Its a feeling we all know. Looking back at old pictures of ourselves and thinking “What the heck was I thinking when I wore that??” Sure, there’s a certain amount of fun to be had in it when you look at random pictures of your past, but that’s not what you want to focus on when you pull out your wedding photo album to reminisce.
Some of these mistakes aren’t just relegated to weddings, and may be duplicates from a previous article of mine on common mistakes and misconceptions, but they bare repeating because I see these happen every wedding season. The purpose of today’s article (or any article I have ever written) is not to sneer and look down on men who have made these mistakes. I truly want you soon-to-be grooms out there to look outstanding on your wedding day.
There is a good chance your wedding attire will be chosen based on the time, season, and locale of the event. You likely wouldn’t choose to wear the same outfit for nuptials at the beach in the summer as you would at a woodsy venue in the autumn. Here are some universal mistakes to avoid that will keep you looking your best no matter what choices are made in regards to the big picture.
Wearing a Rental Suit/Tux
The lack of control you will have when dealing with rental outfits is hands down the worst aspect of renting, and it will significantly affect how your outfit looks overall. The fit will be the biggest casualty. Rentals can only come in predetermined sizes and have little room for tailors to make adjustments to your body, if its even allowed at all. Retailers dealing with rentals aren’t interested in making garments for YOU- the individual. They make big, boxy clothing that the largest common denominator of men can wear. Its because of this that I’ve never worn a rental shirt that I wasn’t absolutely swimming in.
A suit or a tuxedo should always be looked at as an investment. This is a garment that can be worn for years if properly taken care of and if it is of decent quality to begin with. Think about it like this: A small fortune will be spent on your bride’s wedding dress; a garment that will *never* be worn again until she tries to fit into it once more after having two kids and a midlife crisis. Spend a little extra on yourself and invest in a suit or tuxedo that you can wear whenever a situation calls for it.
Clip on Suspenders
I don’t recommend clip on suspenders for any occasion, much less your wedding. They look cheap and must work by clawing at the fabric of your trousers to maintain their grip. Instead, invest in some nice loop suspenders with leather button attachments. Most pairs will come with buttons that can be sewn to the inside of your trousers. Loop suspenders are classic, they won’t hurt your trousers in the long run, and people will notice how much nicer they look even if their style knowledge is minimal. The only downside to how good loop suspenders look is that you might feel the itch to remove your jacket sooner than usual just to show them off.
Wearing a Belt AND Suspenders
Not much needs to be said here. This is as goofy as wearing socks with sandals. Belts and suspenders do the same job and you don’t need both of them to fulfill it. I understand that it may seem like something is missing if you’re not wearing a belt with trousers that have belt loops, but its a better move to leave them empty if you decide to go the suspenders route.
The Boutonniere
There are two main ways to go wrong with a boutonniere: size and placement. Many boutonniere’s are giant, gaudy monstrosities like the one pictured above. They steal attention away from where it should be (your face) by drawing people’s eyes to your chest. They leap off your silhouette in pictures taken from side angles. Choose a smaller and more elegant single flower boutonniere that will complement your attire rather than be the center of it.
As for the placement, most jackets already have a special little spot sewn in for this reason in particular: the boutonniere button hole on your upper left lapel. This is where a boutonniere is meant to be placed. Its fine if your jacket lapel doesn’t sport this little detail, just pin it in around the spot where the button hole would have been.
Long Neck Tie Instead of a Bow Tie with a Tuxedo
Tuxedos are too formal for a regular neck tie, even a black satin one. A tuxedo calls for a bow tie and nothing less. Bow ties are versatile enough that they can be worn with either suits or tuxedos (and the type of bow tie you wear will be occasion dependent), but a neck tie should only be worn with a suit. Deciding to wear either a suit or tuxedo for your special day is up to you and there’s no wrong answer as far as that goes. Just make sure your neck wear is the right pick for your decision.
I have seen style men that encourage the idea of wearing a necktie with a tuxedo as a more contemporary take on formal wear, but its an idea that I just cannot seem get on board with. Wearing a necktie with a tuxedo just looks like you didn’t know what you were doing.
Matching Tie and Pocket Square
I honestly cannot blame most men for not knowing this one. There are countless retailers out there selling cheap tie and pocket square combos, marketed as a winning look. Men’s Wearhouse defaults to providing matching combinations for their rentals. So, it seems correct… right?
The truth is that your pocket square should complement your tie, never outright match it. Matching them looks dull and betrays a lack of imagination and effort. Instead, aim to make the primary color of your pocket square one of the secondary colors of your shirt or tie. If you’re not feeling too confident with your ability in doing this then there is always the classic white pocket square in a presidential fold. While its a more traditional and conservative look, there isn’t much a white square in a presidential fold won’t pair well with.
Following the Current Fashions
Tight suits, cropped trousers, crazy socks, and extremely wide spread shirt collars: These are all current or recent trends in men’s fashion that won’t look so good when you’re checking out pictures years later and when those trends have been dropped for the next hot thing.
Opt for a timeless look. Wear an outfit that has been properly tailored to complement your physique. Ensure your trousers are long enough. Crazy socks seem to have become somewhat of a fun tradition so if you choose to wear those than at least be sure to have plenty of pictures taken where they are covered up. The goal is to wear an outfit that cannot be placed in any particular decade based on a trendy look. In 10 years when you open up your wedding photo album to reminisce, you will still look good. In 25 years when you open up your wedding photo album to reminisce, you will still look good. In 50 years when you open up your wedding photo album to reminisce, you will still look good.
Conclusion
As stated at the beginning, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the broad decisions of what you will wear at your wedding: fabric, colors, suit or tuxedo, and so on. While these are big choices that will no doubt be discussed with your bride-to-be, its important not to neglect the small details that turn into the common style mistakes men make on their wedding day. “Don’t sweat the small stuff” doesn’t apply here. Go forth and look amazing on your big day!