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PLAN AHEAD
Don't wait till the week before your wedding to figure out
what you're going to wear. Start investigating your tux
options about four to five months before the big day. You'll
need to decide whether you'll buy or rent and determine
which style you'll be looking for (see 3 and 4 below). Plan
on purchasing or reserving your formalwear around the three-
or four-month mark.
CONFER WITH YOUR LADY
First stop after getting started? Check with your soon-to-be
missus. The purpose is not to undermine your tuxedo sensibility
(or your machismo), but to make sure your wedding-day looks
coordinate. Since the bride's gown traditionally is kept
a secret from the groom, you might think this will be a
difficult task. But you don't have to spoil the surprise
-- just talk to your bride about what kind of tuxedo you
plan to wear. Trust us, she'll steer you in the right direction.
KNOW YOUR WEDDING STYLE
Different types of weddings call for different versions
of formalwear. In addition to your lovely bride's attire,
the clothing you wear will depend largely on the time and
location of your event and the size of your guest list.
All of these things will determine whether your wedding
is informal, formal, or ultra-formal, and the goal is to
wear a tux that is in tune with the formality of your affair.
WEAR THE TUX FOR YOUR BODY TYPE
Believe it or not, certain tux cuts are best suited for
certain body types. For example, you may think a double-breasted
jacket is super stylin', but, if you're husky, it may add
unwanted bulk around the middle.
CALL FOR A PROFESSIONAL FITTING
Your wedding day is not the time for straining jacket buttons
or too-tight trousers. Your formalwear dealer should know
how to measure you properly (inseam, waist, jacket size)
and give you a proper fitting during your appointment. Pay
attention not just to what looks good but also to what feels
good, and choose your formalwear for style and comfort.
ORGANISE YOUR GUYS
Generally, if you're wearing a tux, your groomsmen are,
too. Around the same time you start deciding on your own
attire, think about what you'd like your groomsmen to wear,
and make sure and check with your bride to see if she has
any designs on coordinating some part of their attire --
bow ties, cummerbunds, etc.-- with that of her bridesmaids.
Two to three months before the wedding, prep the guys with
all the info they need, including styles, colors, and even
store suggestions, to rent or buy their own tuxes.
MAKE A STATEMENT (SUBTLY)
With you and the guys all wearing tuxes, you might wonder
how you'll stand out in the crowd. You are the groom, after
all. You can exercise some personal style in a few different
ways: vary the cut of your jacket (if you're wearing single-breasted,
ask your guys to wear double), try a tie or cummerbund in
a different color from that of the guys, wear a vest, or
don an extra-special boutonniere.
ACCESSORIZE!
It's not just the tuxedo -- it's the stuff that goes with
it. When shopping for a tux to buy or rent, don't forget
all the accessories you need: bow tie, cummerbund, vest,
cuff links, shirt studs, even shoes. Finalize these details
about two to three months before the wedding. Even if you
already own these items, locate them and keep them organized
-- no groom wants to spend the morning of his wedding scrambling
around looking for those heirloom cuff links.
IT PAYS TO ASK
We know, weddings are expensive -- for both the couple and
the bridal party. Be sure to ask your formalwear retailer
about special deals for the groom or the groomsmen. Some
stores will offer a discount to the groom if all his groomsmen
rent or buy their tuxes from the same store, or even a discount
for each groomsman. It doesn't hurt to ask. If your groomsmen
can benefit, too, they'll be grateful.
BEFORE TAKE-OFF, DO A FINAL CHECK
If you were jumping out of an airplane, you'd check your
parachute first, right? (OK, maybe that's not such a great
metaphor.) The point is that a lot may have changed since
you first went in for your tux fitting. During highly stressful
periods -- say, the months leading up to a wedding -- men
and women alike may lose or gain significant amounts of
weight. So, one to two weeks before your walk down the aisle,
try on your tux to make sure it still fits properly. That
way, if your body has morphed at all (or, heaven forbid,
the wrong jacket is in the garment bag, or the trousers
were hemmed the wrong length), you'll still have time to
rectify the situation with your tux retailer or renter.
On your wedding day, get dressed, check yourself in the
mirror, and say a quick prayer to the Gods of Manly Style
(007, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, and all the other dashing
dudes who've dared to walk in tuxes before you) -- before
you head off to meet your future wife.
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