Your wedding day is fast approaching… and you know that your groom and his groomsmen will need to rent or buy tuxedos or suits, but you have questions about style and decorum. With a surplus of formal wear information everywhere you look, from wedding magazines, to blogs and even Pinterest – you and your hubby-to-be can be left scratching your heads. Tuxedo etiquette can be a little intimidating. But, with the proper planning, attention to detail, and the tips below from Jos. A. Bank Formal Wear – his wedding attire is sure to be a success!

First, it’s necessary to decide on the theme and style for your wedding. Are you having a formal evening affair? A daytime, country-chic or vintage wedding? A garden soiree? A summer or festive outdoor event? The answer to those questions will help dictate what your man and his wedding party should wear on the big day. It’s important that their attire coordinates with the overall look and feel of your wedding.

Already have your theme figured out? Great. Now let’s get down to the basics and define some key tux terms and when it is appropriate to wear each of them.

If your wedding is extremely formal and you are requesting it be a Black Tie event, tuxedos are a must. Black Tie is a formal dress code that consists of the traditional tuxedo package: a black dinner jacket and matching trousers, a white formal shirt, a black bow tie and cummerbund or a black Windsor if preferred, and black formal shoes. In warmer months or tropical climates, a white dinner jacket may be substituted and the cummerbund is the preferred waist covering.

At a Black Tie Optional wedding, a tuxedo or dinner jacket may be worn, but is not required. Proper dressy attire, a tuxedo or a suit (not a sport coat) is necessary for your groom and his party. Colored vests and ties are a great way to coordinate the groomsmen’s attire with the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Recently, more couples are opting for fun and simple weddings with a touch of elegance, rather than the formal and traditional weddings of the previous generation. For these types of daytime, contemporary, less formal, summer or destination style weddings, you have a little more leniency when it comes to the formal wear. Cutaways, or morning coats, different colored tuxedos, jacketless tuxedos, light colored suits, or even linen pants paired with white shirts are all fair game.

No matter what formal wear style you two have decided on, have your man follow these timeless etiquette tips for a flawless look on your special day:

• When wearing a two or three button tuxedo jacket, he should always leave the bottom button undone.
• The tips or flaps on a wing collar shirt should sit behind his bow tie, not on top of it.
• If he plans to remove his tuxedo jacket during the event, opt for a fullback vest. It’s a much cleaner, well-dressed look when his coat is off.
• Cummerbunds are worn with the pleats facing up.
• Cuff links are a must, especially when wearing a French Cuff shirt.
• Tails can be worn for very formal occasions in his choice of color.
• Allow his trouser color to dictate the color of his shoes and socks, which should always be the same or darker than his trousers.  Patent leather or polished oxfords make the best formal footwear.

For more tuxedo etiquette information or to rent any of these formal wear styles for your wedding day, please visit Jos. A. Bank Formal Wear.

Current promotion: 25% OFF select tuxedo rentals when you book from now until May 15th!