Rushville Bridal: Sometimes even the "Professional" don't have the right answers for the Groom and Groomsmen

Here is the second part of the Wedding Party 101 from The Knot magazine. This one will focus on the groom and groomsmen. This is a topic that many people are not familiar with since many men normally do not wear tuxedos on a regular basis. Here are some tips to help you decide your look for the special day.

Brush up on your tuxedo terms and take a peek in your own closet before you begin suit shopping. This will give you an idea of what you like best--notched or shawl lapel, standard or spread collar.

One thing the magazines often forget is where the reader is from. This is great advice for a business man who regularly wears a suit. But I live in farm country! My typical customer maybe owns one suit and rarely wears it. So searching the closet will not be much help. On the other hand, brushing up on your tuxedo terms is a great hint. The best way to do so is to visit a website for tuxedo rentals. My advice is to go to www.jimsformalwear.com . Here you will find answers to most questions about a tuxedo. There is also a great tux-builder feature. You can select your coat, shirt, vest and tie and see what it will look like together. But if the information you are looking for is not there, don't hesitate to ask your local formal wear dealer.

The groomsmen should dress around the groom. A consistent look is great, but the groom should sport some detail(a boutonniere, tie or pocket square) that differentiates him from the pack.

This is great advice. The groom can be dressed closely to everyone else but should have at least one small difference. But sometimes the groom wants to be completely different. That is good too!! Remember it should be as much his day as the bride! Again, the bride and groom need to communicate their ideas of the wedding style before selecting attire. The groom and groomsmen should compliment the ladies for the day. And here is my newest pet peeve. The bride and bridesmaids have on gorgeous gowns with beading in satin or chiffon, pretty hair dos, nails done--the works. The guys come in blue jeans and t shirts!?! This just doesn't compute. This is your one special day. If he is not willing to sacrifice a few hours in a nice suit or tux, how will he do with the really hard stuff in the relationship? Maybe this is just my thinking as a wedding professional. We are all free to have our own opinions.

The tuxedo is classic, but consider all your options. Marrying by the beach? Try a more casual jacket and trousers. Having an ultra-formal wedding? Pick a cutaway coat, gray-striped trousers, gray vest and ascot.

Ok, we all know there is such a thing as etiquette. The questions is do you always follow the rules? Can we pick and chose the rules for our special day? If you did your homework from #1, you probably found there are certain times and functions that you should wear different types of suits and tuxes. If you did not, go back through my blogs and find one I wrote on Suits VS Tuxes. Then you should be able to make your choice for the day.

Should you rent or buy? If you don't attend many formal events or if your weight is frequently in flux, renting may be the way to go. If you'll have four or more good uses for a tux, the suit will pay for itself.

This is kind of a no brainer in farm country and why my tuxedo rentals have remained fairly constant during a national dip. Many men in my area just don't have a reason to purchase a tuxedo and often not even a suit. But remember that whatever your needs, we can take care of you. Rushville Bridal has a full line of suits and tuxedos for rental or sale.

Here are the basics for tuxedo jacket styles. It's all in the collar!