Tuxedos or Suits or a Mix of?

sarahjane222

We're having a sort of formal wedding...3 BM's are wearing non-matching metallic/sparkly dresses of their choice (in the gold/champagne/bronze family) and I was thinking of brown for the men. Because I ended up getting a ballgown I'm thinking my fiance should wear a tuxedo (brown) and then maybe the rest of the groomsmen can just wear brown suits with gold/bronze accents (ties, etc). I don't want the men all matching either, but is it ok to mismatch my fiance wearing a tux with them wearing suits?
More deets: wedding is in early December, church will be decorated for Christmas, and reception is lots of ivory candles with a touch of gold sparkle themed. 
I don't know much about men's formal wear. lol

missdelilah

What time of day are you getting married? That's generally what determines whether men wear tuxes or suits. Daytime, suits, nighttime tuxes if the wedding is formal, which yours obviously is. Just because you are wearing a ball gown, you don't need your FI to wear a tux. You'll look just fine if he wears a suit. Wow! This was the hardest thing ever to image search. Sorry I couldn't pull anything for you. No matter what search terms I used I kept getting vendor photos. Hopefully someone can help you out more on that front.

Maggie0829

If your FI is wearing a tux then the rest of the GMs should match his formality and wear a tux as well. Tuxes are typically only worn after 6pm, but I am of the mindset that if your wedding starts at 4pm and goes into the night (meaning way past 6pm) then it is fine to wear a tux. But if your wedding ends around or at 6pm then a suit is more appropriate. And please, don't have him wear a brown tux. Tuxes should only ever be black. Have you never seen those heinous pictures from the 70's where the groom is wearing a brown or light blue tux. Yeah, you don't want that.

southernbelle0915

Although (IMO) it's a victimless crime, tuxedos should not be worn before 6pm. 

I would strongly advise against a brown tuxedo. That is something you will definitely regret in a few years - think powder blue tuxedos, ruffled shirts, puffy sleeved dresses, etc. Stick with black. It's classic and timeless.

CMGragain

1.  Tuxedos are BLACK!  Any other color is a passing fad, and you will regret it.  Do they even rent brown tuxedos?  Ugh!
2.  Tuxedos are never worn in the daytime.
3.  The rule is that the groomsmen must match the level of formality that the groom wears.  In other words, if the groom wears a tux, so do the groomsmen.  It sounds like a two piece suit might be a better choice for your wedding.  A suit (navy, grey,black or charcoal) is a wardrobe standard for men.  If they do not already own a suit, buying one will cost the same as renting a tuxedo, and they can wear their suit again for other occasions.  (Job interviews!)  You can buy them matching ties.

sarahjane222

Hmm. Maybe I'm confusing what a tuxedo is - I'm not thinking the cummerbund type....thinking more like this http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/526611/ or http://www.montyformalwear.ca/32/tuxedo-vests/detail.aspx

So maybe that's considered a 3 piece suit? Or do I really have poor taste in men's wear? lol 

That being said, the ceremony will be at 2pm so maybe a tux would be too formal. The reception is just going to be kind of flashy (we're hiring a 25pc big band) so it kind of flashes it up a bit! 

amelisha

sarahjane222 said:

Hmm. Maybe I'm confusing what a tuxedo is - I'm not thinking the cummerbund type....thinking more like this http://www.pinterest.com/pin/72057662763354003/  or http://www.montyformalwear.ca/32/tuxedo-vests/detail.aspx

So maybe that's considered a 3 piece suit? Or do I really have poor taste in men's wear? lol 

That being said, the ceremony will be at 2pm so maybe a tux would be too formal. The reception is just going to be kind of flashy (we're hiring a 25pc big band) so it kind of flashes it up a bit! 

That is a three-piece suit, not a tuxedo. It is appropriate for 2 PM, no worries.

southernbelle0915

I would go with a standard suit and make it black, charcoal, or navy. I think my dad was a GM in a wedding in the '70s where he wore a brown suit. It's definitely not a timeless look...

CMGragain

A tuxedo has a satin stripe down the sides of the pants and satin lapels on the jacket.  It is on;y worn in the evening, after 6 PM.
I think suits would be much more practical.  Brown is out of fashion right now.  You could find it in the late 1970s, along with Afro hair styles.
A tuxedo is not "too formal" for a 2 PM wedding, it is simply WRONG!  The correct formal attire for daytime is called a cutaway. or morning coat.  Here is a picture.  You will probably recognize the models.