Tuxedos: a guide for the LDS Groom

A tuxedo guide for LDS groom
Photo Courtesy of JarvieDigital.com

TUXEDO RENTALS (OR PURCHASE): A quick checklist:

  • Tuxedo Jacket
  • Tuxedo Pants
  • Shirt
  • Vest or Cummerbund
  • Shoes
  • Socks
  • Tie
  • Cufflinks

Tuxedo Jacket

Tuxedo jackets come in many styles ranging from a single-breasted one button to double breasted six buttons with tails. You can ask the advice of the tux salesman, but checking the fit of the tux jacket and the tux pants (with the jacket off) in the mirror in the tux shop is always advised. A classic single-breasted suit is never wrong unless the event calls for top hat and tails. Just kidding- tails are reserved for the most formal wedding and other very formal occasions.

LDS groomsmen tuxes, photo by Carly Daniel photography, weddingLDS.com
Photo Courtesy of Carly Daniel Photography

You decide which style best compliments the majority of the figures of the Father of the Bride (FOB), the Father of the Groom (FOG), the Best Man, and the Groomsmen and of course you-The groom!

Note: Having everyone wear the same tuxedo style (single breasted or double breasted) is nice, but not mandatory. Some members of the wedding party, usually the FOB or FOG may own a tuxedo. Sometimes your bride and you may want the groomsmen to use the bridal colors as accents in the ties, cummerbunds or vests to bring the look of the wedding together. All the Tuxedo’s should be the same color, usually black.

LDS groomsmen, photo by Amelia Lyon photography, WeddingLDS.com
Photo Courtesy of Amelia Lyon Photography

Tuxedo Pants

Your tuxedo pants must match the tuxedo style, and the color and fabric that has been selected for the jacket. Formal tuxedo pants have a traditional racing stripe down the leg, usually made of silk. There may be an option on the tux pants with pleats or with no pleats.

Tuxedo Shirt

Tuxedo shirts come in many styles, with pleats and without. There are several types of collars available. Make sure that all men in the wedding party get the same style. Most tux shirts come with French cuffs (requiring cufflinks) and they have studs instead of buttons on the shirt. If you have questions about any of this, ask the sales person at the tux shop; they should help you.

Tuxedo Vest or Cummerbund

Articles for Groomsmen of an LDS groom,
Photo Courtesy of Wasatch Studios

To most affairs, it is acceptable to pair a tie with a cummerbund or vest. A cummerbund is that large oversized silk belt-looking thing that is worn around the waist over the top of the tux pants and the bottom of the tux shirt. Select the color and style to coordinate with the other men in the wedding party.

Grooms often ask the question: “Which way do the cummerbunds pleats face: Up or Down?” The correct answer is the cummerbund’s pleats always face UP. And please note, if you decided on a vest, you will Not wear a cummerbund with the vest.

♥ Dr. Howard Edward Haller
Exclusively for WeddingLDS.com
Copyright © 2010 WeddingLDS.com. All rights reserved.

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