If your groom decides to purchase rather than rent, then the sky is the limit when it comes to buying a tuxedo or suit. From wild cuts and fabrics to the classic black one button, anything is possible.

There are many variables to consider when choosing a suit: time of day, location of event, themes, etc. Discuss what you both want (and what you don’t want). Your personal tastes will come into play when choosing the attire for the big day.

Suits in particular have gained a lot of attention recently. From Fashion Television to GQ, everyone is excited about the various ways to dress up and dress down a great fitting suit for any occasion. There seems to be no better time to buy than now, but remember to choose wisely when purchasing a formal outfit or suit.

Since formalwear is not a typical daily outfit, most people want to purchase something that will last them at least eight to ten years. Most formalwear specialists will recommend opting for a more classic design to get the most out of your purchase.

From neckties, bowties, cummerbunds, and cufflinks, there seems to be a never-ending selection of accessories that men can choose from. Experiment with your accessories, shop for the occasion, and don’t be afraid to break free from your usual conservative style.

Another option is to pair a classic, basic colored suit with a dressy shirt and accessories. Opting for a suit rather than a tuxedo is a practical choice as you can get a lot more wear out of both the pants and blazer of your suit. Once the big day is over, you won’t need to hang your suit in the back of your closet. Simply pair up dark denim with your suit blazer and you will be set for a casual dinner or outing. So be creative in putting together different outfits with your suit pieces. Opt for suits like Ted Baker’s Passion Kier and Worlds suits (first two suits above) which are great for versatility and easily able to be dressed up or down.

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We’ve heard the same story time and time again, you’ve been with your significant other for years and now you’re scared that he will never ask that four-word question you’ve been dying to hear for so long. If you’ve been dating for a while and you two are clearly right for each other, you need to figure out what is holding him back and help him to see that you are The One.

Fear of commitment can definitely hold a guy back from settling down. It isn’t that he doesn’t love you, but that he is afraid that as soon as he settles down, he will meet the “perfect” women and regret his decision to get married. The best thing to do is give him time and avoid pressuring him. You don’t want to push him even further from the idea of marriage by making him feel you are trying to force him to marry you. Try to be understanding of his fear, but also let him know that it’s not realistic and fair of him to make you wait forever. One healthy way to do this is to just be yourself – be the woman he fell in love with. This should help him see that you are his “perfect” woman.

Many people hate or fear change as its affects can be so unpredictable. This applies to marriage too -some men really fear the changes that will come with life after marriage. He might feel like he’ll lose time with his friends and family after he ties the knot. If the two of you spend everyday together, try giving him more space and freedom to spend time with his family and friends. Help him too see that marriage will not rob him of the time he needs to explore his interests and spend time with his friends.

Aside from a fear of commitment, there is an opposite force at play too in some cases. A sense of chivalry. Even in today’s modern society, men still instinctively feel the need to provide and care for their wives and families. He might still be looking for his dream job, and may not think it would be fair to marry you just yet. However, if you know that with all his passion, intelligence, and skills there is nothing that will prevent him in securing his dream job, show him that you are in for the long haul, and that you want to work with him to overcome any of the obstacles that might get in the way. Let him to see that working with you to mold the future you both dream of will make the life you’ve created with each other so much more meaningful.

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One trendy post processing technique is called Texturing. The key to texturing is picking the right type of textures, and the right combination to give the photo a special feel.

Boe Lefebvre, of Pokedog Photography, utilizes a variety of techniques. For example, he says:

"I might overlay an image of a scuffed up cement wall to give the image depth, and then add a vivid image of green grass for color, and finally a blurred image of bright street lights to vary the tone and exposure. There can be millions of combinations and unlimited layers created to craft a work of fine art that a wedding couple could have printed on canvas to hang on their wall as a conversation piece, without feeling the need to pull it down after the one year anniversary."

www.pokedog.com

When choosing a ring, it is wise to consider what type of wedding band you will wear. Is it part of a matching set? Will you wear it alone? It is important to consider all these factors. Today some brides choose to wear only a wedding band. Most grooms all wear a wedding band. Whatever your choice make sure you’ve done your homework before making this big purchase. It is best to know when purchasing a ring the “Four C’s” Cut, Carat, Colour, and Clarity. In Ring Bling Part 1 Cut and Colour were defined. Here are the following two

Clarity:

• Is the most impressive quality of all.
• The more irregularities there are, the lower the value of the diamond.
• A flawless diamond must show no surface blemishes or interior inclusions when examined at a 10-power magnification.

Carat:

• The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats.
• The weight of a diamond is the most important factor when determining its value - however, a smaller carat diamond with better colour, clarity or cut can easily cost more than a larger carat diamond.

Most importantly, your ring’s cut, setting and stone should all be a reflection of your own tastes, opinions and backgrounds.

Sharpen your sparkler know how before making the big decision!

Severed Shoe - a broken heel is basically impossible to fix on the spot so act like a boy scout and always be prepared. Bring an extra pair of shoes with you. They don’t have to be the exact same shoe - just have the same heel height. If you don’t have a spare pair, don’t do barefoot - at least not for the ceremony or the pictures. Borrow some shoes from a guest or one of your bridesmaids. Even if they don’t match, most people won’t notice. However, they will notice your ten little piggies poking out from under your dress. If you still have a lot of time before the wedding, ask a friend to run out and get a new pair of shoes for you.
Check one of our Bridal Fantasy exhibitors Mayfair Shoes .

Absent Officiant - surprisingly this does happen to a fair number of couples. See if there is another wedding going on in your ceremony venue and find out if that officiant can marry you. Check the phone book for a marriage commissioner or you can have one of your friends ordained online. You will have to check if that would be legitimate in your area. If none of those options work see if there are any lawyers in the crowd who can legally marry you. Finally, you can ask someone to conduct the ‘spiritual’ ceremony and go down to the courthouse the next day. Keep in mind - it’s not the piece of paper that makes you married, it’s what in your hearts.

Sweaty Groom - wedding day nerves combined with a hot day equals a perspiring groom. If you’re prepared for this, then your groom won’t have to worry about showing any wet spots. Bring an extra shirt for the groom - two if you know he’s going to have a problem. If you can’t get an extra, have your guy duck into the prep room at your ceremony site and blow-dry whatever spots you can see with the cool setting. Carry some antiperspirant for him in your emergency bag.

Purchasing Your Tuxedo

So you are one of the lucky few that have decided to own your tuxedo, you must understand your decision puts you in a very prestigious group with the likes of James Bond, Frank Sinatra and almost every major motion picture actor to ever win an award. Now how do you feel? Where to begin?

Fabric: This is going to be the primary distinguishing factor between a rental and retail garment. Most tuxedos are made of very fine wool’s (often in Super 100’s or better), this is because the tuxedo was meant to be worn on momentous occasions and at those times of your life you want to look your very best. You will find that the tuxedo you are buying will be extremely lightweight and breathable so that you stay comfortable. You have enough on your mind let alone worrying about what you are wearing.

Style: This is completely personal; however, there are a few simple things you should know going into your purchase. First, this garment is going to last you a while (often 5+ years) so make sure the style you choose is something you can live with. Most traditional tuxedos come in 1, 2, 3 button coats and if you are a purest you will want a 1 button without question. You then have three simple lapel choices: a notch, a peak or a shawl. Most formalwear specialty stores will have a selection of these tuxedos for you to look at and try on.

Accessories: Accessories may be the most important part of the process. If your tuxedo is going to last you a while, you don’t want to continually show up in the same outfit time after time. What we recommend is you find a few sets of accessories that say something different about you, maybe one set is red and shows your outgoing side, while the black set shows your traditional classic side. Accessories are a great way to continue to keep that tuxedo current without spending a lot of money.

I know what you’re thinking; isn’t it much cheaper to rent? That isn’t necessarily the case. If a guy is wearing a tuxedo 2 or 3 times in the course of a few years often it works out more cost effective to buy. And if we look at the entire budget of the wedding, even if the groom buys his tuxedo often times it is hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars less than the brides dress alone.

This small piece of information should allow you to feel comfortable buying your first tuxedo, although we are sure you still have questions, a reputable formalwear specialist can answer those questions.

A tuxedo just isn’t me…

Although as an industry we are seeing most grooms opting to wear a tuxedo there are some that are looking for something more casual. This is the perfect opportunity to wear a suit. Perhaps you don’t get dressed up much or that you might just want a new suit. Most formalwear specialists will have a suit to rent however; most men that are looking for a suit for their wedding are looking for something to purchase. 

Although some men may want something a little bit more fashionable for their wedding we generally discourage that. Do you remember looking at wedding pictures from past generations? Ruffled shirts and baby blue were just a couple of pictures that came to mind, you do not want your wedding pictures to stem those same thoughts in your children one day.