Tuxes vs. Suits

Meghannsix

We are debating renting tuxes for the guys or letting them buy suits.  We've been going over the pros and cons of each, i.e. when you buy a suit at least you get to keep it vs. what if you really don't need a suit?  We're very fortunate to have men involved who are basically telling us that they will do whatever we want, leaving the decision to us.  What do you girls think?

itzMS

Renting tuxes seems to be the easiest for most guys. My DH has several suits but actually prefers the rental option for weddings he is a GM in due to the fact that he doesn't have to worry about dry cleaning afterwards!

This also borders on the fact that you and FI should be buying the suits for the GM since it is above and beyond the basic rental tux expense. In my area, a nice, custom tailored suit runs $500+, whereas the rental tuxes are about $150.

Tabbie11

FI an I debated this too and decided to buy suits. When we visited places, we found that it was comparable in cost to rent vs. buy. That of course depends on the suit but some of the tuxes were actually more than we ended up spending. A lot of stores also will give discounts for bridal parties or you can find a coupon by going to a wedding expo. Now the guys will have something that they will actually have a use for after. Even if they dont wear them on a regular basis, a decent suit is a staple. 
Also a purchased suit can be altered to fit well... were as a tux, they take the guys measurements and order the closest thing and you hope for the best. So guys may end up in something that doesn't fit that well.

Avion22

What color suit do you want? If it's a basic color like black or navy, chances are that they already have one hanging in their closet. They don't all have to be the exact same suit as long as they are a close in color (which black or navy would be). If they don't have one,they can easily buy one for less than $150, or they can spend more if they want a nicer one. Remember that tuxes are only appropriate for formal evening weddings -- so if your even this before 6pm or not formal, then I would go with suits instead of tuxes.

artbyallie

Ditto Avion. We asked our groomsmen to wear dark suits they already had with light blue shirts and we provided matching ties. Only one didn't have a suit already, and as he was my fresh-out-of-high-school cousin, my aunt bought him one.

itzMS

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_tuxes-vs-suits?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:bc5c1c1c-fec4-4417-b781-63538045567bPost:3d6d2e2a-d774-4223-a597-a28472431439">Re: Tuxes vs. Suits</a>:
[QUOTE]What color suit do you want? If it's a basic color like black or navy, chances are that they already have one hanging in their closet. They don't all have to be the exact same suit as long as they are a close in color (which black or navy would be). If they don't have one,they can easily buy one for less than $150, or they can spend more if they want a nicer one. <strong>Remember that tuxes are only appropriate for formal evening weddings -- so if your even this before 6pm or not formal, then I would go with suits instead of tuxes.
</strong>Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]

This is really outdated information, generally speaking.
OP, just let your FI choose what he would like. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />
I've actually never heard of a suit costing less than $150 either and I know plenty of 20-something year old guys without suits.

random4180

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_tuxes-vs-suits?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:bc5c1c1c-fec4-4417-b781-63538045567bPost:bc54d0b4-125e-4e59-9a0e-14ade7557db6">Re: Tuxes vs. Suits</a>:
[QUOTE]Renting tuxes seems to be the easiest for most guys. My DH has several suits but actually prefers the rental option for weddings he is a GM in due to the fact that he doesn't have to worry about dry cleaning afterwards! <strong>This also borders on the fact that you and FI should be buying the suits for the GM since it is above and beyond the basic rental tux expense. In my area, a nice, custom tailored suit runs $500+, whereas the rental tuxes are about $150.</strong>
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

<div>Not entirely true...if you're demanding a designer suit that's $800 then you have a point but if it's like we did for our wedding (black suit, whatever you have or decide to buy) then no, not obligated to pay for it. Agreeing to be in a bridal party usually means there will be some "wardrobe" expense, whether it's a bridesmaid dress or a tux rental. We actually looked into the tux rental but we were having a 3:30 wedding and the tuxes my husband liked were about $200 with all the taxes and accessories. Seemed crazy to spend that much money on something you don't even get to keep! And whether or not they have a suit- honestly everyone needs one at some point, either for job interviews or funerals or weddings. And lots of places have sales or they can buy one secondhand and have it tailored...it's not necessarily the "expensive" alternative.</div>

Wlflake

We are going with a suit simply because I like the look of a suit better. We just made a simple request for the best man to wear a black suit. It doesnt have to be the same suit, just black. I guess it depends on A: The look your going for. B: How cooperative the wedding party is about it. 

It seems like they are on board, so I would go for it. It's nice to have something that you could wear again. 

Wlflake

Oh, and Banana Republic has some great suit options that wont break the bank.

Smooch711

FI's only request was that he wear a suit. Originally, I was against it, thinking his GM would have to spend a lot of money on a suit. Totally not the case. His BM/brother found a Kenneth Cole suit for $129 at Boscov's. Macy's had some either $109 or $129, depending on the brand. My dad got his for under $200. FI got his for $200 (with a shirt and tie and 2 alterations). Apparently the going rate to rent a tux is $160. Our GM preferred the suit option. We went with basic black. For that price, the suit is a no brainer in my opinion. They will fit much better, as PP stated. And in doing this, one of his GM (who is getting married a month after us) is going with suits too.

JoanE2012

We are going with tux rentals for the men.  I associate suits with being a guest of the wedding.  We wanted the guys a step up from the guests.

Avion22

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_tuxes-vs-suits?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:bc5c1c1c-fec4-4417-b781-63538045567bPost:a8734ad4-3420-42ce-8da0-c9286ed7c2e9">Re: Tuxes vs. Suits</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tuxes vs. Suits :<strong> This is really outdated information</strong>, generally speaking. OP, just let your FI choose what he would like. I've actually never heard of a suit costing less than $150 either and I know plenty of 20-something year old guys without suits.
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>How so?  A tuxedo is formal evening wear.  If you want formal daytime wear, you go with a morning suit.  If you want semi-formal wear for any time of day, a suit is appropriate.   You could probably get a way with a tuxedo at a 5:30pm semi-formal wedding, but tuxedos really shouldn't be worn in the daytime.  

</div>

nafallon

My daughter and my son both got married last year.  The GM wore tuxes at hers and suits at his and there was very little difference in how they looked.  In fact, when looking at tuxes in the catalogues I had to ask how to tell the suits from the tuxes....the answer was the tuxes were the ones that  had vests.  So if you are thinking about black or dark blue, I would say go with the suits.  Some of the guys will probably have them already and if they don't at least they will have something to show for their expense.

Meghannsix

Thanks everyone!  We are looking at tan, and I think if we can find an acceptable option price-wise, we'll go with buying suits.  I think I'm a bit biased because FI already has about 20 suits in the closet that he does not wear, I just hate the idea of adding another one to the collection, but it helps hearing from everyone else.  Thanks!

random4180

Oh, and if you want to dress up a two-piece, you can get a vest without buying a three-piece suit. My husband wanted a vest so we went online and found a silver vest with matching tie and pocket square for about $30. He looked especially sharp, lol, and to be honest, you couldn't even tell that it wasn't supposed to be that way. I think he looked very formal and achieved the same look as you might with a tux, but with that added bonus of not paying an extra 100 to get a three-piece suit and of course he got to keep the outfit! 

Also, most of my husband's friends are twentysomethings and two got a new suit for the wedding (my husband paid for his BM who had a tighter budget than the others.) The other two already had one and we paid for ties to kind of bring the whole look together. My husband's was by far the most expensive but, hey, I got to splurge on a dress I'm never gonna wear again so why not spring for a good, multi-use piece like a black suit? Like someone else said, once we looked at the numbers for both options, the suits were a no-brainer.

itzMS

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_tuxes-vs-suits?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:bc5c1c1c-fec4-4417-b781-63538045567bPost:50264424-20a1-41a6-8ad7-e3bcfae67f2c">Re: Tuxes vs. Suits</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tuxes vs. Suits : How so?  A tuxedo is formal evening wear.  If you want formal daytime wear, you go with a morning suit.  If you want semi-formal wear for any time of day, a suit is appropriate.   You could probably get a way with a tuxedo at a 5:30pm semi-formal wedding, but tuxedos really shouldn't be worn in the daytime.  
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]

If someone honestly cares if a groom and his groomsmen wear tuxedoes for a 2:00PM Church wedding instead of a suit, they have bigger fish to fry.

The most important things are that they look nice, are within their budgets, and are comfortable with the attire.

OP, you are very lucky that your wedding party men are OK with purchasing suits! I know my DH's groomsmen wouldn't have!

Avion22

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_tuxes-vs-suits?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:bc5c1c1c-fec4-4417-b781-63538045567bPost:6801fb38-c5f2-4cdc-80a0-0db781df40fb">Re: Tuxes vs. Suits</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tuxes vs. Suits : If someone honestly cares if a groom and his groomsmen wear tuxedoes for a 2:00PM Church wedding instead of a suit, they have bigger fish to fry. The most important things are that they look nice, are within their budgets, and are comfortable with the attire. OP, you are very lucky that your wedding party men are OK with purchasing suits! I know my DH's groomsmen wouldn't have!
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>I would feel "comfortable" with jeans for a 2pm wedding, but that doesn't mean I would wear them, because it would be inappropriate.  </div>

funandfreckles

We had our guys buy suits. Here, it cost $225 to rent a tux, and for weddings, all suits are 1/2 price. So the guys bought suits for $200 each. Now they have a suit. We bought the ties and shirts, just as a nice gesture. I personally really really don't like the look of tuxes or vests, so this was best for our style of wedding anyway.

JeremyHeartTrena

We're having a daytime wedding, and my fi is going to wear a grey suit he already owns. We are also having the guys buy suits, because around here it is about the same price to buy as to rent. Plus, I really don't like the look of tuxes, they can look baggy. Especially on my guy who's 5'7. He had to wear one to his brother's wedding. The shirt was the right 'size', but he could fit both his arms in one sleeve (except at the cuff)... that's how it was made. He looks much better in a fitted, modern suit, and he knows it.