Want to be the Best Dressed Guest? Here's How.
Photo by Elizabeth Messina
The second you get engaged, you’re inundated with questions from your friends and family. How did he ask? When’s the wedding? Where will it be? While most of the questions are easy to answer (especially once you’ve set out invitations!) there’s one that takes a little more guidance: What should I wear?
We always try to keep the dress code clear so everyone arrives appropriately dressed and looking — and feeling — their best, but even something as simple as “Cocktail Attire” or “Black Tie” can still be met with confusion. Enter The Black Tux. This suit and tuxedo rental company was founded to help dress the groom and wedding party, but has expanded to helping dress male guests, too. After all, not many people have a tuxedo in their closet these days, but you can’t just add a bowtie to a black suit and call it a day! We love this service (in fact, Alison’s husband and his groomsmen rented suits from The Black Tux for their wedding, above!) and how easy it makes it for men to arrive at a wedding, dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate. Not only do they offer a wide variety of suits for every dress code, they’ve made it even easier: Check out The Black Tux’s Wedding Guest Style Guide, check out the stylish options available to rent for your next jaunt as a wedding guest, then keep reading for our tips on making sure you’re the best dressed man at the reception — after the groom, of course!
When in Doubt, Ask. Did your friends decide to get creative with their dress code? If “Mountain Chic” just isn’t ringing a bell for you, send an email or make a phone call to get a little more information. You could ask the best man or maid of honor or, if that’s not helping, go straight to the source. Just make sure it’s more than a week before the wedding — any sooner than that and your friends will be busy with wedding prep and may not appreciate the extra questions.
Stay True to Your Style. Is your closet full of color or prints? A black tie wedding doesn’t mean you’ve got to go strictly black-and-white. Rent a tux and invest in a beautiful patterned bowtie and cummerbund set, which will keep your look formal while still letting your personality shine through.
Overdressed is Best. While “Black Tie Optional” does mean you can wear a black suit without offending anyone, we always say it’s better to be the most formally-dressed person in a room instead of the one who showed up in a sports coat in a sea of tuxedos. Go for a less traditional option (like the Midnight Blue Tuxedo) to expertly embody the dress code.