Tuxedo or Suit for Your Wedding Day

Selecting the right suit, tuxedo, and accessories can take as much time as locating the perfect wedding gown for a bride. If you're tying the knot during a popular wedding month and are planning to rent for yourself and/or the groomsmen, reserve the tuxedos as soon as possible so that you don't wind up with the leftovers that other bridal parties refuse to rent.  Try to get the best man to return your outfits because you will be on the honeymoon.


Proper fit is the key when it comes to a tuxedo or suit for a wedding. To settle on the fit, try on the suit or tuxedo, with the correct shirt and shoes. Place your arms at your sides, fingers extended. The hem of the jacket should be no longer than your middle finger. The sleeve must sit on the top of your hand, and your shirt cuff should peek out slightly from the jacket sleeve no more than half an inch. Your slacks should skim the heel of your shoe in back and break slightly over the tops of your shoes in front. To create a more elegant silhouette, consider having some extra padding put in the shoulders and the waist taken in a bit.

Renting versus buying a Tuxedo or Suit

Buying a suite or tuxedo is always a better than renting. Rented tuxedos unfortunately often look like rented tuxedos. They're also not inexpensive, running between 35 and 45 percent of the purchase price of an standard tuxedo.  Keep in mind that you'll be looking at these photos for the rest of your life. If you're renting, don't spend the extra dough for the shoe option. Rental shoes by definition fit poorly and look worse. Shining up a pair of your own makes much more sense.


If you decide to rent, you can usually pick up the tux or suite two or three days prior to the wedding. Check to make sure that all the buttons are on and secure and that the tux / suit has no stains, holes, cigarette burns, or other damage.