It was great news to hear that the average cost of a wedding increased in the first half of 2010. Bridal couples are leaning toward spending more on their big day, especially when it comes to hiring wedding and event planners. And bridal wedding fashion will always be an important part of the process, keeping designers busy year after year. But did you know that the tuxedo is falling out of favor across the event spectrum?

For one, while weddings will always be popular the economy has taken a swipe at the size of wedding parties. “While the number of weddings has not gone (down) significantly, the wedding parties have gotten smaller. Remember, just one less usher per party can account for up to 15% of business (based on a wedding party of 6),” according to ewednews.com. And second, it was reported in late 2009 that menswear designers were staying away from formal wear and that there would be no new tuxedo products in 2010. This means that couples who are interested in tuxedos are heading to stores and finding that $100 to $200 rents a heavily worn tuxedo, and that their options are few. In some cases the tuxedos are 10 years old or more, making many brides unhappy with their available choices. It’s hard to imagine a wedding industry without the classic tux at the helm of formal menswear. What is a bride or groom to do? There are definitely other options (unless your bride is planning a black-tie event, and in that case only a tuxedo will do.)

Consider a nice, dark suit. Have you watched the hit AMC show Mad Men? If so you know that while the cut, length and material of a men’s suit has changed over the years a fabulous suit has never gone out of style. For a less-formal wedding a nice suit is a perfect stand-in. In many cases the groomsmen may already own a suit that is appropriate for the occasion. If not, top-of-the-line suits are easily available for rent throughout the country.

As weddings decrease in size and splendor many couples are choosing lower-key garments for their wedding parties, too. We can imagine a really cute, preppy wedding with a row of groomsmen dressed in flat-front khakis, white Oxford shirts and bow ties that coordinate with the bridesmaids’ gowns and flowers. Couples who are looking for groomsmen gifts may consider buying the shirts and ties for their guys. It’s a nice gift that guarantees a uniform look on the wedding day, and both items are wearable long after the big event is over. (Visit Southern Proper for tons of bow-tie options.) And for brides who want to go that extra step? Funky, striped or patterned socks, with colors that coordinate with the bowties, are a cute touch. They won’t be visible while the guys are up front doing their groomsmen duties, but we think a photo showing off their snazzy socks would be adorable!

Couples who plan to say their vows on the beach are definitely not interested in the perfect tuxedo. They’re likely to want their wedding to exude a calm, laid-back attitude. Think flip flops and bare feet, not patent-leather dress shoes! The perfect groom and groomsmen attire for a beach wedding consists of drawstring linen pants or shorts and linen shirts. And as we’ve already mentioned - footwear is optional! But the beach isn’t the only outdoor venue for a wedding. A wedding by the lake or the harbor, or under the oak tree, would be the perfect opportunity to break out a classic seersucker suit. They just scream summer to us, and along with the prerequisite bowtie they’re about as classic as the tuxedo.

While we doubt that the tuxedo will be out of favor forever it’s a good idea to have a few options ready to offer brides when their menswear search falls short. These options may not be as formal as a tuxedo, but they’re also classics in their own way.

Tags: tuxedo, wedding, Wedding Fashion

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