Dressed to the Nines
The men, especially the groom (it is his day, too!), want to look their best on the wedding day as well. Typically, the groom and his attendants rent their formalwear and accessories. There are formalwear choices available to match the style demands of most weddings, and for the most part, all the men need to do is tell the store attendant what they're in the market for, and they're in business. On the other hand, they're not limited to rented formalwear. Depending on the locale and tone of your wedding, they can wear light-colored suits, thematic attire, or attire representative of your culture.
The Groom and His Men
The men should rent their formal wear one to three months before the wedding. Although a month is usually enough time to reserve the clothing in the “off season,” it's better to be early during the peak wedding months (April–October). Obviously, the men should do business at a reputable shop that employs knowledgeable, helpful salespeople.
Formalwear Attire Guidelines
Here is a guide to help them dress the part.
INFORMAL WEDDING:
Business suit (For the winter, consider dark colors; in the summer, navy, white, and lighter colors are appropriate.)
White dress shirt and tie
Black shoes and dark socks
SEMIFORMAL DAYTIME WEDDING:
Dark formal suit jacket (in summer, select a lighter shade)
Dark trousers
White dress shirt
Cummerbund or vest
Four-in-hand or bow tie
Black shoes and dark socks
SEMIFORMAL EVENING WEDDING:
Formal suit or dinner jacket with matching trousers (preferably black)
Cummerbund or vest
Black bow tie
White shirt
Cufflinks and studs
FORMAL DAYTIME WEDDING:
Cutaway or stroller jacket in gray or black
Waistcoat (usually gray)
Striped trousers
White high-collared (wing-collared) shirt
Striped tie
Studs and cufflinks
FORMAL EVENING WEDDING:
Black dinner jacket and trousers
Black bow tie
White tuxedo shirt
Waistcoat
Cummerbund or vest
Cufflinks
VERY FORMAL DAYTIME WEDDING:
Cutaway coat (black or gray)
Wing-collared shirt
Ascot
Striped trousers
Cufflinks
Gloves
VERY FORMAL EVENING WEDDING:
Black tailcoat
Matching striped trousers trimmed with satin
White bow tie
White wing-collared shirt
White waistcoat
Patent leather shoes
Studs and cufflinks
Gloves
Men's Attire Checklist
Too many men dash into the formalwear shop and dash out without double-checking their order. Every male member of the wedding party should try on their tuxedos when they pick them up, making sure all the pieces of the tuxedo are there. Here's a list to give your men to ensure they remember to bring all the necessary items on the wedding day.
GROOMSMEN'S CHECKLIST
Tuxedo/Suit (jacket, pant, shirt, suspenders, cufflinks, button covers, bow tie/tie, vest/cummerbund)
Shoes
White undershirt
Dress socks in appropriate color (usually black)
Toiletries (including deodorant)
Cologne
The Little Guys
Most often the ring bearer and trainbearer are little boys, but they probably enjoy being dressed like the big guys. In most weddings, the ring bearer and trainbearers are dressed in the same basic outfit as the rest of the men (only in a much smaller size) or in a slight variation of the outfit featuring knickers or shorts
