“Should I wear a tuxedo or a suit for my wedding? I seriously don’t even know the difference.”
I’m glad you asked. The primary physical difference between a tuxedo and a suit is the presence of satin. Typically tuxedos have satin facing on the lapels, buttons, pocket trim, and a satin side stripe down the leg of the trousers. Suits don’t incorporate any satin and usually have either plastic buttons or buttons faced with the same fabric as the coat (aka self buttons.)
As for the accessories, tuxedos are traditionally worn with bow ties and a vest or cummerbund, while suits are traditionally worn with a long tie, alone or with a matching vest. That’s not to say that you can’t wear a bow tie with a suit or a long tie with a tuxedo. You can. It’s just that the other way around is more common and traditional. Of course there are exceptions to every rule.
Now, regarding whether you should wear a suit or a tuxedo for your wedding, that has less to do with the physical differences and more to do with the different messages that a tuxedo and a suit send. Here’s our thoughts:
This day belongs to you and your wife-to-be and the two of you can dress for it however you want. But the truth is, you can wear a nice suit to a wedding and feel very dapper and dressed up, but so can everyone else in attendance. Besides, you can wear that same suit to work and feel very well put together any other day of the year. For your wedding, you’ll want to wear something that sets yourself and this day apart from the rest. That’s where a tuxedo comes in.
The point of dressing up for your wedding isn’t simply to look your best. That’s a big part of it, but it’s also to commemorate your marriage in an ensemble that’s designed for that very purpose. Your wedding day is a special day and it deserves a special dress code.
A suit says that you’re a very well put together, competent, dashing, and productive member of society. That’s why they’re great for the work place and less formal social functions. But a tuxedo says more than that. A tuxedo says “I have come to share this moment with you. I would look out of place anywhere but here. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Not to mention that, when done correctly, you’ll never look better than you do in a well made, nicely fit tuxedo.
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If you’re interested, check out some great examples of Wedding Tuxedos at https://adongsilk.com/custom-suit/
