My brother is getting married next spring and is having a very hard time deciding between a tuxedo and a dark suit. What do you think works best? And what would be your pick for a groom in 2008, assuming it's a 5:00 P.M. wedding and in New York.
What any man chooses to wear on his wedding day is obviously a deeply personal choice, unless he's been told what to wear by his bride-to-be (which I suspect happens more often than not). So while I wouldn't dare to dictate what any groom should wear, I would be delighted to serve up some inspiration. In my mind, wedding garb is divided into three categories: exceedingly formal (white tie, tails, or morning suit), respectfully traditional (either a dark suit or a tuxedo and black tie), and eccentric (I've seen capes, seventies three-piece suits, floral shirts, etc). All three can work equally well as long as they fit in with the overall feeling of the wedding, the location, and of course have some connection to what the bride is wearing. The one strong feeling I have is that a man should stand out from the crowd and look like he is, in fact, getting married. This can be easily accomplished with something as simple as a flower tucked into the lapel. And my last thought is that, even if your future wife has definitive plans for what you're wearing on the big day, make certain you're comfortable and happy -- in other words, don't be scared to put your foot down -- it may be the last chance you get!
Both of Audrey Hepburn's wedding looks (this and the one below) are among my all-time favorites. And her grooms both kept it simple with a dark suit, long tie, and corsage. Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer, 1954.
Audrey Hepburn and Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti on their wedding day, 1969.
As unconventional as it may be, Mick and Bianca Jagger's wedding might just be my absolute favorite. Unconventional yet formal and totally in line with their boho rock star lifestyle. St. Tropez, 1971.
I love how this groom and the one in the photo below both add a little bit of extra style to their dark suits. The waistcoat and the double-breasted blazer both add a bit of the unexpected to an otherwise respectfully traditional wedding look. Peter Oxley (bassist for the Australian pop-rock band the Sunnyboys) and Alena Czeknovska, Caxton Hall, London, 1969.
Fashion photographer Frank Sweeney and model Carol Chilvers at their wedding, 1966.
This was one of my favorite weddings. It was at a yacht club in Easthampton, New York and it was a true combination of both the bride's and the groom's style. My friend Anh favors couture and her husband, Bart, couldn't be less formal -- so they met in the middle on their wedding day. She toned her city-girl sophistication down a bit with natural hair and a blue bow on her dress, and he kicked his surfer boy nonchalance up a notch with a silk tie and pinstripe suit, meeting each other a comfortable place in the middle. Easthampton, NY, 2006.
