Category Archives: Black Tie Attire

Top 10 Wedding Tuxedo & Suit Questions

December 18, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

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.

Our groom and his five groomsmen wearing the navy colored Sebastian tuxedo by Ike Behar. The groom differentiated himself by wearing a bowtie in a wine color with a floral pattern and matching pocket square, while his groomsmen wore a solid wine color bowtie and pocket square. He also had a Calla lily boutonniere while his groomsmen had carnations. — 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.

This photo of a groom shows a classic black tuxedo, evidenced by the satin on the lapel and the pockets. It also has fabric covered buttons making it a bit more formal. This tuxedo has a notch lapel, however tuxedos can also have jackets with a peak lapel and a shawl lapel as well. — A classic black tuxedo with satin on the lapel and pockets

This photo is of a groom wearing a tuxedo by Allure Me in mulberry that does not have satin on it. Instead, it has a thin stripe of stitching along the lapel where satin typically goes. It gives it a bit more formality without adding the shine of satin. — An example of a tuxedo with no satin, instead there is stitching on the lapel

This picture shows a groom wearing a three-piece hunter green colored suit. Suits do not have satin, and they usually have a plastic button. This, and all suits, will have a notch lapel jacket — 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.

Black Tie Attire, Holiday Season, tuxedos

What I Would Have Worn To the Holiday Galas If It Weren’t For COVID-19

December 3, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

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.

Model in burgundy colored tuxedo with black satin shawl lapel and black pants — 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.

Model in Mulberry colored tuxedo with matching vest and pants, long blush color tie, perfect for holiday galas — 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.

Model in hunter green color suit with long white tie and matching pocket square, perfect for holiday galas — 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.

Black Tie Attire, tuxedos

Black Tie Optional Invitation… So What Now?!

November 5, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Black Tie Attire, tuxedos, wedding planning

Dressing Your Out-of-Town Groomsmen and Wedding Guests

October 20, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

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.

Black Tie Attire, Trends, tuxedos

What Should Fathers of the Bride and Groom Wear for a Wedding?

October 19, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

We dress a lot of fathers for weddings so we have a good idea of the trends. Our brides and grooms often ask us what the fathers should wear for the wedding. Fortunately, we have plenty of wedding attire guidance for you.

Father Wedding Attire Trends

We find that the majority of fathers choose a suit or tuxedo different from the groom and groomsmen. This helps them stand out and feel special.

The Father of the Bride usually has the honor of walking the bride down the aisle and/or giving a toast at the reception, and therefore has a special role in the day. That is reason for him to stand out uniquely!

We do have a smaller number of fathers who will wear the exact same suit or tuxedo that the groom and groomsmen are wearing to keep with a color palette or for continuity in photos. Sometimes, however, a father IS the Best Man, and what a wonderful honor!

Regardless of whether the fathers are matching the wedding party with regard to the suit or tuxedo styles, most choose a long tie or bow tie that matches the color of the dress worn by the person accompanying them to the wedding, often the mother/step mother of the bride or groom. If a father is attending the wedding with no accompanying guest, he often chooses accessories to keep his look classic and timeless. Possibly a black satin bow tie or a thin satin long tie as examples.

Navigating the Needs of the Fathers’ Attire

In most cases, we advise brides and grooms to choose what they want the fathers to wear. This method accomplishes two goals: first, the bride and groom get what THEY want! Second, most fathers are relieved when the bride and groom choose their attire because they don’t want the pressure of having to choose and possibly making the “wrong” choice.

If you have a fashion forward father, we do recommend letting him choose what he wants to wear and with 70 styles to choose from, he will love his options! This method often makes the process smoother and everyone is happier.

Streamlining the Tuxedo Rental Process for Fathers

When the bride and groom choose the fathers’ attire, the mothers and fathers of the brides and grooms are often pleased that they walk into our store and have everything sorted out for them. All the fathers have to do is spend a few minutes to get measured and possibly choose a long tie or bow tie.

On a few occasions, they may want to choose a different style shoe than is being worn by the bridal party. This too is a simple process and can be achieved in a few minutes.

Make Dads Feel Special

Bride with groom in a black tuxedo with a black satin notch lapel, appropriate for fathers of the bride and groom

One of the safest bets for a father is a classic black tuxedo like our Ike Behar above. Fathers look really sharp and feel very comfortable in this tuxedo because of the quality of the fabric and the timeless look. He won’t draw “unwanted” attention to himself if wearing a tuxedo like this (in fact, he may welcome the stares!) and will feel comfortable all night.

Model in checkered tuxedo jacket with black pants, white shirt and black bow tie, perfect for fathers

Speaking of father of the bride and groom tuxedo trends, one of our most popular tuxedo jackets is our Ike Behar checked jacket pictured above with black pants. Fathers really go for this tuxedo because it is a very classic jacket and a bit sexy if we do say so… it definitely sets them apart from the rest of the guests.

Gray and navy tuxedos and suits have been very popular with wedding parties for over 7 years now. When the groom and the groomsmen are wearing a gray tuxedo, we often suggest that the father choose a different shade of gray and tuxedo style than the rest of the wedding party. This again will allow him to stand out and feel special without drawing attention to himself.

If the wedding party is wearing blue tuxedos, we often suggest that the fathers wear gray or a different shade of blue than the rest of the wedding party.

Should Both Fathers Wear the Same Color and Style Tuxedo?

The father of the bride and groom do not need to wear the same tuxedo style and color. It’s always a good idea to coordinate to make sure one doesn’t look completely different than the other but in general, we leave this choice up to the bride and groom. If it is left up to the fathers themselves, they usually choose something different, either a different designer or sometimes even a different color

Trusted Advice

Our advice is that the bride and groom choose what the fathers will be wearing for your wedding.

Trust us, most of them are delighted to find their suit/tux chosen for them! Allow them to choose the bow tie or long tie and pocket square to add their own touch to your day – again perhaps choosing a color that matches mom’s dress!

Do you have a question about wedding attire? Send us a text message at 215-491-8500 and receive expert advice directly from the owners of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo!

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.

Black Tie Attire, tuxedos

Should I Wear a Bow Tie Or Long Tie?

June 17, 2020 darianna Leave a comment

We are often asked whether a groom and the groomsmen should wear a bow tie or long tie on the wedding day.

This is a great question and Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has a lot of experience and advice on answering it.

So let’s get right to the answer and then we’ll dive deeper into various things you should consider when deciding which type of tie to choose for yourself and your wedding party.

The general answer that we give is do not do something you are not comfortable with. If you are not a bow tie kind of guy, then do not wear one. If you are not comfortable in a bow tie, either it’s look or feel, then you are probably not going to be comfortable wearing one. You will also not be happy with the look.

Allure Mens Box Check Bow Tie with Mulberry Tuxedo

However, things are not always that simple so let’s talk about some other things you may want to consider when deciding. We also have a process that we take customers through to help brides and grooms make their choice. You can read all about that process here.

Usually when we meet with brides and grooms during their tuxedo and suit consultation, we can pretty immediately tell if the couple prefers one type of tie over another. Sometimes, though, they aren’t sure which type of tie they want. We’ll go into how we help them determine which type to choose later in this blog if the couple is not sure.

If we see that either the bride or groom is not keen on a bow tie, we highly encourage them to stick with the 500 or so different long ties that we offer.

On the other hand, bow ties are not commonly worn by most people and wearing one on your wedding day is a nice way of switching up your look and creating timeless and classy photos.

Best of Both Worlds

In many cases, if a bride and groom are open to a bow tie, we often introduce the idea of the groom wearing the one, say bow tie, and the groomsmen wearing the other type, in this case a long tie. The first thing that this does is help further distinguish the groom from the rest of the wedding party beyond just having a different color tie. The bride and groom sometimes choose to do the reverse and have the groom wear a long tie and the groomsmen wear a bow tie. While this second option is not as popular as the groom wearing the bow tie, we do see it in approximately 5% of the wedding parties.

Tuxedos, Suits and Ties

Several years ago, it was rare that you would see a groom wearing a tuxedo with a long tie. Today that is completely acceptable. We have many wedding parties and prom goers wearing long ties with their tuxedos and suits. On a few occasions, we will have a groom wear a bow tie with his suit that he purchased or rented from us. So if you want to wear a long tie with your tuxedo that is perfectly acceptable. Again, we advise you doing what is most comfortable for you. Anyone who has worked with us knows that we will tell our customers if their attire choice or combination is not a good idea.

Free Groom Try On

The best way to determine if you prefer a bow or long tie is to try some of each on at your groom try on. We offer all of our grooms the ability to choose up to two different full tuxedos and/or suits with various accessory choices to try on. This is one of our most popular services because the bride and groom get to see what the groom and groomsmen will look like in all attire they choose in the groom’s exact size. During this try on, we will exchange several long and bow ties on the groom so that you can see what they will look like. We even encourage the bride to take pictures of the groom so that you can go home and see what everything looked like and make a decision from there. Read about our full groom try on HERE.

Trends

What are we seeing for tie choices right now? Many grooms are currently choosing bow ties. Why? We think they like the look and it’s a bit different and more formal. Five to seven years ago we saw more long ties for wedding parties but for now, that seems to have changed.

What If I Don’t Know How to Tie a Long or Bow Tie

You are in luck if you do not know how to tie a long or a bow tie. All of ours (almost 500 different colors and styles) are pre-tied and clip ons. They are beautiful and look like someone actually tied the bow tie without you needing to know how to do it! We do sell some bow ties that you can tie yourself if that is what you are looking for. Our long ties come in two different styles: ones that are pre-tied that you do not need to tie and ones that you tie yourself. If you choose a long tie that must be tied, we can tie it for you and leave it in your garment bag so that all you have to do is slip it around your neck and tighten it. We do this all of the time and the guys are very grateful for this free added service.

Navy Textured Blow Tie on Sandstone Tuxedo

Bottom Line

So the true answer as to whether you should wear a bow or long tie comes down to 100% personal choice. Both will work and we are sure you’ll know pretty immediately what you prefer once you do your groom try on with Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo.

Comment on this blog and tell us what you prefer, a bow or long tie?

Take a look at the 70 or so suits and tuxedos that we offer for rent and sale. You’ll enjoy seeing all of the styles and coming up with your own look. Do you have out of town wedding guests? Not a problem for Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo. We arrange to have your guys measured for free anywhere in the country and can even ship them the tuxedo or suit. They can submit their measurements on our website and even make payment online. It’s as simple as that! You can even text our store telephone number for questions and help: 215-491-8500. Make your appointment with us online to talk to a formal wear specialist.

Black Tie Attire

What Do Bridal Store Owners Wear to Black Tie Galas?

November 11, 2019 darianna Leave a comment

Franco and I are so fortunate to own Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, because a family business is something we always wanted. We are also fortunate to be invited to many black tie galas and formal affairs because of this business.

It’s usually easy for us to choose our formal wear attire, however I think it’s easier for Franco. I would say that, right? He has 56 tuxedos from which to choose – our entire inventory is open to him and they are all so gorgeous he can’t go wrong. Plus with all the color accessories he can switch it up to any theme. He’s worn so many and all have looked incredibly sharp!

I absolutely love the ivory tuxedo jacket with black shawl lapel with black pants. Love love love this look!

He’s worn the navy tuxedo (amazing with his blue eyes), cranberry tuxedo (perfect for the holidays), and the checkered tuxedo (ultra class). He looks so handsome in the charcoal grey with a peak lapel and a fun bow tie with patching floral pocket square:

There is nothing as gorgeous as when he does classic black tuxedo with a black bow tie. He wore my new favorite on November 9th, called Chandler by Ike Behar (below). It is a gorgeous black tuxedo with satin shawl lapel. Here is a model in the tux and below is my guy in the same tux but wearing a black “teardrop” bowtie, white flower lapel pin, and black onyx studs and cufflinks:

We both found that we prefer the Ike Behar collection to any other name. The fit and quality is superior, even to the Michael Kors tuxedos. Yep, I said it. I love how it looks, Franco appreciates the look as well as the feel of it.

For shoes, I’m a fan of the black wing tip, too. Since he doesn’t care what shoe, he wears the black wing tip (wink wink).

For me, of course I find it more difficult. I’m not “young” but I’m not “old” – I’m in that basic mother of bride age group and we all say that. If you’re in your 20s-30s, you think of 50 as being ancient but believe me, once you get here you realize you’re not ancient. So many women my age are working out in the gym, pilates, yoga, running, lifting, etc., and feeling great, but there are still some styles that are inappropriate for mothers. I get that.

I have an advantage of basically an enormous inventory of dresses. While I really love most of our dresses, it doesn’t mean I would wear all of them. Some are definitely for “Mothers” in that they look very much like they belong at a wedding, not as a “guest of” or a “black tie” event. We have tons of prom dresses that are gorgeous but they are for prom goers, not someone’s mom.

In the past, I have worn Tony Bowls, Jovani, and Jonathan Kayne. I have also worn Bill Levkoff twice (yes, bridesmaid!) in black lace sequin that was super pretty and a high neck black chiffon that were absolutely perfect for the events.

Sometimes I feel guilty about buying new dresses – especially when Franco just rents – so I have also worn dresses in my closet from years ago. I have not rented a dress. I am a fan of buying more classic style dresses so they don’t go out of style and as long as they still fit I’m good to go!

For our most recent event, I chose this exact dress from the Christina Wu Celebrations collection:

My dress was like a disco ball! Aside from the sequins being very scratchy under my arms, it was just perfect! This is how we turned out:

With the holiday season just a blink away, maybe we will have a few more opportunities to get all fancy. If you need help putting something special together, give us a call!

Our bridesmaid and special occasion off the rack dresses are all marked down and we are offering a $50 discount on all our full tux packages! Call or text us at 215-491-8500! Happy Holidays!