Tuxedos have been a wedding day staple for decades, ever since the “tux" took America by storm in the early 20th Century. But the wedding tuxedo has begun to give way to less conservative attire.
“In wedding parties today, we're seeing men in suits or even dress pants, shirts, and suspenders with an open collar shirt,” says Brad Wiegand, owner of Zahner’s Clothiers & Tailor Shop in Vernon. "There’s a wide gamut of wedding styles, depending on the couple’s taste and venue. If it’s a rustic wedding it may be more casual attire, if it's in a high-end venue, they may want a more formal look.”
Even formal attire doesn’t necessarily mean a tuxedo, he adds. A large majority of grooms and groomsmen Zahner’s dresses opt for suits over tuxes.
“There’s still a demand for tuxedos, but we’re seeing a lot more men leaning toward the suit. We’ll also see a mixture of styles. For instance, the groom in a tux and his groomsmen in suits. Doing that allows the groom to stand out from the crowd.”
Zahner’s, a family-owned men’s clothier with roots dating back to 1908 - and today run by Brad and his wife Deanna - has a wide variety of options and products for grooms and groomsmen. It's also a full-service tailor and custom clothier. Zahner’s has full wedding packages available for the man, can tailor wedding suits purchased elsewhere or create a full custom suit for their clients.
“We have complete rental or purchase packages available, depending on the specific needs or desires of the couple,” he said. “What distinguishes us is our level of customer service. Our passion and desire is to make the men look their best for the special day while taking as much stress off of the couple as we possibly can. We offer options from full tailoring and alterations to suits and tuxedos, to full made-to-measure custom clothing."
While the bride and groom take part equally in the process, Brad says “We at times joke with men: ‘She gets to pick her dress from top to bottom, why don’t you get to pick your suit from top to bottom?’ Because we feel they should look and feel really incredible for that special day and for photos that will last a lifetime.”
Zahner’s Clothiers & Tailor Shop
435 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon
Online: Zahnersclothiers.com
Phone: 860-872-7349