Dressing The Groom

You have fantasized, dreamt, searched and finally found the perfect dress. You have set the tone for your entire wedding. Now how would you like the love of your life to look standing next to the most beautiful woman he has ever seen?

The groom’s attire is just as important as the bride’s dress; after all it is his big day too. That is where your tuxedo experts come in to play. Our job is to help you coordinate the groom and his groomsmen to compliment and enhance the look and feel of your dress. Whether it is a classic gown with a cathedral train or a short flirty contemporary style your groom should look like he is standing next to the right bride.

Picking the tuxedo or a suit for your wedding party should be stress free and fun. Your formal wear specialist should guide you through the myriad of styles to find exactly the right look. You may be looking for the “James Bond” classic style or maybe more George Clooney on the red carpet. It may end up being a bare foot beach look or a fun “match these Chuck Taylor’s” outfit. Do you want the groomsmen to wear the exact same color as the bridesmaid dresses or should they just go together? How important is the color, maybe you are looking to have the classic black tie affair or a tropical explosion of color and texture?

Some details for you to consider; will your guys be in flat front or pleated pants? Do you like the look of the standard or wing tip collar shirt? Is your dress white or ivory, the men’s shirt should match your dress. What about the fathers, how would you like them to look in the pictures? If they are going to rent, what color accessories should they be in, same as the groomsmen or in a neutral color so the moms can wear any color? Do you put the groom in the same exact look as the groomsmen or would you like him to stand apart from the rest of the wedding party? What does the groom think; surely he will have an opinion about this aspect of the wedding plans.

So just as you did with your dress, fantasize, dream, search and find the perfect ensemble for the men in your wedding party. Start by looking at pictures, online or at your photographer’s studio, red carpet photos, go back and look at your bridal magazine with an eye for only the men. See what stands out to you, what you love and the styles that you don’t love will all guide you in the right direction. The easiest and fastest way to select what you want is to go into a tuxedo rental store and let the professional guide you. We are immersed in formal wear everyday. We know the trends, the styles and we have seen many wedding successes and even a few flops. Let us help you, with our knowledge and experience, find the perfect look for the groom so he will look just as perfect as you.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member Barb Van Haren with Top Hat Formal Wear.  They can also be found on Facebook.