The Groom's List of Accessories for Formal Wear
Your wedding is probably the only day in your life in which you will put this much thought into your accessories. Although many grooms think that they just need a tuxedo and a white shirt for their wedding there are many other details you need to consider such as cufflinks, cummerbunds, and suspenders, and many other details.
Of course, when choosing your groom accessories you can pick the ones that suit your style, you don't have to include all the accessories in your look.
Here is a list of all the accessories a groom can have on his wedding day, just to get you started:
Cufflinks
Yes, do wear cufflinks on your wedding day, no matter how small or unimportant you think they are, they can change your whole look.
Cufflinks are a necessary accessory for grooms who want to wear a tuxedo or suit and look perfect. What we love about cufflinks for grooms is that they can be customized and personalized to suit the groom, you can have the initials of you and your bride or your wedding date on your cufflinks.
Shirt Studs
Remember how gentlemen in the '20s and '30s, especially in black and white movies, looked so sharp? They used to wear shirt studs regularly. Make sure your shirt studs match the color and finishing of your cufflinks.
Your shirt studs will replace your shirt buttons for a more personalized and elegant look.
Tip: Save yourself the hassle of finding matching cufflinks, shirt studs, and vest buttons, by buying a dress set!
Bowties
If you are not matching your bride's look, then your bowtie's fabric and color should match your tuxedo. You can also match your bowtie to your wedding colors.
As for the fabric of your bowtie, take into consideration the season you are getting married in, fabrics like cotton and linen are perfect for summer weddings. Other fabrics like wool, tweed, cashmere are more for the winter.
But also keep in mind that a classic black bow tie with a tuxedo will never get old.
See more styles and inspiration for beautiful groom bowties here!
Windsor Tie (traditional tie)
If you prefer not to wear a bowtie, and decide to go for the traditional long tie, pick a simple matching color and fabric.
The Windsor is one of the boldest and most symmetrical knots that a man can wear. This tie is named after the Duke of Windsor and can look exceptionally clean and modern.
Cummerbunds
For those of you who don't know what that means, it is the fabric belt that a groom wears under the tuxedo. Match the color and fabric with your other accessories.
Black Tie attire is so timeless and has many guidelines. One of these guiding principles is that the working parts of one’s ensemble must be covered.
And because cummerbunds are waist coverings, they should be worn at the natural waist. This means that the trousers should be worn around the level of the navel, and half the cummerbund should cover the shirt, and the other half the trousers.
Handkerchief
Your handkerchief or pocket square should match your cummerbund and tie, whether in color, fabric or just compliment the colors of your tie.
The groom's handkerchief is a special handkerchief that he tucks in his pocket, you can either have it matching the color of your bride's flower or look or any other details of your wedding as well.
Suspenders
How long has it been since you’ve ever heard of suspenders or even seen any? Believe it or not, many men look forward to wearing suspenders on their wedding day, as tuxedos don't have belt loops in them. Suspenders should always be simple.
You can also have your groomsmen wear the same color suspenders for a fun group look.
Tuxedo Slippers
No, these are not slippers you wear in your bedroom. tuxedo slippers are shoes specially made to be worn with a tuxedo, although nowadays grooms are wearing regular black shoes with their tuxedo, and some men are wearing these tuxedo slippers with more casual outfits!
No matter what you choose make sure that you are comfortable in them to dance the night away with your bride.
Boutonnieres
This is an optional addition to your wedding look. But think about it, when will you get to go all out and wear a flower on the lapel of your jacket again? You can get a boutonniere from any florist, or simply ask your bride to make you one or get you one when she picks her bouquet.
Consider the season and choose seasonal blooms or matching flowers with your bride's wedding bouquet.
Make sure to keep it simple and select one element from your wedding or bride's look to get inspiration for your boutonnieres.