Black by Vera Wang tuxedo
One of the main reasons people choose a destination wedding is so they can thumb their noses at the traditional trappings of a marriage—they can say the heck with matchy-matchy bridal parties, mile-long guest lists, and white stretch limos. But there are a couple of things that even the most evolved couples want, and that includes taking advantage of the chance to dress to the nines and look like a picture in a magazine.
We used to think this was just a female thing—the long-white-dress-gorgeous-earrings-killer-shoes fantasy. But it turns out that a lot of guys feel the same way; particularly nowadays, when prepping for a big business meeting can mean pulling out a skinny tie to go with your jeans. We’ve heard it from men time and again—they may be excited about having a non-conventional wedding on the beach (or at a ski lodge, or a ranch), but they still want to wear a tuxedo.
So here are the rules, as written by Destination: W.
1. If the bride is wearing a formal ballgown, the groom gets to wear a tuxedo. In fact, you’ll look like you’re at separate weddings if he doesn’t.
2. If you’re marrying in the tropics, a white dinner jacket is a better choice than dark formalwear—otherwise he’ll look like a black hole in the photos.
3. We like the idea of customizing a tuxedo to suit the environs—sometimes. We’re fans of the Texas Tux, for example: jeans, cowboy boots, and a Stetson worn with a tuxedo jacket, dress shirt, and bowtie. But we can’t quite picture formalwear paired with a Hawaiian lei.
4. A guy will always be in good shape if he goes classic. Vera Wang, no surprise, has a super-elegant men’s formalwear collection called Black by Vera Wang (find the line at Men’s Wearhouse). Made of ultra-lightweight wool, the tuxedos feature a trim silhouette, so he won’t look as though he raided his father’s closet. The starting price is about $800, but in case the only big commitment he’s ready for right now is marriage, the collection is also available to rent.
