Dear Hanna,

The last time my groomsmen and I wore tuxedo's was our high school prom 10 years ago. We are all grown up now and don't want to look like high school kids going to prom. Is there any tips or suggestions you can give me as to what the tuxedo's for my wedding should look like?


Dear Growing up,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. This is your big day too, so you want to look proper. This starts by chosing a tuxedo shop that suits your needs. Some questions to ask are;
- Do they have actual swatches and samples that you can see and feel?
- Do they own their stock or do they special order tuxedos? 
- Do they accept out of town measurements?
- Are they able to make same day alterations if needed? If not, how do they make last minute adjustments?
- Do they have any discounts?

Once you have chosen the shop you would like to use, you are ready to make your selection. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your decisions
- The color of the shirts should always complement the color of your brides gown. For example if your bride is wearing a white gown, the shirts should also be white. 
- As a groom, you want to stand out. You don't want to blend in with your groomsmen. Therefore, you should wear the same color vest and tie as the bride.
-Groomsmen on the other hand, should wear the color that complements the bridesmaids. 
 **A note about pocket squares. If you plan to wear boutonnieres, pocket squares not required. Doing both can make you lapel seem busy. 

Fast forward to the day of pick-up and now is the time to try on your tuxedo. 
-A properly fitted tuxedo coat lies smoothly from shoulder to shoulder. If the shoulder padding extends past his your shoulders the coat is too big. If it creases in the back, it is too small.
-Your coat sleeves should fal 1/2''  below the break of your wrist and your shirt sleeve should extend 1/4-1/2'' beyond the coat sleeve. 
-Make sure your shirt fits properly. Button the top button to make sure you will be comfortable. 
-Your pant leg should break on the top of the shoe and angle slighltly downward in back.
-When buttoning your coat, never button the bottom button as this will constrict mobility when walking and sittiing.

Other then that, just relax, breathe and don't lock your knees!

 Hanna