We’ve decided it’s time to show a little love for the guys. Each month, we’ll share tips and stories from real-life groomsmen about what it’s like to be part of a friend’s wedding. So listen up groomsmen-to-be, this is for you!
Fact: If you have a large, tight-knit group of guy friends, you can count on being a groomsman several times through your mid-30s. A coworker just told me he was just in his eighth (!) wedding party—and that blew my mind.
Having just been a groomsman for the third time, I can honestly say that it’s a fantastic experience I will of course always remember… enough manly mayhem for a lifetime. But some things need to change.
On average, I’ve spent about $2,000 for each wedding—hotels, bachelor parties, days off and suits can add up quickly. Now much of this cost is unavoidable, and we’re usually at the mercy of hotel and airline rates. But there’s one thing guys can sync up on: attire.
Of the three weddings I was in, I had to wear three entirely different suits approximating $700 total. One was a $140 rental that included what could only be described as “Hammer Pants.” Another was a decent suit that I had to purchase outright, only to arrive at the wedding with a different shade of gray than the other groomsmen. These costs add up and at the end of the day, I don’t have much to show for it in my closet.
Here’s an idea. When the first dude in your friend crew gets engaged, all the guys get together and decide on one really nice suit to sport at every future wedding (within your group of friends). This would save everyone hundreds of dollars in the long run, and minimize annoying alterations and customer service fiascos. And the best part? Everyone gets a fashionable suit they can potentially wear for decades to come.
I know what you’re thinking. People have vastly different personal wedding taste(s). But the beautiful thing is that a killer suit looks timeless, especially when altered by a good tailor. And often it’s the ties that match the wedding theme or bridesmaid dresses, with shoes, vests, socks and other accessories adding individual style.
All it would take is a little communication and planning. Considering my aforementioned coworker probably spent at least $150 for attire at each of his eight wedding experiences, he could have been rocking a slick $1,200 suit that most guys would kill for.
Wouldn’t that be worth it?
