The selection of attire for the men in your bridal party should be driven by the time of year, venue, and time of day. The attire chosen should be visually pleasing in color and texture to what the women in your bridal party are wearing. At the same time, it has been noted that today’s couple is paying less and less attention to etiquette when choosing the attire for the wedding party when compared to years passed.
It is a good idea to have a ‘theme’ or ‘wedding style’ in mind when selecting your gentlemen’s attire and that it complements the attire of the females in the wedding party. The tradition that every man in the wedding party (groomsmen, ushers, fathers and the ring bearer) should dress alike remains. The groom, however, may dress differently from the other men in the wedding party, if he wishes. Commonly, the groom will choose to wear an ivory or white dress shirt, tie, vest or cummerbund. In addition, military uniform and/or formalwear is appropriate for those in the wedding party who are active duty or retired military.
RENTAL ATTIRE ORDERING TIMELINE
• For Adults: Ordering your rented formal attire with a lead-time of 4-12 months in advance is best, but ordering no less than 4 months prior to the event is preferred. The reason for this is so that military deployment schedules can be accommodated for, payments can be made over time, and measurements can be taken as required.
• For Children: Orders for children in the wedding party should be placed 2-3 weeks prior to the event in order to accommodate for growth and to be certain they have the best fit on the day of the event.
OBTAINING & SUBMITTING MEASUREMENTS
Measurements can be taken by a formal attire expert at the location you are placing your rental. If orders will be placed from out of the area, you will want your party members to have their measurements completed by a men’s formalwear expert.
PAYMENT
It is a typical practice for most rental establishments to require a 50% deposit at the time the order is placed. Payment in full is then due the week of the event. By doing so, payments can be made over time which can be more convenient for your wedding party and family members.
PICK UP/EXCHANGES/RETURNS
It is imperative that the groom and his attendants pick up or have their rentals shipped to them 3 days prior to the event. All rentals should be tried on (all pieces, including shoes) to ensure a proper fit and that all pieces of the rental are accounted for If any changes or adjustments need to be made there will be adequate time to do so. Most formalwear stores ask that garments be returned the next business day. Since it is likely the groom will be honeymooning then, the Best Man, Father of the Groom, or another local wedding party member will often be assigned this task.
LOOK YOUR BEST!
Your wedding day is one of the best days of your life. Determining the look you want and planning ahead to ensure proper measurements for a good fit are imperative to achieve a well-finished look for you and the men in your wedding party.
Check out the menswear shop that will be at the 2020 Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase!
Men’s Wearhouse
Check out our Pinterest Boards for inspiration from vendors who will be attending our 2020 showcase!
Hampton Roads’ ultimate wedding planning magazine and website where you can plan the wedding of your dreams from start to finish. From inspiration checklists and planning articles, to the best wedding professionals in Hampton Roads, the Guide has it all. Visit hrweddingguide.com for more information.
Mike Dragon specializes in creating images that are exciting, unique, and evoke an emotional response. Visit dragonphotostudio.com for more information.
2020 Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase Gold Sponsors:
