Editor's note: This post is an excerpt from the Groom Style Guide by Real Men Real Style's Antonio Centeno.
The full Groom's Style Guide is available for purchase here.
Dealing with Rentals
Grooms ideally do not wear rented garb. It’s done, but it’s not a good idea — no one can really look his best in a rental. If at all possible, pick wedding attire you either own already or are willing to invest in buying custom-made.
Wedding parties are probably the most common victims of rentals. When the bride and groom want a uniform look for their wedding parties, it’s often easiest to pick it out from a particular rental outlet’s catalog and then send everyone there for the same item.
Guests are unlikely to be directed somewhere specific, but may still need to rent wedding attire if the dress code calls for something they don’t own (usually formal or semi-formal attire).
When you rent, keep the following points in mind:
Know Your Options
Figure out just what it is you need to rent. Is it a specific tuxedo ensemble with a pre-selected (usually colored, much to well-dressed men’s dismay) waistcoat or cummerbund? Or do you just need “black tie attire,” of whatever kind you please?
The more flexibility you have the better, obviously. You should follow whatever instructions you’re given, and beyond that look for the most classic and well-made product available.
If you’re directed to a specific rental store you’ll have to make do with what they have, but if you’re just renting a tux or morning coat, take the time to shop around. Often the best places are not large outlets in the strip mall — there are some very small storefronts out there specializing entirely in formal wear, especially in large cities, and the internet has made specialized rentals available anywhere in the country.
Good signs include: a comprehensive “black tie guide” or similar resources for customers, afocus on classic styles rather than colored prom outfits (which are more costumes than formal dress), and in-person fittings (or a very thorough catalog of self-measurements to send in, if ordering online).
Get the Best Fit Possible
Well-fitted clothing is always the best choice for both your comfort and appearance.
Some rental places do actual sewn adjustments, but most use hooks, Velcro, and even safety pins to adjust their template sizes for your body. Needless to say, it’s hard to get a good fit that way — work with the sales associates to get as much customization as you can, and if you have any choice in stores, avoid ones that do one quick fitting with hidden hooks or Velcro.
Rent Early
Start setting up your rental as soon as you know what you’re going to need.
This has several advantages: first, it gives you the widest selection available and the longest time for new things to come in if the store doesn’t have what you need. Second, it gives you ample time for adjustments, even if you need several measuring sessions and they’re doing actual sewn adjustments.
Finally, it lets you call about a week before you need to pick the rental up and remind them — if you’ve only set the rental up a few days earlier, that can seem very pushy, but it’s a vital step, especially when dealing with large stores that see many customers each day.
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