Everything You Need To Know About Groom & Groomsmen Attire - An interview with Tuxedo Gallery & The Black Tie Room in Spokane, Washington
Grooms, this one’s for you. By now, your bride may have already found her dream wedding dress and you’ve probably got your venue set, which means… Now it's your turn to have that “wow” moment when you find the perfect fit for your big day.
While you may not have been dreaming about your wedding day attire since middle school, finding the perfect color, style and fit is just as important for a groom as it is for a bride.
Whether you already have an idea of what you want, or you don’t have a clue where to start, we want to help you find something you’ll feel and look your best in. We spoke with Kathy and Jessie, owners of a tux/suit rental shop and private luxury lounge designed just for grooms and groomsmen. They’ve got you covered with all the details including when to place your orders for tux/suit rentals, how to choose the perfect attire for you and your groomsmen, and how to turn your fitting into an unforgettable experience.
How far in advance should couples book appointments and place their orders?
For grooms, the sooner you can get in for your measurements, the better. This will allow you extra time for adjustments and color changes and also gives your wedding party plenty of time to get their measurements in. We typically like to have all the measurements and everything picked out about a month before the wedding to ensure enough time to make alterations and get everything perfect for your wedding day.
What’s the difference between a tuxedo vs. a suit?
There are several differences between a tuxedo and a suit, the biggest being that a tuxedo can have one of three different lapels (notch, peak and shawl) and incorporates a bit of satin into the lapel, while a suit will only use the notch lapel. You’ll also see differences in the buttons, on a tuxedo the buttons will be covered while on a suit they’re visible. Another difference that you’ll see is that suits have pockets on the outside of the jacket while tuxedos have pockets hidden on the inside.
I don’t know if I should choose a suit or a tux, which one is typically more popular for weddings?
We’d say it’s probably about 50/50 when it comes to what grooms choose for their wedding day, so ultimately, it comes down to what you feel most confident and comfortable in. In terms of color, we tend to see a lot of earthy tones, with greens and browns being especially popular here in the Pacific Northwest.
Do I have to come in-person to get my measurements taken?
We definitely recommend coming for an in-person fitting appointment, it’s the best way to make sure you get the right fit in a rental. However, we are able to accommodate grooms coming in from out of town, we’ll have you send in your measurements and then we’ll do a final fitting appointment in-person when you come to pick up your suit. We try to be as accommodating as we can and are here for you right up until the day of your wedding and beyond!
How can a groom stand out while still coordinating with the groomsmen?
We recommend trying to keep it as classic as possible while incorporating some subtle changes to make the groom stand out. This could mean changing up the tie or having the groom wear a pattern while the groomsmen wear a solid color. We’ve also seen wedding parties who will wear the same jacket but the groom wears it in a different color. While we like to encourage more subtle differences and changes, we will present all of your options to you at your appointment and let you take it from there.
What is The Black Tie Room?
The Black Tie Room is a brand new luxury entertainment space designed just for grooms and groomsmen to come together, have fun and celebrate the amazing milestone of marriage. We asked Kathy and Jessie to share a bit about what they envision for this new space and how they hope to turn your tux fitting experience into an unforgettable time for your whole party.
What’s your vision for The Black Tie Room?
We love making people smile, so we began asking ourselves, “How can we elevate the fitting experience for grooms and groomsmen?”. We began to notice that grooms don’t have many spaces available to them where they can be together with their wedding party and have fun in a relaxing environment without breaking the bank.
The idea began as what we called the “Groom Experience” where we offered a complimentary beverage and some snacks during fitting appointments. From there it’s grown into a full entertainment experience that focuses on providing grooms and groomsmen with a no-pressure space to hang out, have a good time and celebrate the groom. Today, The Black Tie Room features a golf simulator, ping-pong, air hockey, a lounge and so much more. It’s our goal to make sure grooms feel important and celebrated with a memorable fitting experience, or as we like to call it, a pre-bachelor party!
We want to give a huge thank you to Kathy and Jessie for sharing their passion and insider knowledge with our readers, when it comes to tux and suit rentals, they’re truly the experts! As you begin getting your entire party suited up for the big day, be sure to check out Tuxedo Gallery and The Black Tie Room for a seamless and memorable fitting/rental experience.
