Because I didn't take a whole lot of input from Mr. Llama on what he wanted me to wear on our wedding day, I wanted him to have the same freedom. He has always wanted a 3-piece suit, so this seemed the perfect time to invest (I'm very punny) in one.
Which leads me to a showdown of sorts. Ladies (and gentlemen? Maybe a couple out there?) welcome to the TUX VERSUS SUITS FACE-OFF.
TUXES VS SUITS:
Round 1: Cost. Here was something thing to consider: as I mentioned before, we are having a second reception in Connecticut in September, so Mr. Llama needs to have something to wear 2 times. If he rents a tux, he's going to have to rent it twice - and since it's in two different locations, if he doesn't go with a chain store, that means figuring out exactly what tux he wants at two different stores. It seems unnecessarily complicated and expensive. Point for Suits.
Round 2: Visual Preference. When it comes right down to it...I just don't know if tuxes and suits look ALL that different. One of the reasons I liked the grey Vera Wang tux is because it didn't have the satin stripe down the side of the pants, as well as the satin lapel, which is one of the traditional tux identifiers. On the other hand, the tux (even the Vera Wang one that's not that different) is every so slightly dressier. It's a draw here, folks.
Round 3: Heat Variable: Assuming it's going to be dreadfully hot, Mr. Llama will likely take off his jacket eventually, so the vest is an important component. I don't love the way tux vests typically look (often ill-fitted, strange satin material... so again - Point for Suits.
Round 4: Fit. A tux would be rented, and thus is more likely to not fit 100% correctly. His 3-piece suit would be owned, and all necessary alterations would be made in order to best fit him. Point for Suits.
Round 5: Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS). By renting tuxes, all the men can easily wear the same suit, regardless of their size, shape, or location. A-ha! Point for Tuxes. I think. I'm not a matchy person, but this makes it at least easy for everyone to get what they need.
FINAL TALLY: 3-1-1
So, Mr. Llama ended up with a 3-piece suit, if did you didn't see that coming! Men's Wearhouse was having a 50% off sale, so on a weekend in March, we headed over there and --gasp--we didn't even shop around. We like the suit, and it was at a good price, so we just got it!
Anyone else go the suit route?