Tuxedo tips for Indianapolis grooms
Oh yes! The forgotten one. Your special guy may not seem as worried about the wedding as you are, but that's only because not showing it is a guy thing. Let him check these tips and put his mind at rest about what's expected.

Most of the time, brides make the decision about the tuxedo for the groom. They accompany him to the formalwear shop and they do the choosing. Read the following and take charge! Show her you know a thing or two about haberdashery. (Brides — print this out and give it to him!)

1.) Stick to black. The groom has more choices of formalwear today than ever before, but if you want to radiate distinction, black should be your choice of color. For timeless elegance and a classic look, go with black. Stay away from colored vests. No matter how closely you try and match the color of the bridesmaids gowns, when the photos are developed, you will clash with them. Different fabrics of the same color photograph differently.

2.) Warning! Formalwear manufacturers have introduced pastel suits and tuxedos this year. They have sold tons of these things to tuxedo shops and the shop may try to steer you toward them. Beware! Unless you want to look like a complete dork, stay away from pastels.

3.) Informal Weddings. At an informal wedding, the groom may wear a business suit.

4.) Tuxedo Rental. When you rent a tuxedo, everything you need should come with it, including shoes.

• The shirt will come with buttons, but don't use them. Wear the black studs, slipping them into the button holes that have been provided for that purpose.


• A pocket watch is more acceptable than a wrist watch when you are wearing a tuxedo.


• No watch at all is even more acceptable. If challenged, simply reply: "A gentleman in evening clothes is not concerned with time."

5.) Matching the Brides Gown. The shirt should match the wedding gown: bright white shirt with a bright white gown, or a champagne-colored shirt with an off-white or creamery gown.

6.) The Windsor Knot. Instead of a bowtie, you may wear a necktie, called a Windsor. This is usually worn with a five or six-button vest.

7.) Full-Backed Vests. Try and get a full-backed vest, rather than the vest front with a strap. The full-backed vest looks much better in photographs with your coat off.

8.) Vests. Vests have risen higher and higher, with six and seven button vests becoming common. Less and less of the shirt is seen. The vest can safely be worn in lieu of the traditional cummerbund and is slightly more formal looking.

9.) Proper Wedding Attire. For weddings in the morning or early afternoon, the proper formalwear is a morning coat-- a gray or charcoal tailcoat worn with a vest or waistcoat and ascot instead of a bow tie and cummerbund. In the evening, a black dinnerjacket with a black vest or cummerbund and black bow tie, or a black tailcoat with a white vest and white bow tie is considered proper. The gentleman at the above right is wearing white tie and tails, considered appropriate for formal weddings.

10.) Wedding Style. The height of fashion for this year is Ralph Lauren's single-breasted, peak-lapel tuxedo. Notch lapels with satin insets are also popular, as are double lapels which look much more formal. Whatever you choose, bear in mind the following:

• A jacket should fit properly in the shoulders. Trousers must be worn higher than normal, or else the shirt will spill out and ruin the look.


• Only a portion of the shoes should be visible above the trousers.


• Always allow one-half inch of white cuff to show at the wrist.

11.) Summer or Tropical Wedding Attire. White dinner jackets are really only appropriate in tropical areas, or in the north during the late spring and summer.

12.) Morning Suits. Morning suits (cutaway or stroller coats in charcoal gray or black with gray striped pants, and an ascot instead of a bow-tie) are popular for summer weddings, especially those out-doors.

13.) Informal vs. Formal. For most evening or late afternoon weddings, a simple black dinner jacket is most appropriate. Black full-dress tailcoats or gray cutaway jackets and gray-striped trousers are usually only worn at the most formal, indoor evening weddings.