1:  If you're invited to a formal event and the invitation says "White Tie" or "Full Dress" it's a very special occasion - a debutante dance, a diplomatic ball or reception, a Mardi Gras ball, or an important fund-raising dinner. You'll be dashing and proper in traditional black full dress (tailcoat), a freshly laundered white wing collar shirt, white vest, white tie, classic black trousers with the formal satin stripe, and black patent shoes.

If the invitation says "Black Tie" or "White Tie Invited" You'll want to dress correctly, in a smart, comfortable tuxedo, cut almost like your newest business suit. The traditional choice is black, worn with a white shirt and vest or cummerbund and tie and black patent shoes. Wear this to any festive event in the evening to which the women will be wearing formal clothes.

2: Who pays for it and who does what?

• The Groom:
  • Bride's engagment and wedding rings
  • Bride's wedding gift
  • Gifts for the Best Man and Groomsmen
  • Marriage License
  • Physical Examination
  • Minister's or Judge's fee
  • Bride's bouquet and corsage
  • Flowers for the mothers and grandmothers
  • Boutonnieres for all the men in the wedding party
• The Groom's Family
  • Their own travel expenses and lodging
  • Wedding gift for the Bride and Groom
  • Rehearsal dinner
    • A close friend of the Bride's family may also host this
• The Best Man
  • Makes the arrangments for the Bachelor Party/Dinner
  • Selects the gift for the Groom
  • Help with the honeymoon arrangments and travel arrangments for out-of-town guests
  • Provides transportation to the ceremony or the Groom
  • Puts the Bride's and Groom's luggage in the car and readies the car for a smooth "getaway"
  • Holds the Bride's ring during the ceremony
  • Signs the Marriage License as a witness
  • Offers the first toast to the couple at the reception
• The Usher
  • Arrives early to the ceremony site to help the Groom dress
  • Offers the Groom whatever assistance he might need
  • Helps the Best Man with the Bachelor Party/Dinner
  • Reviews the seating lists
  • Escorts the guests to their seats
    • Left side for the Groom's guests
    • Right side for the Bride's guests
    • Some couples mix it up if one side has more guests than the other

3: The average Bride and Groom make tuxedo reservations two to three months in advance. This is about the best time to do so, as by this time you should know the wedding colors and approximate size of the wedding party.

4: Just because everyone is renting black doesn't mean you can't still be unique. Accessories can really set you apart. A good tuxedo shop will give you many choices in everything such as stud and cuff links, vests, cummerbunds, ties, shoes, and shirts. Vests are really hot in formal wear right now. They are fun and colorful. You no longer have to choose from plain solid colors as now cummerbunds and vests come in a range of patterns and mixed colors. We at A.J.'s carry the largest selection of full back vests in California. Mandarin style shirts featuring just a stud or button cover instead of the traditional bowtie are very popular.

5: Tuxedos can be fun! Western tuxedo coats and accessories are now being worn with black Wrangler jeans and black boots. Summer weddings can have the gentlemen in tuxedo shorts, bridesmaids in tuxedo tails and black skirts, even brides in tuxedos! If you have a different idea for your formal wear, don't be afraid to do it. Different is fun!