News Summary

This is the season for bridal shows. But even though most weddings include a groom, there is no such thing as a groomal show. Not that it matters, because when it comes to what he's going to wear at the altar, everything a groom-to-be needs to know is:

Nothing.

Face it, she's been planning this wedding since she was, oh, 6 years old. He, on the other hand, may not have given his wedding outfit as much thought as he would give to which club he needs to reach the green.

"We've had guys come in and say, 'I need a tux' and when you ask them 'when's the wedding,' they'll say '3 o'clock this afternoon,' " reports Edd Wimsatt, president of Price Stores. But even for grooms who do plan a little further ahead than that, the options are limited.

"Most of the guys who come in here don't have a whole lot of say," admits Men's Wearhouse assistant manager Kevin Dumont. "Unless the fiancee is with them, they don't know much."

Still, there is more to being a groom than remembering the ring and forgetting what happened at the bachelor party. And even the most disinterested guy may need to answer some questions if he wanders into the store alone.

"The first thing I'd ask is 'how formal is the wedding going to be?' " says Skeffington's Formal Wear manager Mel Holland. "You don't want her to be in a super formal dress and him to be more casual. The second question would be about body size. A taller guy is going to want a higher button stance and can wear a longer jacket. A heavy guy would want a one- or two-button jacket."

Wimsatt, whose Price store offers 29 styles in stock, emphasizes proper fit.

"A bride wouldn't buy a gown without trying it on," he points out. "The difference between a guy enjoying his day could be the way his jacket fits."

And Dumont notes that a conservative look is safest in the Miami Valley.

"The Dayton market is way more conservative, even compared to Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus," he says. Currently popular colors for ties, vests and cummerbunds around here, he notes, include "lots of reds" and brown. Holland mentions sage and, for spring weddings, "ocean colors," although she does not specify which ocean. Wimsatt cites yellow for spring and more muted tones for the fall. All three stress that the colors should match, or complement, the colors of the bridesmaids' dresses. They also agree on current preferences in the Dayton area.

IN: Straight ties.

THAT: Cummerbunds.

But, again, all of this depends upon the bride. The groom who thinks he has a voice in the matter may be endangering not only himself, but innocent bystanders. As one store manager relates:

"We had a guy come in who wanted something different from what his bride previously had selected. When we told him we couldn't change the order without her approval, he called her and handed the phone to our salesman. When she heard that the guy was trying to change the order, she threatened to come in and stab the salesman."

So here's all you really need to remember, guys:

If you show up at the altar wearing a powder blue tux with a ruffled shirt, the last words you may hear from the bride are, "I don't."

SAMPLE RENTAL PRICES

Men's Wearhouse, 2750 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek: $124.99-$164.99 (socks included, which the groom may retain as keepsakes).

Skeffington's Formal Wear, The Mall at Fairfield Commons: $93-$133 (socks extra).

Price Stores, 52. S. Jefferson St., downtown Dayton: $69-$119 (socks extra).

FOR THE REALLY, REALLY

Here's the proper sequence for getting dressed in a tux, courtesy of ehow.com:

1) underwear and socks

2) shirt and pants

3) vest or, if you dare, cummerbund

4) tie

5) shoes

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Order your tux at least 30 days before the wedding.

Don't wear tails before 6 p.m.

Ask about discounts. Most stores will include the groom's tux for free if there are a certain number of rentals for the groomsmen.

And, because countless weddings have been completely ruined by incorrect cummerbund-wearing, remember: The folds go up.

KNOW YOUR JACKETS

Tuxedo: The most common choice. Single or double-breasted. Worn at formal and semiformal events.

Full dress (aka tails): Cropped in front, with two tails in the back and a two- to six-button front. Generally worn at ultraformal evening weddings.

Cutaway (aka morning coat): Short in the front, long in the back and tapering from the front waist button to a wide back tail. Worn with matching striped trousers. For formal daytime weddings.

Mandarin (aka Nehru jacket, Mao jacket): Has stand-up collar with no lapel and goes over a Mandarin-collared shirt. Worn without a tie by men who think the '60s were groovy.

Stroller coat: Semi-formal suit jacket cut like a tuxedo. Usually charcoal gray or black and typically worn at weddings that take place before 4 p.m.

(Source: the knot.com)