Do you have a child attending prom this year who needs to rent a suit or tuxedo?
If you are a parent inexperienced in the process of renting a prom tuxedo or suit, we understand how confusing it can be to go through this process. If you’ve been through the process of renting a suit or tuxedo for prom, there are several pieces involved with formal wear choices and it’s always a good idea to review the process to be ready when you walk into the tuxedo store.
When it comes to formal events, a fitted tuxedo truly exudes sophistication and class. However, it’s not just the tuxedo itself that makes the outfit complete; the finishing touches of the accessories can truly bring it all together. From the bow tie to the pocket square, every detail counts when it comes to accessorizing a tuxedo.
Many customers come to Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and ask us whether they should buy or rent a tuxedo. The answer to that question is not always obvious. There are several things you should consider when deciding to buy a tuxedo. In today’s tuxedo blog, we are going to outline the questions you need to ask yourself when deciding whether to buy or rent a tuxedo.
Should I buy or rent?
How many events a year do I need a tuxedo?
The first question you need to answer for yourself is how often do you really need a tuxedo? If you wear a tuxedo once every 5 years, we certainly don’t believe it’s necessary or prudent to invest in a tuxedo purchase. Opinions vary as to how often you wear a tuxedo each year when it would be worth investing in such formal attire. About 10% of our customers purchase a tuxedo if they attend 2 or more formal events a year, but most of our customers feel that they need to attend at least 4 events a year to justify purchasing a tuxedo. Later in this blog, we will cover other reasons for purchasing or in this case, not purchasing a tuxedo that go beyond the number of times you need a tuxedo each year.
Fitting garments to get the right size
Does my weight and sizing fluctuate?
If your weight fluctuates enough throughout the year, or years, we usually do not recommend purchasing a tuxedo. The author of this blog is embarrassed to admit that on his last vacation, he gained 10 pounds and many of his suits no longer fit him! Typically, an increase or decrease in weight of 10 pounds would cause a change in jacket size by a full size. As an example, if you are a size 42R jacket and you lose 10 pounds, you would most likely now be a size 40R. If you lost or gained 5 pounds, that would typically require a change in jacket size by what I would call a half a size. As an example, if you were a size 38R and you gained 5 pounds, you would now be a size 39R.
If your weight does fluctuate, not so dramatically, we often recommend that you have the tuxedo jacket taken in or let out to accommodate your new size. Oftentimes, this is less expensive than buying a new tuxedo jacket or even renting your proper size. A tailor or seamstress will be able to tell you if the garments are able to be altered.
Fortunately, many tuxedo pants are adjustable by 3 inches on each side of the pants with straps and clips to fasten the straps. This convenient feature is very forgiving when you lose or gain weight and we often do not have issues with customers needing new pants if their size changes.
We frequently advise customers that it may be better to rent the tuxedo rather than buy it. You will be surprised how many times we will see the same customer come back in 18 to 24 months after purchasing their tuxedo needing to rent a tux because the one they purchased no longer fits.
The one very beneficial part of renting a tuxedo is that your fit will be perfect for you each time because you will be able to choose any size jacket, pants, shirt, vest and shoes each time you rent.
I Bought a Black Tux, Now I Have to Wear a Navy Tux!
Three years ago, we had a proud father of four daughters tell us how he bought a black tuxedo in anticipation of the eventual marriages of his daughters. He wore his purchased black tuxedo to his first daughter’s wedding and it looked great, as he told us!
A year after his first daughter’s wedding, he was in our store because his second daughter insisted that he wear a navy tuxedo! This rendered his black tuxedo useless for his second daughter’s wedding. Who knows what his third and fourth daughters will want him to wear? Once again, this father’s investment in his expensive black tuxedo purchase is not really panning out. The lesson here is that you may not be able to wear the tuxedo you purchased for every event and renting is sometimes a better and more affordable option.
In general, a black tuxedo is a good choice because it’s a classic, timeless look and is not trendy. However, if the color scheme for your events could potentially change as they did for this father, then it may just be better to rent your tuxedos. This will allow you to rent any color combination that you need or prefer for each different event.
Is the tuxedo color and style I am considering purchasing timeless?
Should you choose to purchase a tuxedo, we highly recommend purchasing a more timeless tuxedo. Black tuxedos are always a good bet or possibly a dark gray tuxedo. The dark gray shades are often so dark that they look black. A navy tuxedo is not a bad choice however keep in mind that navy may not be as popular as it is today.
As we wrote about in one of our blogs, black tie optional affairs do not necessarily require you to wear a black tuxedo. The point is to wear a tuxedo and not a suit. Unless specifically requested in your wedding or formal event invitation, wearing a tuxedo that is not black is acceptable.
What is the price difference to buy or rent?
As with most products, there are many styles, colors and designers when it comes to tuxedos. Prices vary dramatically and oftentimes; the designer and fabric quality often drive the price of a tuxedo rental and purchase. As an example, a Michael Kors tuxedo rental and purchase will cost you much more than a lesser-known brand.
Typically, high-end brands like Michael Kors and Ike Behar will cost about $1,000 for the jacket pants and vest. Then you will need a shirt, tuxedo shoes, long tie or bow tie, pocket square, studs and cufflinks. Lesser-known brands may run you less than half that price however, keep in mind that the quality and fit are not nearly as good as the high-end brands. In addition, the quality of the fabric often does not last as long as the high end brands. As they say, you get what you pay for.
Buy or Rent
When you purchase a tuxedo, you typically need to purchase the jacket, pants, vest, shirt and shoes. You’ll also need to have the pants hemmed to be the proper length and often the jacket sleeves as well. Some customers want additional alterations such as bringing the jacket in at the waist to give it a more fitted look.
Changing Styles
In the past 8 to 10 years, slim and skinny fit have been very popular. I personally prefer a fitted suit or tuxedo and do not like something that looks boxy on anyone. However, based on our meetings with European designers in the last year and a half, relaxed fit is becoming more popular again. We are seeing double-breasted suits and tuxedos coming back.
Double-breasted Navy Tux
As we write this, 2023 and 2024 are predicted to bring back more relaxed fits and looks. Personally, I am still going to wear slim fit tuxedos because I like the look better. However, if things start trending to a more relaxed fit by the majority of people, I would certainly consider a smart looking double-breasted tuxedo.
Quick Q&A of Buy or Rent Tuxedo Decision:
Q: How many times do I need a tuxedo every year? A: If you wear a tux less than two times every year, we suggest renting. If you wear a tuxedo 2 – 4+ times a year, buying is probably a good idea.
Q: Does my size and weight change often? A: If your sizing and weight changes frequently, then we suggest renting. If your sizing does not fluctuate dramatically, then you can still buy a tuxedo and have it altered when/if there is a size change.
Q:Is there a risk that designs I am considering will go out of style? A: If you are thinking of a trendy color for a tuxedo purchase, it’s probably better to rent. If you want a black tuxedo for use many times over, then it’s a safer bet to buy.
We hope this helped you with the decision to buy or rent your suit or tuxedo. Chat with us if you want to talk through in more detail!
Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo is pleased to offer these 7 simple ways to improve your tuxedo or suit rental or purchase experience!
What follows is a summary of what our bridal and tuxedo store is experiencing with weddings this year, and a few procedures you can follow to help grooms and groomsmen look their best for your wedding.
2022 Weddings Are on the Rise
According to The Wedding Report, the United States will see 25% more weddings this year. That’s more weddings we’ve seen since 1984! This is certainly going to affect your wedding vendors and how they serve you.
We are experiencing a noticeable increase in the number of weddings this year, much more than the predicted 25% increase. Whether it’s increased demand from delays from COVID or just overall demand from demographics, we are certainly seeing many more brides, bridesmaids, grooms and groomsmen coming through our store.
You want your wedding party to look their best. So do we! Those wedding photos will last forever and we want to help you manage this process to capture those moments that will be seen for years to come. While there is a lot more involved with renting a tuxedo or suit than the items that follow, these are the 7 simple ways to improve your rental experience:
Start Shopping Early
Given the higher demand for tuxedo and suit rentals and purchases, we suggest that you start shopping for your mens’ attire six months before your wedding. There are a lot of choices out there and it may take you some time to decide on how you want to dress your groom, groomsmen and fathers. As an example, we have over 70 different styles of suits and tuxedos for rent and about 35 available for purchase. In addition, there are many different styles and colors of vests, long ties, bow ties and pocket squares.
Sorting all of this out with the proper professional advice is not that complex, however, we advise starting the process early so that you can make your choices with the time you need to decide.
In addition, the sooner you choose your attire and place those orders, the less likely you will find yourself unable to acquire the choices you made. Remember, there are 25% more weddings in the United States this year and that is translating into more pressure on inventories of certain tuxedo and suit shops who are not prepared for the extra volume.
2021 proved to be a challenging year as well because of all of the weddings postponed in 2020 from COVID and the already planned weddings for 2021. We remember having a bride and groom come to us who said their original tuxedo supplier could not accommodate all of their requests: all of the tuxedos were not available because the company was out of the styles and they could only provide half of the vests requested! Fortunately, we were able to provide them all of their tuxedos for their wedding day without a problem, however this may be a recurring issue in 2022 due to the increase in the number of weddings so starting your shopping and ordering of tuxedo and suit rentals early, could alleviate this problem.
Our fitting clothes ensure a perfect fit
Have Your Guys Get Measured in a Timely Fashion
Getting your guys to get measured for their tuxedo or suit in a timely manner is one of the biggest challenges. At Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, we suggest having everyone measured and initial payments made at least 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. This will make sure the inventory can be reserved for you and your wedding party and we have enough time to start working on the orders.
Do we really need 3 – 4 weeks? No we do not. We can prepare a tuxedo or suit rental in less time, but this will ensure there is adequate time for any changes in sizes or choices and will reduce the probability of inventory not being available.
We understand everyone is busy, but this is an important day for your wedding and we try to explain that to the groomsmen. Our procedures provide for us to call or text the guys to remind them to come in and get measured. If they are out-of-town guests where we’ve arranged for them to get measured out-of-state, it is equally important for them to submit their measurements to us on our online portal in a timely manner.
* This is where the bride and groom can help: we call and text groomsmen many times to remind them to get measured. Sometimes, they are not very responsive to our communications. When that is the case, we will reach out to the bride and groom to nudge the guys to come and get measured. Oftentimes, the bride and groom will send out a group text message and euphemistically state: ‘any of you who haven’t been to Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo to get measured for your tuxedo, need to do so ASAP!’. Of course even those who have been measured are included in the text message so not to shame the ones who have not completed this task!
Our suggestion to you is to follow up with the guys via text message and ask them if they’ve been able to order their tuxedo. We find that they tend to be more responsive to the bride and groom.
Getting measured only takes about 10 minutes.
Make Your Tuxedo Payment on Time
Paying for your rental may sound like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many times we have to make multiple requests to groomsmen to either make their initial payment or pay for the entire rental if we are shipping it to them.
We have had to explain more than once that amazon.com will not process your order without payment… and neither can we. If you are picking up in our store, we require an initial payment at measuring and the balance of the rental fee can be paid on pick up. If we are shipping you the tuxedo, we do require full payment before the rental ships out.
Check with your tuxedo and suit retailer as to what their payment requirements are. Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo tries to make the payment process very simple. We accept all credit cards, offer ApplePay and GooglePay and even can send electronic invoices by text message or email. Not making a payment for your suit or tuxedo rental halts the processing of the order.
Respond to the Tuxedo Shops Questions
Groomsmen ready to go!
At Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, we do a lot of quality control with our tuxedo and suit rental orders.
There are a lot of moving parts to renting a suit or tuxedo. There is the actual tuxedo style, color and designer, the type of shirt, color of vest, bow tie or long tie choices, cufflink and stud choices, shoe choice, and of course pocket square choice. Add on top of that, measurements and sizing for most of the items just mentioned. We review files every week for accuracy and completeness.
This year, we anticipate renting about 7,000 tuxedos and suits! That’s a lot of quality control and a lot of telephone calls and text messages to our customers. Our suggestion, no matter where you are renting or purchasing your suit or tuxedo, is to return the call or text message of the retailer in a timely manner so that you can answer their questions. This expedites the ordering of your attire and ensures everything is accurate. Given that we see 7,000 measurements a year, we often can spot inconsistencies and fix them with a quick phone call.
We make communicating with us really easy, including the ability to text our store’s telephone number.
A wedding party trying on their tuxes!
5.Pick Up and Try on Your Tuxedo
It’s always a good idea to ask your retailer about when the suit or tuxedo rental will be available for pick up. Every store has a different policy. Our policy is, in general, that the rental will be ready for pick up 4 to 10 days before your event. The good news is we do not charge extra by allowing you to pick up the tuxedo a week before the wedding. This allows you to try it on and make sure everything fits properly. We call every single renter to let him know his rental is ready for pick up. If you do not have voicemail, we are actually able to text you from our store’s telephone number.
Our suggestion is to pick up the suit or tuxedo rental as soon as you are notified or as soon as you can. You want to allow adequate time to make changes if necessary. As an example, we had a groomsman who was measured in March. When he came to pick up his tuxedo in August, he had lost 15 pounds because he is a landscaper, worked outside and lost weight due to the extreme heat. This was not a problem, because he came to pick up his tuxedo a week before the wedding. The next day, we had the correct size for him.
On another note, if you lost or gained weight, it’s a good idea to return to the store to get re-measured. Every tuxedo store has different procedures, but we put everyone in a pair of pants, a jacket, shirt, vest and shoes. The fitting items that you try on with us are true to size and are quite accurate, unless, of course, you lose 15 pounds!
If you were measured out-of-state and are having your tuxedo or suit rental shipped to you, we highly recommend trying it on immediately. Remember you were not measured by us and where you went to get measured may not have the same tried and true measuring procedures that we have. Inform your tuxedo retailer immediately if something does not fit properly. With adequate notification, you should be able to have that situation remedied quickly. The bride and groom will appreciate you for this!
6. Sizing and Tightness
We often hear from groomsmen that their suit or tuxedo ‘feels a little tight’. This doesn’t happen often but when it does, our experience is that many guys are not used to wearing suits or tuxedos. Let’s face it, most workplaces allow casual attire or people work from home. If a suit or tuxedo is perfectly comfortable (read: feels like you are wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants), then we can guarantee it looks terrible!
Some guys put their arms out in front of them and say, “It’s so tight!” or “Look how short the arms are!” Are you going to walk around like a zombie at the wedding? No, because that is not a normal stance. When your arms are straight down at your side it should look and feel fitted.
A suit or tuxedo should be relatively fitted and look almost like it was made for you. It should not be baggy. If you are not used to wearing formal attire, after wearing it for 10-15 minutes, you will get used to the tighter feel. It is best to try your tuxedo on in the retailer’s location. This way a professional, who is used to seeing thousands of people in tuxedos, can help you determine if the fit is correct. If you had your tuxedo shipped to you, we’ve even done FaceTime or video calls with guys so we could see what it looks like on them! This helps us determine if anything needs to be changed.
So the bottom line is if you are not used to wearing formal attire, then that slight tight feeling from the tuxedo or suit may still be the proper size for you. A formal wear professional will help you determine that and even allow you to try on the next size up to see how it looks and feels.
7. Return On Time!
This is a big one that can cause real problems. Because there is a strain on inventory, suit and tuxedo retailers are depending on returns to be prompt. If you do not return your tuxedo there of course or late fees associated, but you are also causing problems for someone else. Yours could be delayed because someone else didn’t return on time. Please return your tuxedo as per the terms of your retailer. You can read more about the importance of prompt returns here!
We Hope This Helps
Although not all wedding parties are experiencing all of these issues, we are finding that these are the 7 simple ways to improve the tuxedo and suit rental or purchase process! Simply being aware of these potential issues will help streamline dressing your wedding party.
Every year, Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo adds new styles of tuxedos and suits for rent and purchase. We meet many brides and grooms one-on-one throughout the year and discuss their tuxedo and suit preferences and learn a lot. Our conversations help us develop what new styles to offer our customers. Those styles include completely new tuxedos, suits, bow ties, long ties, pocket squares, shirts and shoes.
This year we added 10 new styles, one new pair of brown shoes and countless long ties, bow ties and pocket squares. These are truly must see tuxedos, suits, and jackets!
We just finished up what were the top 5 tuxedo and suit rentals for 2021. Now we are excited to introduce our 10 new must see tuxedos and suits we’ve added to our inventory for rent and purchase.
Denim Blue Tuxedo by Allure Men
Green Velvet Tuxedo Jacket by Allure Men
Brown Suit by Ike Behar
Heather Gray Suit by Ike Behar
Black Double-Breasted Tuxedo Jacket by Ike Behar
Navy Double-Breasted Tuxedo Jacket by Ike Behar
Black Peak Lapel Tuxedo Jacket by Ike Behar
Tan Suit by Ike Behar
Seaglass (green) Tuxedo by Allure Men
Steel Gray Suit by Ike Behar
1) Denim Blue Tuxedoby Allure Men
Denim Blue Tuxedo
Despite the name, this tuxedo is not made of denim! It is actually a true tuxedo made of an ultra luxurious wool blend with a denim color. The fabric will assure comfort for all day wearing. The jacket has a notch lapel, a stitched border where you would otherwise see satin, however there is no satin on this jacket.
The matching trim fit pants and vest, create a different yet handsome blue addition to our many blue suits and tuxedos available for rent and purchase. Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo offers this tuxedo for rent and purchase, providing your wedding party the flexibility of owning or renting this beautiful tuxedo. This has become one of our staff favorites from the moment they saw it and is one of our definite must see tuxedos.
2) Green Velvet Tuxedo Jacketby Allure Men
Velvet Green Tuxedo Jacket
As with our other Allure Men velvet tuxedo jackets that we offer, this fabric is truly luxurious. The green color is best described as emerald and the shawl lapel jacket and fabric are soft as can be. This is a wonderful formal jacket to wear for a winter, late fall or holiday event. We think it looks great with our slim fit black tuxedo pants.
Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo offers this tuxedo jacket as a purchase only.
3) Brown Suitby Ike Behar
Brown Suit
Our customers and staff really love Ike Behar suits and tuxedos. Why? Because his designs are so precise that no matter what your body shape, this designer’s suits and tuxedos always seem to fit like a custom suit. Don’t ask us how he does it?!
This ultra-luxurious textured brown wool blend is something that needs to be seen in person. When we first saw photographs of the suit, we didn’t think it was anything special. About a month ago, we received our first shipments of the suit from Ike Behar and we were immediately in love! The photos just don’t do the fine fabric and detailed texture justice. The suit is a two-button notch lapel and has matching trim fit pants and vest. We offer this wonderful suit for rent and purchase.
4)Heather Gray Suit by Ike Behar
Heather Gray Suit with Scoop Vest
Last year we added a light gray Ike Behar suit to our collection. This year, we added a few more gray suits from Ike and this one is slightly darker than our light gray Ike Behar suit but slightly lighter than our new steel gray suit from Ike.
The trim fit one button jacket has a classy peak lapel. The matching trim fit pants can be paired with a matching scoop vest or a V-shape vest. We believe this will be popular with those in search of a darker gray suit that does not look black. We are proud to offer this fine suit for rent and purchase.
5) Black Double-Breasted Tuxedo Jacketby Ike Behar
Double Breasted Black Jacket
After a trip to Europe to meet some fashion designers in September 2021, we had the good fortune of getting an inside look of some trends that may be coming out of Europe in the next two to three years. One designer showed us some design plans of suits and tuxedos that were more relaxed fit and not as form-fitting.
We believe the new double-breasted suits and tuxedos added this year may be part of what is more to come from Europe. The double-breasted look is more forgiving around the midsection and torso and is capable of hiding a few extra pounds! This is a peak lapel with very fine fabric and can be worn with slim fit tuxedo pants or our new Ike Behar black skinny-fit tuxedo pants. Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo offers this tuxedo for rent or purchase.
6) Double-Breasted Navy Tuxedo Jacketby Ike Behar
Double Breasted Navy Jacket
Ike Behar has designed a double-breasted navy tuxedo jacket that is pretty much the same tuxedo as his black double-breasted tuxedo just made with his signature navy fabric. We already offer two tuxedos by Ike Behar that are navy. We are excited to offer this third option from Ike Behar.
Ike has created a complete look by offering a matching satin navy bow tie or long tie, a matching navy V-shape vest and either navy slim fit or navy skinny fit pants. Again, this handsome tuxedo is offered for rent or sale.
7) Peak Lapel Black Tuxedo Jacket by Ike Behar
Black Peak Lapel Tuxedo Jacket
Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has always offered Ike Behar black tuxedos with notch and shawl lapels. This year, we are proud to add this smart looking tuxedo jacket in a full peak lapel. This is truly a slimming jacket with full satin on the lapel. We think the jacket will pair perfectly with either the new Ike Behar skinny fit tuxedo pants or the more traditional slim fit pants.
Last year, most grooms chose the more modern V-shape matching black vest. However, we are seeing more and more customers choosing the more traditional scoop vest for our black tuxedos. This tuxedo is available for rent or purchase.
8) Tan Suit by Ike Behar
Tan Suit by Ike Behar
When we saw that Ike Behar was now offering a tan suit, we knew we had to add it to our collection! We already have a tan suit from Michael Kors and a tan tuxedo from Allure Men, but we think this tan suit will be popular for destination and summer weddings. The suit is already a favorite of our tuxedo manager Joe!
The super light 100’s wool and luxurious fabric will ensure you are comfortable all day for your warm weather event. This is a notch lapel trim fit jacket with matching vest and trim fit pants. This suit is available for rent or purchase.
9) Seaglass Green Tuxedo by Allure Men
Seaglass Tuxedo
Another of our definite must see tuxedos! Our bridal consultant, Shannon, asks us every week when this tuxedo is coming in from the designer! She is in love with this tuxedo and wants to buy this for her husband Jack. This is a very unusual, yet beautiful light green fabric.
The tuxedo is made with an elegant super 130’s fabric and has a notch lapel. The border stitching on the lapel emulates satin piping without having any satin! The fabric buttons on a few of our Allure tuxedos are always a nice touch. This tuxedo is available for purchase only.
10) Steel Gray Suitby Ike Behar
Steel Gray Suit
This is yet another gray suit added to our collection from Ike Behar. This is the darkest of the Ike suits available and has a peak lapel. The suit is available with matching slim fit pants or wear it with black skinny fit pants.
As with many Ike Behar suits and tuxedos, we do offer a matching scoop vest or V-shape vest with this steel gray suit. We believe this suit will be popular all year round. The suit is available for rent or purchase.
A Word About Double-Breasted Tuxedo Come-Back
The owners of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo like to keep up on coming trends in wedding and formal wear fashion. That’s why we like to personally visit designers in the United States and Europe and see what they are creating. We actually see their design studios and look at the drafts of their drawings to see what may be coming.
In all honesty, when we were told by a few designers in Europe that they were working on more relaxed fit suits and tuxedos, we were a bit surprised. We remember the boxy look of some suits and tuxedos about 8 or 9 years ago which obviously since have gone by the wayside. Now that some of these designers have released a few double-breasted suits and tuxedos, we see that we may be seeing more relaxed fit items in the next couple of years.
Our opinion is that this may not be very popular in the Philadelphia region. Why? Because we meet brides and grooms every day for tuxedo and suit appointments and after approximately 575 appointments in the first 6 weeks of 2022, not many have indicated their desire to rent or purchase double-breasted suits or tuxedos. The exception has been larger grooms and groomsmen who find the jackets more streamlined for their body types.
After adding another 10 different suits and tuxedos for sale and rent, we have close to 70 different styles available to you. Most of what we offer is slim fit and skinny fit. However, we do have several relaxed fit items as well. We want to make sure we are accommodating everyone’s formal wear needs and will always invest in a mix of different styles and fits for you.
As always, only time will tell as to what will be the most popular tuxedos and suits. As we did at the end of 2021, we will certainly write about the most popular tuxedo and suit rentals and purchases for 2022. We hope you are as excited as we are about our new must see tuxedos, suits, and jackets!
Our family business is proud to serve you and enjoy the time we spend with you one-on-one to help you put together your perfect wedding, prom and gala look!
Every year, we like to see what were the most popular tuxedo and suit rentals for the entire year. Last year, we saw an abundance of formal event activity: proms came back, although not fully, galas started to creep back and of course weddings were incredibly popular.
We generally can see what is trending in the men’s fashion area because we rent so many tuxedos and suits. However, when we run reports from our rental system, we are sometimes surprised what makes it into the top 5 category!
With many 2020 weddings postponed due to COVID-19 and even some 2021 weddings delayed, we saw an immense number of weddings in 2021. So what were our top 5 tuxedo and suit rentals during 2021? Let’s not waste any more time and get to our list!
TUXEDOS
Ike Behar classic black tuxedo with notch lapel
Ike Behar full navy tuxedo with notch lapel
Michael Kors light gray tuxedo with notch lapel
Ike Behar navy tuxedo with black peak lapel
Allure Men cobalt blue tuxedo with notch lapel
# 5 Allure Men Cobalt Blue Tuxedo
At the beginning of the year, we did not expect this tuxedo to be so popular. However when you look at the vibrant and beautiful blue fabric of this tuxedo, we should have known better! The tuxedo has no satin on it, rather a border stitching on the notch lapel to emulate a satin border and fabric buttons. This was the perfect tuxedo for grooms who wanted a modern and striking blue color that went well with our brown shoes.
Allure Men Cobalt Blue Tuxedo
# 4 Ike Behar Navy Tuxedo With Black Peak Lapel
This tuxedo is the same exact fabric and style of our full navy Ike Behar tuxedo with notch lapel. The only difference is a black peak lapel and black buttons to match that lapel. Often, brides and grooms want to help distinguish the groom from the bridal party and fathers. One of the most common things we saw during 2021 was the groom wearing this tuxedo and the groomsmen wore the full navy tuxedo. This was a great choice to help dress the groom a little differently and help distinguish him further from the groomsmen.
Ike Behar Navy Tuxedo “Blake” With Black Peak Lapel
# 3 Michael Kors Light Gray Tuxedo with Notch Lapel
Even we were surprised by this ranking! This light gray tuxedo with the thinnest of satin running down the notch lapel was popular with our spring and summer weddings. Although when we set out to rank our most popular wedding tuxedo rentals, we had no idea this one was number three, or even made the top 5 list! Part of its popularity, we think, is because of the Michael Kors name, the light gray color goes very well with warmer weather weddings and events, and it goes beautifully with most every bridesmaid color! We can say though, that the fabric is quite comfortable and luxurious and that could have swayed our brides and grooms. Nonetheless, a great tuxedo choice for a wedding.
Michael Kors Light Gray Tuxedo
# 2 Ike Behar Full Navy Tuxedo with Notch Lapel
Before we ran the numbers in our tuxedo and suit rental ordering system, the staff at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo was trying to guess the most popular tuxedos rented by our wedding parties. We all guessed this tuxedo to be the most popular one. We were close but this tuxedo came in second. We can say, though, that it’s by far our most pinned tuxedo on our Pinterest page. This is a very handsome navy color with very luxurious fabric that provides all day comfort for grooms, groomsmen and fathers.
Ike Behar “Sebastian” Full Navy Tuxedo with Notch Lapel
# 1 Ike Behar Classic Black Tuxedo With Notch Lapel
There is no surprise at the popularity of this fine tuxedo. However, when we were trying to guess the top tuxedo rentals, we had no idea that it was our most popular wedding rental in 2021. We knew it would make the top 5 list but had no idea it would be number 1! The classic, timeless look, luxurious fabric and perfect fit have always made this a favorite for just about anyone for any occasion. We found that brides and grooms who were interested in creating a timeless look tend to choose this tuxedo. We always advise that it’s a good idea to keep your wedding photos timeless so in 25 years you don’t question what you wore for your wedding! This tuxedo would certainly help you with that goal.
Ike Behar Classic Black Tuxedo with Black Bow Tie
TOP 5 WEDDING SUIT RENTALS
In some instances, brides and grooms prefer to dress the groom and groomsmen in suits rather than tuxedos. That approach is evident in the number of suits we rent every year for weddings.
Erik Lawrence steel gray suit
Ike Behar navy suit
Erik Lawrence black suit
Erik Lawrence french blue suit
Ike Behar light gray suit with peak lapel
Okay, first things first: we were REALLY surprised that the Ike Behar Yale blue suit did not make it into the top 5! It was number 6. It seemed that so many wedding parties wore this suit in 2021 but I guess when you are doing thousands of tuxedo and suit rentals, it can be challenging to keep track of which is precisely more popular. In addition, we all thought that the Ike Behar navy suit would have come out on top. In fact, it came in as the number 2 most popular suit rental for weddings.
# 5 Ike Behar Light Gray Suit
Brides and grooms who wanted a gray suit for a warmer weather wedding, tended to choose this suit. The fabric was soft, light and comfortable. And of course, as with all Ike Behar suits and tuxedos, it fits perfectly every time. The peak lapel on this suit adds a bit of style and flair to the look. Some wore it with the scoop vest, others did without the vest and may have added suspenders. We saw most rentals for this suit for Spring and Summer weddings.
Ike Behar Light Gray Suit With Peak Lapel
# 4 Eric Lawrence French Blue Suit
Coming in at number 4 is our French blue suit. Again, before compiling our totals, we thought this one would have been in the top 3. We were close! The striking bright yet dark blue color of this suit is what attracts most of our brides and grooms to it. Wedding photos come out vibrant and defined when the wedding party is dressed in this suit. We predict this will be a popular suit for many years to come.
French blue suit with notch lapel, matching French blue vest and pants, lavender floral long tie and matching pocket square and white shirt.
# 3 Ike Erik Lawrence Black Suit
Okay, this is somewhat of a surprise to us! Why? We didn’t think a black suit would have made it into the top 5 suits rented for weddings. Given the extreme popularity of the various shades of blues and grays that we rent and sell, we thought that those colors would have outpaced the black suit rentals. However, that’s why we run reports that summarize the thousands of rentals we do every year to see who are the clear winners! This is a very handsome, timeless suit. The trim fit jacket, slim fit pants and matching vest all create a very professional and modern look. In addition, the pants are both adjustable and have belt loops for grooms and groomsmen who like to wear a belt.
Erick Lawrence Black Suit
#2 Ike Behar Navy Blue Suit
Again, no surprise here, even though we thought this would have been the number 1 most rented suit in 2021. Instead, it came in at number 2. Many of our brides and grooms love our Ike Behar full navy tuxedo but do not want any satin. This suit solves the problem by replicating the navy tuxedo without satin. The slim fit and classic dark blue color make this a favorite for our wedding parties. I personally love this suit and have ordered one for myself. Many of our grooms purchased this suit while the remaining groomsmen rented it. The sheer number of groom purchases of this suit alone is a testimonial of how great it is!
This was definitely the suit for a bride and groom who wanted a different kind of blue. This blue shade is very pleasing and that’s before we get to the fact that it’s an Ike Behar. The fabric is super luxurious, very comfortable and fits like a custom suit.
Ike Behar Navy Suit
# 1 Erik Lawrence Steel Gray Suit
This darker gray suit was very popular with many of our wedding parties. We found that brides and grooms were choosing this suit no matter what season it was. This is a very professional looking suit that has both style and comfort. The gray color is a true dark gray and is not mistaken for black. The matching trim fit jacket, slim fit pants and vest make great attire for your wedding party. We also found that many grooms purchased this suit rather than rented it. Grooms have told us that they like the suit so much that they would rather be able to keep this suit for future use. More frequently, the groomsmen rented the suit rather than purchased it.
Erick Lawrence Steel Gray Suit
So what was more popular for weddings, tuxedos or suits? We can say that last year, more tuxedos were rented than suits. 70% of our rentals were tuxedos and 30% were suits. It seemed that brides and grooms were going for a more formal look, thus choosing tuxedos more frequently for their wedding. That’s not to say that suits do not look formal. In fact, some of our suit rentals look more formal than certain tuxedos. However, our best advice to you is choose a style that you like and are comfortable with, regardless of whether it’s a suit or tuxedo.
Another thing to consider is to try to match the feel and look of the bridal gown. If the wedding dress is very formal, you may want to choose tuxedos for the wedding party. If the bridal gown is less formal, perhaps a suit is more appropriate.
So there you have it! Our Top 5 wedding tuxedo and suit rentals for 2021. With 9 new tuxedo and suit styles being added to our 60 or so already on offer, we are curious what will make the top 5 list for 2022. I guess we will have to wait and see!
Are you curious what father’s should wear to the wedding. Read our blog with advice on dressing father for your wedding.
About the author: Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in their ninth year in business. In that time, he built the tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear. Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia with extensive international business experience, he currently resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.
Thinking about renting a suit or a tuxedo for your wedding? If you have questions, there is a good chance this blog will answer it!
What if my groomsmen and wedding guests live all over the country or don’t live in the area?
We at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo have a very easy fix for your out-of-town wedding guests who need a tuxedo or suit. All you have to do is provide us their zip codes and we arrange to get them measured near their home or work or free.
They can submit their measurements on our website here and even make their payments online on the same page! It’s as easy as that! We can even arrange to ship them their tuxedos or suits if they are not going to be in town at least 48 business hours before the wedding. This way, they can try on the tuxedo or suit in advance and call or text us (yes, you can actually text our store telephone number!) if they need any changes.
Read our blog here on dressing out-of-town groomsmen. You’ll be happy you did.
A groom and his men in the Sebastian navy tuxedo
How far in advance should I start looking for my wedding tuxedo or suit?
Another one of our frequently asked tuxedo questions! Being a bridal and tuxedo store, we know that the bride comes first. Once the bride says yes to her wedding dress, you are good to start looking at tuxedos and suits. Some of our brides like to make sure the bridesmaids have chosen and ordered their dresses before the guys start looking, but that is entirely up to you.
We generally give a range of looking at tuxedos and suits from 3 to 9 months before your wedding. Six months before the wedding is usually a very good starting place. We can work with you even the week of the wedding, however, the 3 to 9 month range helps the bride and groom make decisions and give the groomsmen enough time to get measured.
What is the difference between a tuxedo and suit?
This is a great question and we get it all of the time! In general, a tuxedo has satin on the lapel, has satin buttons, satin embellishments and sometimes finer stitching. Essentially, it’s a more formal look. Suits do not have any satin on them and typically have plastic buttons.
A classic black tuxedo with satin on the lapel and pockets
An example of a tuxedo with no satin, instead there is stitching on the lapel
Three-piece suit in hunter green
While many of our suits have beautiful and high end stitching and fabric, none has any satin on them. We do have a few tuxedos, however, that have no satin on them as well. The designers have created them with a self edging stitch along the lapel to emulate where the satin would have gone. This gives the tuxedo a more formal look without the sheen. In addition the buttons on these tuxedos are covered in the fine fabric of the tuxedo rather than satin.
Read our blog here on whether you should wear a tuxedo or suit for your wedding.
How do I know what the tuxedo/suit that I chose will look like on me?
When the groom rents a tuxedo or suit from Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, he is in for many pleasant surprises! One of those surprises is a free groom try on.
We know we may even have too much choice when it comes to suits and tuxedos, if that’s even possible! We have over 70 different styles of tuxedos and suits for rent and over 35 available for purchase. We also have about 1,000 different vest, bow tie, long tie and pocket square styles and colors to choose from. Honestly, if we can’t satisfy your color and style needs, no one can!
When you and your wedding party rents or purchases their tuxedos or suits with us, the groom is treated to a free groom try on. He and the bride are able to choose up to two full tuxedos or suits (jacket, pants and vest), 2 different shirts, 2 pairs of shoes, 4 vests and 4 different long and or bow ties. We prepare and alter the suits or tuxedos to the groom’s size and he gets to play dress-up in his exact size as if it were his wedding day. He can do his groom try-on up to a year before his wedding at no charge at all.
Our brides and grooms love this service because they then get to see what the groom will look like in his exact size well before the wedding. We even interchange all of the accessories that you choose so that you can see which long tie, bow tie and vest you like best.
What should the father of the groom and father of the bride wear to the weddings?
Our experience has been that 80% to 90% of fathers choose a tuxedo or suit different from the wedding party to help them stand out, while 10% to 20% of the fathers wear the same exact suit or tuxedo and just change the long tie or bow tie and pocket square. Often, the fathers wear a long tie or bow tie and pocket square that match the color of the dress of the person who is accompanying them to the wedding.
Our suggestion is choose which suit or tuxedo they will be wearing and they will be relieved of not having the pressure of choosing for themselves! Read our full blog here on ideas and trends on what the fathers of the grooms and brides wear to the wedding.
I gained/lost weight between the time I was measured for my tuxedo or suit rental and the date of the wedding; what do I do?
Not to worry about any changes in size! Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has you covered. Our tuxedos are typically ready for pickup 4 to 12 days before the event. With 48 business hours noticed, we can adjust or fix any changes that may have occurred over the months and ensure the perfect fit, at no charge!
Certain grooms or groomsmen know that they are going to lose weight in anticipation of the wedding. In those cases, we typically request that they return to get re-measured 3 – 4 weeks before the wedding to make sure we have everything ready in the new and correct size.
When should everyone have their measurements and payments in for the rental?
Another great question! We prefer to have everyone’s measurements and initial payments in by 4 weeks before the wedding. We can still accommodate rentals with less notice but this is a very comfortable time frame for the bride and groom to give them the peace of mind that all of the guys are ready for the wedding!
Do I need an appointment to discuss tuxedos and suits for my wedding?
At Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, we provide a very personalized, one-on-one interactive service and recommend that you make an appointment to ensure we have a tuxedo and suit consultant available for you. While we do accept walk-ins, making an appointment will ensure that you have someone available to talk to you at your preferred time and that there is no wait.
You can make an appointment online or even text our store’s phone number. An appointment is not required if you just need to get measured for a wedding party (unless there are more than 3 of you coming at the same time).
How do I get a hold of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo?
By far, the easiest way to get a hold of us is by texting the store’s telephone number: 215-491-8500. We monitor and answer texts everyday whether we are open or not. You can also send us a message through Google, Google Maps, Instagram, and Facebook. Of course, you can always call us as well! You have constant access to the owners at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo.
Some of my groomsmen want to rent their suit or tuxedo and others may want to buy them. What options do we have?
With our Buy or Borrow program, 35 of our 70+ suits or tuxedos are available to purchase or rent. This provides your entire wedding party the flexibility of choosing what is best for them.
Do you have additional suit or tuxedo questions? Text us at 215-491-8500 and we will answer you immediately! We can’t wait to dress you for your wedding or formal event.
About the author:
Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal &
Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the
tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing
expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear.
Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers
with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal
event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently
resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store
co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store
was named, Daria and Deanna.
So raise your hand if you are tired of COVID-19?! So are we! Sadly, all of those weddings, formal galas and annual corporate parties that occur this time of year are pretty much not happening this year because of coronavirus restrictions. While this is very disappointing, I’d still like to talk about what I would have worn had these events occurred. We are certain better times are coming and next year we all hope to be back to a normal festive schedule.
I feel pretty lucky because my wife and I own Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and I have a choice of over 70 suits and tuxedos to wear every year. Add to that over a 1,000 different styles and colors of bow ties, long ties, vests, pocket squares and shoes and you can probably say I have quite a large wardrobe!
Every year, we add several new suits and tuxedos to our already large selection of rental and purchase offerings. This year was no exception and I was personally excited to wear some of our new styles.
While I will not have an opportunity to show off our new suits and tuxedos this year, I would still like to tell you what I would have worn had ‘COVID-19 not interrupted life.
Personally, I am a huge fan of Ike Behar suits and tuxedos. Why? There are two precise reasons: 1) all of this designer’s suits and tuxedos fit like a custom suit; 2) I have yet to find another designer that has more comfortable and luxurious fabric than Ike Behar.
Ike Behar’s burgundy tuxedo
Having said that, I have worn Ike Behar’s navy tuxedo, charcoal gray tuxedo, checkered tuxedo jacket with black pants, burgundy tuxedo jacket with black shawl lapel and black pants and his classic black tuxedo with full satin peak lapel.
This year, there are two new styles I really wanted to try for our formal galas. The first one was quite unusual and I thought it would have been perfect for an October or November event. It is the Allure Men Mulberry tuxedo. The super elegant 130’s wool was one of the most comfortable I’ve felt in a long time and the unusual color was both subtle and handsome.
Allure Men mulberry tuxedo
While this style is considered a tuxedo, there is no satin to be found on it! Allure Men cleverly created a stitched outline on the fabric of the lapel to emulate a satin border on the lapels. It adds formality to the tuxedo without giving it any sheen. In addition, the buttons on the jacket and matching vest are covered in the fabric of the tuxedo. I find this to be a nice touch. I would have worn the jacket, matching vest and slim fit flat front pants with brown shoes, a textured wine colored bow tie and pocket square, white and gold studs and cufflinks and a swiss pleated microfiber shirt.
The next styles I wanted to wear would have been more for a November or December event. I think it would have been more appropriate closer to the holidays. It is Ike Behar’s hunter green suit. We already went over how amazingly well his suits and tuxedo’s fit! The hunter green color is festive yet understated. The trim fit notch lapel suit is made of comfortable 100% worsted wool and has a matching hunter green vest. The hunter green flat front slim fit pants have very fashionable straight leg bottoms which is a common and great design of all Ike Behar pants (no bell bottoms here!). I certainly would have worn brown shoes with this suit and the long tie or bow tie and pocket square would have either matched my wife’s dress, shoes or had a festive theme to it.
Ike Behar’s hunter green suit for holiday galas
Finally, if I needed a classic tuxedo for a formal event, I would have probably gone for the Ike Behar black tuxedo with full satin notch lapel. This tuxedo is striking in its looks but doesn’t make you stand out in an unusual or flashy way.
So there you have it. My two new picks for future galas are Ike Behar’s hunter green suit and the Allure Men Mulberry color tuxedo. And of course, my classic perennial standby black Ike Behar notch lapel tuxedo.
We hope next year brings a lot more cheer and festivities. When 2021 arrives, Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo will be ready to make you look your best. Any questions, text us at 215-491-8500. Browse one of our many suits and tuxedos here.
About the author:
Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal &
Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the
tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing
expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear.
Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers
with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal
event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently
resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store
co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store
was named, Daria and Deanna.
So you just received a black tie optional invitation for a formal event. Maybe it’s your friends New Year’s Eve wedding, maybe you are attending a formal corporate event or a charity event. What does this mean?!
First off, don’t panic. Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo is going to guide you through traditional etiquette for a formal event and even share acceptable trends that we are seeing in the Philadelphia region.
What is a Black Tie Event
A black tie event is considered one of the most formal of events. Traditionally, a black tie event requires you to wear a tuxedo. Usually a dark jacket with satin on the lapel. The jacket does not have to be black. It can be a darker color like navy or dark grey. In summer months, you can also consider an ivory jacket with a back lapel. We often only recommend white jackets during summer months and in tropical regions but trends we have been seeing lately have relaxed the true traditional etiquette of colors. We will dive deeper into different color options and trends that we have been seeing a bit later.
Classic Black Tie look
Do you really have to wear an actual black tie? Not really but we’ll discuss the long tie and bow tie issues in more detail later in our blog.
Does Optional Really Mean Optional?
The invitation says black tie optional, so do I need to wear a tuxedo? Several years ago, we had a customer come into our store with the wedding invitation in hand. The invitation stated “Black Tie Optional”. His humorous comment to us was that “you will be a fool if you show up without a tuxedo on; you’ll be the only one”! While his comment made us chuckle, it is only partially true.
We do believe it’s always better to be smartly dressed. It is not common to stick out at an event in a bad way when you are dressed better than others. So wearing a nice fitted, classic tuxedo never makes you look bad! Some guests choose to forego the tuxedo and just wear one of their suits. Why do they do this? Reasons typically include that they want to save the expense of renting a tuxedo or they are not comfortable wearing something that formal.
Ike Behar Charcoal Peak Lapel Tuxedo
Black Tie Requested
Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has over 70 different styles of tuxedos and suits available for rent. We have full formal attire for you that will not break the bank. If you are a guest of the wedding, you don’t need to go overboard. No need to rent a Michael Kor’s tuxedo. We’ll help you find the correct attire in the budget you need.
If the invitation indicates that it is a black tie event, then etiquette is that you wear a tuxedo. We recommend not straying from that request out of the respect for the individuals making the request and to stick with tradition.
Allure Men Black Velvet
Tuxedo Trends and Traditions
So let’s start with tradition. The most traditional look is a black or dark tuxedo jacket with a black satin bow tie, vest, matching tuxedo pants and patent leather shoes. Another long-time tradition is wearing a velvet tuxedo jacket. Although we don’t see many velvet tuxedo jackets at formal events, it is an option that will allow you to stay with tradition and stand out in a classy way. You do have the option of wearing a cummerbund instead of a vest however, trend-wise, we’ve seen far more vests than cummerbunds. We personally like vests because you can match your tuxedo jacket with the same exact fabric and color with the vest, giving it a clean and cohesive look. As an example, if you wear our Ike Behar Charcoal gray tuxedo, you can wear the matching charcoal gray vest.
Ike Behar Charcoal Gray Notch Lapel
We love tradition, however with so many different color tuxedos available for rent now, we have seen very varied looks and trends. Navy and cobalt blue have been very popular for over five years now. Varying shades of gray have also been very popular for events. We have very light gray tuxedos all the way to gray tuxedos that are so dark that they almost look black.
Ike Behar Navy Tuxedo
Accessories
While you can’t really go wrong with a black satin bow tie, we have a few ideas for you. If you are attending the event with someone, you can certainly wear a bow or long tie that matches the color of her dress. Further, you can accent the color with a pocket square that matches the bow tie color as well. This is a really nice way to tie the couple together and still look formal.
Of course, we prefer bow ties, however, we have seen people wear both bow ties and long ties to black tie events. While long ties are not overly traditional for such events, it has become acceptable to wear them. Some men are just not comfortable in bow ties and prefer long ties. In addition, there is one practical reason we have seen when guys do not want to wear a bow tie. If they have a longer beard, you cannot even see the bow tie because the beard covers it. In this particular case, guys will choose a long tie and pocket square.
Long black tie and a red pocket square look sharp
The Most Formal of Events – White Tie
If you are attending the most formal event, then a black waistcoat (often known as a tailcoat or tails) with a white pique bow tie, vest and shirt are in order. Patent leather shoes are a must for this tuxedo and matching black tuxedo pants. We usually finish off the look with white and gold studs and cufflinks and a white pocket square. If you want to stick to true tradition, white gloves would be appropriate but not necessary.
The most formal – White Tie
So when is it the most formal event? Usually the invitation will say “white tie” event or waistcoat or tailcoat requested. Common events that require this type of attire are debutante balls, very formal weddings or one of the better known events in the Philadelphia region is the annual Concert and Ball at the Academy of Music. Every year many sponsors and attendees of the Academy Ball come to Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo to rent a very formal tuxedo for the event. This is a fine Philadelphia tradition that has been going on for over 163 years and is a benefit to maintain and restore the Academy of Music located at 240 S Broad Street in Philadelphia.
Play It Safe
So if you are lucky enough to be invited to a black tie affair, your best bet is to stick with a black or navy tuxedo with satin black bow tie. However with so many variations available today, stop by Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and we will suggest just the right tuxedo and accessories at the right price. Do you have a question about black tie affairs? Text our store telephone number and we will give you personal advice: 215-491-8500.
About the author:
Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal &
Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the
tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing
expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear.
Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers
with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal
event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently
resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store
co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store
was named, Daria and Deanna.
Do you have out-of-town groomsmen and wedding guests that you need to dress in a tuxedo or suit for your wedding? You are not alone! The good news is that Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has a lot of experience helping you dress your out-of-town guests. In fact, what follows is advice on how to do this and a plan to help it all come together for your wedding.
Guests Located in the United States
Once a bride and groom have chosen the tuxedo or suit that they would like the wedding party to wear, this is the time when we start working on the groomsmen and out-of-town guests.
For those groomsmen who live in the Philadelphia region, we tell the couple to send the guys in for us to measure them. No appointment is necessary and they will be in and out in 10 minutes. We are open 7 days a week, with the exception of major holidays.
Sometimes, the groom and his guys will make an afternoon of it and all come in together. When more than two guys are going to get measured, we recommend that you make an appointment so that we can accommodate your needs more efficiently. After getting measured (and a lot of laughs and joking!), the guys will often walk down to Buffalo Wild Wings at the end of our shopping center, grab a beer and watch a game or two.
For groomsmen and wedding guests who do not live in the Philadelphia area, we ask the bride and groom to provide us each person’s zip code either where they live or work. If the bride and groom do not know the groomsman’s zip code, we ask them to ask each individual to call or text us with his information (yes, you can actually text our store’s telephone number!). We work with independent formal wear stores all over the country and provide the out-of-town guests with the name, address and telephone number of a store or two who will provide courtesy measurements for out-of-town wedding guests.
The groomsmen are able to go to the chosen store to get measured for their suit or tuxedo rental. The local store will provide the groomsman with his sizing and measurements. He will leave the store with his measurements in hand.
Any questions about what is being worn or what type of style (i.e. slim fit, skinny fit, etc), the groomsman or local store is welcome to call or text us at 215-491-8500. We are always available to talk through any advice you need.
Submitting Measurements
Submitting your tuxedo and suit measurements is easy and convenient. It can be done 24 hours a day on our website. By clicking here, an out of town wedding guest can click on “Submit Your Measurements” and fill out our measurements form. The information will be sent directly to us and we will start the ordering process for the customer.
Submitting Payment
To place your order, all we need is your initial payment. This too is very easy to do, 24 hours a day. On the same page where you submitted your measurements, you are able to make a deposit payment or pay the entire rental price. Check with us if you need the full balance amount because pricing depends on which of the 70 styles the bride and groom chose for the wedding. We will be notified of your payment and will order your tuxedo or suit retail.
Ship Your Tuxedo or Pick It Up?
Our customers also have the option of having the tuxedo shipped to them. It’s as easy as that. Our recommendation is that if you are not coming into town at least 48 business hours before the wedding to try on your tuxedo, then we recommend that we ship it to you. You will receive the tuxedo with enough time to try it on and make sure all fits perfectly.
Since we did not measure you, we prefer that you try on the tuxedo or suit in advance. We want to make sure everything fits perfectly and you are comfortable.
Once the tuxedo is delivered to your front door, we highly recommend that you try it on immediately. Many things are adjustable: the waist on the pants can be adjusted by 3 inches, larger or smaller! The vest is adjustable and our microfiber shirts come with a one inch expandable top button (how convenient and comfortable is that?!).
For the guys who are new to this, mom and dad with a ring bearer or anyone needing extra help, we’ve even done video calls to show you how everything works and get a look at the fit!
My Shoes are Too Tight!
Let’s say something doesn’t feel or look right? It happens and it’s no problem! Some of us know the wedding is approaching and start going to the gym more to look our best for our friend’s wedding. Maybe you lost some weight, maybe it went the other way! Not a problem at all. Of the thousands of tuxedo and suit rentals that we do every year, we ship about a thousand of them. We’ve become experts at determining what you need just by speaking to you on the phone, having a video call with you or texting you. If you need a new pair of pants or a new jacket, whatever the case may be, we’ll prepare it for you and have it ready for you when you come into town.
We can either give it to someone in the wedding party to give to you, have you pick it up at our store when you arrive or even deliver it to you or your hotel.
Overseas Groomsmen and Guests
We’ve dressed people as far away as China, Saudi Arabia and Brazil and most European countries.
Over the years, what we have experienced with wedding guests who live overseas, most of them arrive several days before the wedding thus giving us plenty of time to make any changes to their sizes. In fact, many of the guests coming from overseas are often in town for 5 plus days if not longer.
In the case that the overseas guests does not know his sizing and is coming in at least 48 business hours before the wedding, we suggest that he come to our store when he arrives in the country and we will measure him. We will have his tuxedo ready, most of the time, the next day.
If the overseas guests knows his sizing, he can submit them on our website, thus avoiding any issues with time zone differences and any added cost of making international calls.
We also have other communication solutions for our overseas customers. As one example, last year, we had a groomsman living in Germany. He and anyone else for that matter, is able to use our online chat system on our website and communicate with us real time at no cost to him. We were able to ask him questions about his measurements, guide him to our online payment system and order his tuxedo within 3 minutes of starting an online chat with him!
We are Easily Accessible
As a small family-owned bridal and tuxedo store, we’ve tried to use technology to make everything easier for our customers. That’s why you can text our store telephone number: 215-491-8500. Anyone can use this feature and the owners personally answer all texts. On our website, you can use our online chat system. We also use Instagram messenger, Facebook Messenger, Google messages, email and of course you can always call us.
We are always here for you. Breathe a sigh of relief that we will be able to dress your groomsmen no matter if they live in Philadelphia or Paris. Make your appointment today to discuss our over 70 different tuxedo and suit styles. We can’t wait to help you!
About the author:
Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal &
Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the
tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing
expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear.
Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers
with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal
event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently
resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store
co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store
was named, Daria and Deanna.
