| Wedding shopping can be a daunting prospect. | | | | Note: If you are getting married during the peak |
| Choices! Decisions! More decisions! Usually the bride | | | | season keep this in mind: There are more than likely |
| takes on the bulk of the responsibility and thus, the | | | | at least a dozen other bridal parties that have |
| seemingly endless and overwhelming parade of color | | | | ordered that same Calvin Kline two- button wool for |
| swatches, post-it notes, phone calls and Advil. It can | | | | the same weekend. If your whole bridal party |
| be extremely difficult to find answers to all the | | | | consists of average sized guys wearing a 40R coat |
| questions and so I offer my help. I have worked in | | | | you want to make sure that your order is places as |
| the bridal industry for years, primarily with tuxedo | | | | soon as possible. Waiting until the last minute not only |
| formalwear, and I would like to give a step by step | | | | creates problems for the formal wear associate (and |
| of how to go about making a tuxedo rental order a | | | | believe me when I say problems) but is difficult for |
| little simpler. | | | | the groomsmen who may be forced to wear |
| The initial questions before you go shopping for a | | | | whatever size is available or wear a different style. |
| tuxo Discuss what you envision. You might have | | | | Although the establishment will hopefully bend over |
| very different ideas about what the ideal tuxedo will | | | | backwards to help, it's a situation best avoided |
| look like? If you disagree, come to a reasonable | | | | altogether. |
| compromise before you get to the store. Continuing | | | | 4. Check up on the groomsmen over those between |
| the argument in front of the salesperson can be | | | | months but also keep in touch with the formal wear |
| somewhat uncomfortable.o Do you know what color | | | | associate. They have all the information about who |
| the bridesmaid dresses will be? If so bring a color | | | | has come in, who hasn't paid yet and where in the |
| swatch. Just because the dress is labeled as celadon | | | | order process you party is. Be involved or make sure |
| doesn't mean that the celadon vest you're looking at | | | | your groom in involved, but no need to go |
| will match. | | | | overboard....... |
| Note: A color swatch is a lifesaver, bring it with you | | | | 5. Once everything is ordered and confirmed, rest |
| to all your major decision making appointments that | | | | easy until the big day! |
| involve your color scheme. The color might be pretty | | | | 6. Depending of the type of rental shop you |
| close but could look awful in pictures if it's not quite | | | | purchased from, the tuxes will generally be ordered |
| right. As overwhelming as it sounds, all the color | | | | from a larger parent warehouse and shipped to the |
| matching for every part of the wedding should be | | | | shop a couple days before the wedding. Be sure your |
| done simultaneously. The color of the dress might be | | | | groomsmen are aware of the arrival date and know |
| perfect with the flowers but won't match the chair | | | | that they must try them on. There are no |
| covers and none of them will match the vests. The | | | | guarantees that the tux will fit perfectly based solely |
| color selection will vary from item to item and most | | | | on measurements and the tux associate cannot help |
| times will not overlap. Making a final decision only to | | | | them if unaware of the problem. Measurements are |
| have to change it three weeks later because it was | | | | necessary of course but they are just the first step |
| impossible to match with something else is not a | | | | as there are many different styles and cuts (i.e. |
| headache that you should put on yourself. | | | | classic cut, athletic, suit) and all have different |
| The Steps | | | | proportions. The tuxes are typically in the store on |
| 1. Make appointment to come in for a color matching | | | | the Wednesday or Thursday before the event and |
| and style consultation. It's ok if you need some time | | | | should be tried on immediately. If there are issues, |
| to think about it but please-please-please don't make | | | | some can be fixed on the spot while you wait but |
| the consultant write down styles and names if you | | | | some replacements aren't available in house and must |
| are not 100% sure about staying with that rental | | | | be reordered from the warehouse. 24hrs is standard |
| shop. If you still plan on shopping around, be honest, | | | | for most companies but if the issue isn't brought to |
| you might even get an extra discount for incentive | | | | anyone's attention until the day before the wedding |
| to stay. | | | | without time for shipping, there really isn't a whole lot |
| 2. Once you have decided, make sure you have all | | | | that can be done. The tuxedo manager in me wants |
| information ready; what are the names, what their | | | | to remind you that most sales consultants genuinely |
| position will be (i.e.groomsmen,usher, ect) and who will | | | | want to make sure everything goes smoothly and |
| be wearing what. The final decision can be made as | | | | they have already put a lot of time and effort into |
| far in advance as you want but should be at least | | | | your order. Some things are unavoidable and I'm |
| three months before the wedding. | | | | certainly not discounting human error, but if there |
| 3. Assuming that all the groomsmen have already | | | | were a problem verbal abuse would not be the best |
| been asked and agreed to be in the wedding (don't | | | | step towards finding a solution. There is almost |
| laugh, grooms will put off this sort of thing for | | | | always an answer but you must do your part to |
| months if not kept in check) they should start | | | | make sure all members of your party do theirs so |
| coming into the store to get measured. All fittings | | | | the tuxedo professionals can smooth out the |
| should be completed by the date specified by that | | | | transition from try-on to wedding ready. |
| rental facility. Some can be as early as two months | | | | 7. The final step up to you. Have a fantastic wedding |
| prior or as late as two weeks prior to wedding. Keep | | | | day because at the end of it you are still going to be |
| on top of those guys!! Most will likely forget or put it | | | | married and if that level of perfection you were |
| off until the day before the deadline. That deadline is | | | | aiming for wasn't a possibility (it does happen, sorry) |
| there for your protection to ensure that all the styles | | | | take time to remember the things that did go off |
| in the colors you want are available in the sizes of | | | | without a hitch and not the ones that were a little |
| your groomsmen. | | | | less than your expectations. |