The White Dinner Jacket: Summer Black-Tie for the Bold Groom
Why the ivory dinner jacket is the most flattering thing a groom can wear in warm weather — and the small set of rules that keep it correct rather than costumey.
Black Tie
Black tie is the most formal — and most misunderstood — instruction a groom can be given. This hub gathers everything we publish on it: what a true black-tie groom wears (a peak- or shawl-lapel tuxedo, a black bow tie, a formal shirt — never a notch lapel), how black-tie optional differs and what he can actually choose, and the accessories that finish it correctly, from patent shoes to the right cufflinks. It is the thread that ties the tuxedo, the accessories and the groom's role together for the most formal weddings.
The Velvet Groom: Styling a Velvet Dinner Jacket for the Wedding
Burgundy, midnight blue, or forest green — when a velvet dinner jacket is the right call for his evening wedding, and how to keep the rest of the look perfectly classic.
Suit or Tuxedo? How to Choose by Your Wedding's Exact Formality Level
The choice is already made for you — by the dress-code line on the invitation and the hour the ceremony begins. Here is how to read both and dress him correctly.
Necktie vs. Bow Tie: Which Suits Your Wedding
The groom's neckwear is settled first by his garment and dress code, then fine-tuned by venue, build, and face shape — here is exactly when each is correct.
Dinner Jacket vs Tuxedo: What the Difference Means for the Groom
The two words named the same garment on opposite sides of the Atlantic — here is what actually changes for him, and when a contrast dinner jacket reads correctly.
Black vs. Brown Wedding Shoes: The Color Rules
Which shoe color his suit actually demands — the black-tie black-only rule, the navy and grey pairings, and how the belt has to match.
Black-Tie Wedding Attire for the Groom: The Complete Tuxedo Rulebook
When the invitation says black tie, the groom wears a true tuxedo — satin-faced peak or shawl lapel, white formal shirt, black bow tie, and never a notch. Here is the complete rulebook.
Frequently asked
What does a groom wear to a black-tie wedding?
A tuxedo: a black or midnight-blue dinner jacket with a peak or shawl lapel (never a notch), matching trousers with a satin stripe, a formal white shirt, a black bow tie, and black patent or highly polished oxfords. A waistcoat or cummerbund covers the waistband. The look is deliberately uniform — black tie rewards getting the rules right rather than standing out.
What is the difference between black tie and black-tie optional?
Black tie means a tuxedo is expected. Black-tie optional gives the groom a choice — a tuxedo, or a dark, formal suit (navy or charcoal) with a tie. As the groom, he should lean toward the more formal end so he reads clearly as the groom; a tuxedo is rarely the wrong call when the invitation mentions black tie at all.