Attire for father of the groom?

[MinEaston]

Calling all fashion / etiquette mavens & gurus

My brother gets married this August. It's 1PM wedding in a Catholic church, with a late afternoon/evening reception at an inn on a lake. My brother is wearing a black tux, as are his groomsmen.

The question is: Should the father of the groom (ie, my dad) wear a tux, or is a suit more appropriate, or does it matter?

Thoughts appreciated. TIA!

[ChristyMarie]

If he is playing any part in the ceremony he should go with a tux, otherwise a suit would be fine as long as the dress code for guests is not formal.

[Terri_A]

I'm a big believer that the father of the groom should wear the same type of thing as the father of the bride - so if the FOB is wearing a tux, so should the FOG.

[sdcook]

My dad wore a tux for my brother's wedding and my FIL wore one to mine. Those were both late afternoon/evening weddings.

[cangoss]

Both fathers wore tuxes to my wedding - they each owned one, so they didn't match the bridal party, but they were just classic black tuxes. One classy touch - my FIL got a bow tie that matched my MIL's dress. I thought it looked really nice.

[aggie94]

Both fathers wore tuxes that matched those of the bridal party at my wedding (which was a late afternoon/early evening outdoor ceremony).

[MikeC]

Well, I've played lots and lots of weddings! As I recall, usually the father of the groom dresses similarly to the father of the bride, i.e., usually in a tux, assuming that the father of the bride and groomsmen are wearing tuxes.

[stefania4]

I agree that he should dress at the same level of formality as the father of the bride.

How very odd, though, that the reception is early and the reception doesn't start for many hours later... is it a private ceremony for family only, with a reception for friends & family later?

[Robyn1007]

I agree that he should dress at the same level of formality as the father of the bride.

How very odd, though, that the reception is early and the reception doesn't start for many hours later... is it a private ceremony for family only, with a reception for friends & family later?

I don't think its all that odd. A Catholic ceremony will take a minimum of an hour. Then an hour or two for photographs and then your are at around 4pm for reception which is late afternoon.

I agree, the fathers should wear something similar.

[mbrogier]

The fathers should wear something similar so the photos look ok. If everyone is in a tux except FOG, it will look strange.

At one wedding, my husband was the brother of the groom, and he rented a tux just so the photos looked ok.

[MinEaston]

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I was actually thinking suit (my FIL wore one, but then again, neither he nor MIL are really formal), but Dad has his own tux and Mom's a talented seamstress, and since she's making her own dress she could easily make him a bow tie to match.

Anybody know what "Emily Post" would say?

The ceremony has to be at 1PM because the church can't do it any later, as they have a Saturday evening service regularly. The location is on Lake Winnepesaukee (sp?) so there will be plenty of sights for guests to see between the ceremony & the reception.

MikeC - at which church in Baltimore do you play?

[doggerham]

We stayed at a hotel on Lake Winnepesaukee (I'm not sure of the spelling either), and its a lovely area! Enjoy.

ETA: Winnipesaukee

[slawrence]

Or...he could do like my ex when our son got married. Dockers and a golf shirt. My son was in his Army uniform, groomsmen dressed up.....I'm so proud....... :rolleyes: But then again~I won't go there! Sue