Now that Macy and Ethan have been named the winners of our Dream Day Giveaway, they’ve got a wedding to plan! You’re invited to accompany them as they plan each element of their big day with our partner vendors, leading up to one special celebration on September 10 at The Mason Dallas. If you’re planning your own wedding, be sure to follow along for tips and insight on what to expect with each step, what to know going into every meeting, and how to make sure your path to the altar is a smooth one.

While most brides have been dreaming about their bridal gown long before they were engaged, many grooms don’t consider what their wedding attire will be until closer to the day of. However, deciding to go the custom or rental route will drastically change the needed timeline and can be a bit stressful to navigate. At his first appointment, Ethan’s main concern was Macy’s approval and that he looked handsome standing next to his beautiful bride, while Macy just wanted Ethan to feel and look his best. Thankfully, Macy and Ethan have the help of formalwear experts Billy Langhenry and Houstoun Waring at Mister Tuxedo—a Dallas establishment specializing in custom formalwear. Billy clarifies the most commonly asked tuxedo questions and shares what Ethan will be wearing on his big day.

What makes you most excited about working with Macy and Ethan on the Dream Day Giveaway tuxedo?

At Mister Tuxedo, we have the privilege of getting to know several couples who get married each weekend. When we heard about the Dream Day Giveaway, we were confident in our ability to provide Ethan and his groomsmen with the highest quality rentals and an expertly tailored custom tuxedo that is both elegant and reflective of his personality.

What is Ethan’s vision for his custom tux?

Ethan selected a traditional shawl lapel style, cut from an 8-ounce, Super 130s wool from the Reda mill. For the lapels, he selected grosgrain, a timeless silk facing that has a ribbed texture. From the outside, this is a classic tuxedo. On the inside, Ethan selected a vibrant light blue lining with running racehorses, adding character and a personal touch to his custom garment.

In addition to his tuxedo, Ethan purchased a second custom dinner jacket, cut from a rich and supple black velvet. He again selected a grosgrain shawl lapel and chose a traditional deep red Bemburg lining.  Both of these garments will serve him well for years to come.

What trends are you seeing in wedding tuxes?

Almost all of our clients select traditional black and white tuxedos—most often in single button peak or shawl lapels—with real, self-tie bow ties. We also see a significant number of couples who select ivory dinner jackets for summer weddings, “winter white” themes, or for destinations such as Nantucket, Charleston, or Positano. The emphasis is on timelessness and the ability to look back on one’s wedding photos 10, 20, or 60 years later and still feel confident in your selection.

Beyond black and white, midnight blue is a popular alternative for slightly less formal weddings or those held in the mountains of Colorado or at a ranch, often worn with cowboy boots.

What trends are you seeing in formalwear accessories?

For tuxedos, the primary accessories are the bow tie, shirt studs and cufflinks, and shoes. While most grooms choose a classic black bow tie, we offer many colors and patterns for grooms who want to differentiate themselves from their groomsmen or incorporate their personality into their wedding attire.

The most common area to deviate from tradition is the stud set. From classic black onyx to shotgun shells, Texas state flags, or sterling silver oil derricks or pump jacks, we offer many different sets to choose from.

Finally, we see significant variation in shoe selection. While the most common are our traditional black patent oxfords, we see many select velvet Albert slippers or cowboy boots, often in exotic leathers such as alligator or ostrich.

Explain a tuxedo versus a suit. 

The simplest answer, although imperfect, is that a tuxedo is a suit with silk-faced lapels and a matching stripe or braid down the trousers. These elements elevate the tuxedo to a level of formality above the business suit. A typical exception is that the traditional ivory dinner jacket has “self-facing” lapels, meaning they are of the same material as the rest of the garment and do not have silk. It is still worn with traditional formal trousers with a silk braid, which maintains the formality of the outfit.

When should you choose a bow tie versus a necktie?

We recommend always choosing a bow tie when wearing a tuxedo and rarely rent neckties. The sole exception is when wearing a morning suit (cutaway), which is technically more formal than a tuxedo and worn during the day (think royal weddings or the Royal Ascot horse races). The evening equivalent of the morning suit is the tailcoat (“white tie”), with which one wears a white cotton piqué bow tie exclusively.

What are the benefits of buying rather than renting?

Quality, fit, and customization. While our rental tuxedos are the highest-quality rental garments available, a custom tuxedo, tailored specifically for a gentleman, will always fit better than a rental garment. Each aspect of the garment is individually selected from lapel style to lining to functioning buttonholes, and the measurements of individual elements can be altered from “stock sizes” prior to ordering to ensure a perfect fit. Economically, purchasing a tuxedo makes perfect sense if one plans to wear a tuxedo more than once or twice. We offer a 10 percent discount on all custom clothing for grooms whose wedding parties we outfit.

On the contrary, what are the pros to renting?

Economics and flexibility. If an individual plans to wear a tuxedo once in his life, or if he needs a particular lapel style to match the groomsmen in a wedding party, renting is the best option. We also have customers whose weight fluctuates regularly, for whom it makes more sense to rent as needed rather than purchase a garment that may or may not fit and requires regular alterations.