but casual designs. If the tie needs to match colors or themes, check out some discount retailers such as Ross or TJ Maxx for low price examples.

A Mind of Their Own

Discuss with your bride if the men at your wedding party need to match or can bring in their own style with a twist on the theme. Many bridal parties now are given a little freedom to choose parts of their wedding attire. Just be sure to mention to them that they need to arrange a fashion show of their desired outfit in order to receive your approval before the big day.

The Low-Key Wedding

Casual attire, usually appropriate for small beach side or backyard weddings, consists of nice khaki or linen pants and a loose flowing shirt. A tailored matching blazer or sport coat is a must for cooler temperatures or for later at the reception.   The groom can go all white or mix it up a bit by incorporating the wedding colors either for the shirt or pants. If you are a tall guy or have a long torso, try a three-button blazer; otherwise a two-button coat is the norm.

Shoes are optional for beach settings, with flip-flops or casual sandals as the top picks. Other casual events, like a back-yard or garden wedding, call for a nice, but comfortable, loafer or dress shoe matching the groom’s outfit.

Extra Reminders

1. Take a look at the weather for the day. Assume for the best, but plan for the worst.

2. Get yourself measured before you try-on suits and know how you want to look and should look in a suit.

3. Do not listen to the sales rep when he tells you look perfect while you are swimming in a bigger size. Just because he guarantees that you will have this suit for the rest of your life does not mean you have start planning for a bigger you.

4. Get your suit tailored a month before so you will have plenty of time for adjustments or changes.

5. Make sure you bring an extra pair of comfortable but appropriate shoes for a bit of relief during your reception.

6. To avoid any embarrassing sweat remarks, plan to bring an extra shirt to change into so you won’t have to hide under your jacket all night.