# Wearing a tux at a wedding **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633 "2011-07-19T21:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/1 "2011-07-19T21:38:26Z")
Is it “acceptable” for a male wedding guest (not in the wedding party) to wear a tux? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/2 "2011-07-19T21:41:56Z")
Someone asked me if he should rent a tux for our wedding (he didn’t own a suit and figured it was cheaper to rent a tux than to buy a suit he’d never wear). I told him he was free to do whatever he wanted, but he’d be more dressed up than the groom. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/3 "2011-07-19T21:43:02Z")
If the wedding is [black tie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tie), absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/4 "2011-07-19T21:44:27Z")
I don’t see a problem with it. The only form of dress that should be avoided is for women: they shouldn’t wear something that looks like a wedding dress, and if they know what colour the bride’s attendants are wearing, they should avoid that too. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/5 "2011-07-19T22:53:36Z")
As Heart said … if it’s black tie, yes. Otherwise, you’ll either be overdressed or underdressed (in the extremely unlikely event it’s _white_ tie.) FWIW, I can’t think of any wedding I’ve ever been to that was black tie. Even Prince William’s wedding wasn’t black tie. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/6 "2011-07-19T22:56:47Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Is it “acceptable” for a male wedding guest (not in the wedding party) to wear a tux? He’ll look silly. It’s not a hanging offense, but it would definitely be a faux pas. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/7 "2011-07-19T22:58:08Z")
What’s the dress code on the invitation? I’ve been to plenty of ‘black tie’ weddings. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/8 "2011-07-19T23:19:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Is it “acceptable” for a male wedding guest (not in the wedding party) to wear a tux? Look at the invitation. If it says “Black Tie”, and you’re a guy, wear a tux. If it says “black tie invited” or something similar, you can pick either a tux or a dark suit, and neither is “inappropriate”. If in doubt, why not make a quick phone call? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/9 "2011-07-19T23:31:05Z")
Point of note: a “black tie” evening dress (tuxedo in American parlance, “dinner jacket” in Europe) is supposed to be worn at evening functions, i.e. those that occur at or after dinner. Formal dress events during the daytime require morning dress. There is no event that requires a velvet jacket or brightly colored braces and sash unless you are a clown or washed up rock star. As a practical matter, a dark two piece suit with a somber tie should be acceptable for nearly any formal event that is not specifically black/white tie or a state dinner. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/10 "2011-07-19T23:46:45Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > As Heart said … if it’s black tie, yes. Otherwise, you’ll either be overdressed or underdressed (in the extremely unlikely event it’s _white_ tie.) > > FWIW, I can’t think of any wedding I’ve ever been to that was black tie. Even Prince William’s wedding wasn’t black tie. That’s because it took place at 11 o-clock in the morning; black tie should never be worn before sunset or 6pm (whichever is ealier). [Morning dress](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_dress) is the approriate dress code for a formal daytime wedding. The private dinner that evening was black tie. White tie is pretty much onheard of for weddings. Even royalty doesn’t do it. Back to the OP; it depends on how formal the wedding is and what time of day it’s taking place. The wedding invitation should be you’re first clue. Does it actually say black tie (optional)? How is it worded (eg “Mr & Mrs John Doe request the honor of your company at the wedding of their daughter Mary to Mr Richard Roe…” vs “Mary Doe & Richie Roe invite to their wedding and garden reception”)? Is it a plain white card with black lettering? Is the wedding/reception outside or inside? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/11 "2011-07-20T00:40:47Z")
I think I just found the answer. The wedding invitation doesn’t mention dress, but the reception (“to follow,” in another part of the city) is “black tie preferred.” The wedding is at 5:30 . . . so I’m assuming people will not run home and change, but wear their “black tie” to the wedding as well. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/12 "2011-07-20T01:09:39Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I think I just found the answer. The wedding invitation doesn’t mention dress, but the reception (“to follow,” in another part of the city) is “black tie preferred.” The wedding is at 5:30 . . . so I’m assuming people will not run home and change, but wear their “black tie” to the wedding as well. It’s acceptable (well expected) for male guests to wear black tie then. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/13 "2011-07-20T01:37:19Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I don’t see a problem with it. The only form of dress that should be avoided is for women: they shouldn’t wear something that looks like a wedding dress, and if they know what colour the bride’s attendants are wearing, they should avoid that too. Does this still count if the bride maids are wearing black? ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-tux-at-a-wedding/589633/14 "2011-07-22T01:16:14Z")
I attended a wedding where the bride’s mother wore a black dress and the bride’s sister wore a white dress. I said nothing, but I did ask myself, “_What_ were they thinking?” 😕 My advice to the OP: call and ask. Regards,