men’s attire
want,” says Mel Grodsky, the owner of Tuxedos to Geaux. “For example, we’re selling all shades of gray suits to wedding parties rather than tuxedos with tails.” Men seem to be more relaxed these days, and the wedding party often resembles that. Not all weddings are held in a church with a following reception; now we’re seeing weddings take place in courtyards, backyards, plantation homes and even music venues. Because there is a lack of formality, brides and grooms feel the need to mirror the overall vibe of their big day. A suit allows for the wedding party to remain classic and well-dressed, but without the conventionality of a traditional tuxedo.
Pick What Suits Him When it comes to the groom and his men, it’s ok to sway from the traditional tuxedo. By Kate Grace Bauer
It’s true that weddings are generally all about the bride, but there is now an upward swing in groom involvement, with style choices being made by both the bride and groom. Grooms are redefining classic wedding attire and incorporating modernity without losing an ounce of style. 76 | New Orleans Bride Winter-Spring 2014
Breaking From Tradition With the influx of inspiration websites and blogs, such as Pinterest, 100 Layer Cake, and Snippet and Ink, the traditional idea of the wedding party has changed. “In the old days, the groom’s party wore all black, but now we’re finding mixtures in what grooms
Choosing What To Wear When it comes to picking out what the groom is going to wear, he has the option to wear a slightly different colored suit, but it should still remain in the same vein as the groomsmen. A nice touch is that the groom wears a different-colored tie, perhaps white to match his bride, and a classic, beautiful white boutonniere. Originally there were “rules” when it came to day versus night weddings. Men would wear black tuxedos and perhaps even tails to evening weddings. Now, wedding parties are making up their own rules. “Brides and grooms come in and pick out suits based on the colors of the bridesmaids in order to match the wedding party,” says Susan Berniol, a bridal consultant from Ladies and Gents Formal Wear. “Men are drawn to wearing tan and light gray anytime of day.” Choosing a color is a fantastic way to get the groom more involved in the entire wedding process. “Often the bride and groom will come in together and make the decision,” says Kevin