I’ve written extensively on the subject of weddings, but I’ve been getting more emails, so I’ll write it again.
You don’t need to wear a tuxedo if you’re being married, and you don’t need to wear matching outfits.
I wore a suit to my wedding (the photo above, by the way, is by Peter DaSilva for The New York Times). My groomsmen wore navy and dark gray suits, white shirts, black shoes and black and white or silver ties, which they provided themselves. This is as formal as daytime dress gets in this country, and it was all I expected from my guests, as well. Our look was coordinated and coherent without looking like we were in a chorus line or on a sports team. It also required no rentals, which are pretty much guaranteed to look awful.
Some other most-frequently-needed advice:
- Please do not wear black tie during the daytime. Black tie is also called “evening wear” for a reason.
- Please do not wear colors other than black, white and midnight blue if you choose to wear black tie, and do not wear a long tie.
- If your bride to be has been brainwashed by the wedding-industrial complex into thinking that everything has to be the same color at a wedding, suggest this color be reflected in your boutonnieres.
