Vested Interest in Incorporating the Vest (AKA My Bridal Epiphany!)

Vested Interest in Incorporating the Vest (AKA My Bridal Epiphany!)

June 27th, 2011 @ 11:21 am by Miss Sweet Cream
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I scoured the internet looking for inspiration for the most-important-thing-I-will-ever-wear (AKA: The Wedding Dress), ordered it, and crossed it off the list. (OK. Maybe it wasn’t that simple. But it is crossed off!)

But what about the Mister?!

Let me start off by saying that Mr. Sweet Cream isn’t the type of guy who needs help in the dressing-himself department. He is not a guy who will show up all wrinkly in ripped clothing to a family party, and he actually does get excited when we have a little cash to treat ourselves to some new duds.

So I was super excited that he was on the same page as me when it came down to wearing gray on our wedding day. (Mr. Sweet Cream can be very decisive about his wardrobe choices, so I surely thought that he would insist on an all black look for whatever reason.) Specifically, Mr. Sweets wants to wear “charcoal gray.” (I told you he’s decisive!)

He also liked the idea of forgoing the tux and having a very cool suit instead. I mean, do BBQ and fancy tuxedos go together? Well, I guess they can if we wanted them to. It’s our day, right?

But Mr. Sweets likes the suit idea (phew!)…so here are some of the ones that he’s been digging:

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Black & White Portly Suit / Image via Men’s Warehouse

Express Pinstripe Cotton Silk 2-Button Suit Jacket with Pinstripe Cotton Silk Producer Suit Pant / Image via Express

Suit, H&M / Shirt, Dolce & Gabanna / Tie, Penguin / Belt, Ralph Lauren & Shoes, Bostanian / Image via LookBook.nu

Suits—at least the ones Mr. Sweets is taking a liking too—can be a lot to ask the gents to fork up some Benjamins for. So I started Googling my little heart out looking for more inspiration. And that’s when it hit me.

Vests!! Yes. Super-simple, totally vintage vests.

I made the mistake of showing Mr. Sweets a picture like this:

Suit Vest in Italian Wool / Image via J.Crew

How cool would it be to throw away the whole jacket idea and just do vests? Look at the vested handsome grooms and their best buds charmingly existing in the blogosphere:

Image via Pam Cooley Photography

Photos by Ryan Wilcox of You Look Nice Today Photography / Image via Snippet & Ink

Photography by Christina Heaston & Angela M. Cox / Image via Weddingbee “Real Wedding” Brittany & Eric

Love it!

And I can just picture Mr. Sweets looking oh-so-yummy in his vest and tie. Mr. Sweets is totally down for the idea…but—with a jacket too!! Well, that kinda defeats the purpose. Sigh…the boy obviously isn’t gellin’ with my bridal brain. Perhaps I should create him a groomsmen inspiration board? No…there are far too many other things to do. I’m trying to let him know that a suit AND a vest would be only an added expense for the guys.

Instead of getting frustrated…I had an epiphany!

Mr. Sweet Cream can do whatever his little heart desires! I guess he can. It’s his day too, right? He is the groom after all! Who says he has to match his guys? I’m certainly not matchin’ the ladies.

And it turns out that I am not the only brilliant bride (or groom) to think of this idea!

I love how this cool-vested groom stands out amongst his buds.

Image via Delightfully Engaged / Photographer: Cameron Ingalls

All different suits + groom and his party = genius!

Image via Aric and Casey Photography

I still think that this wedding looks like it is straight out of the pages of some cool, hipster glossy. Vests for groomsmen? Check! Groom in suit? Double check! Extra cool: The groom was super considerate of his buddies’ wallets, and those vests…they’re from Forever 21. Yes, you read that right. Forever 21. Cost efficient and super stylish.

Image via OnceWed / Photographer: Photography by Beulah

The Mister and I can totally get our way, and it is even better than I imagined! Now we only have to figure out where to dress the guys for a decent price.

Mr. Sweets, feel free to go all out on your wedding-day suit and not feel all guilty. It’s a win win for all involved.

So tell me…what’s the groom wearing for the big day? Is he just as opinionated as Mr. Sweet Cream? Grooms, are you showing your personality or doing something special to stand out from the rest of the guys? Did you score any deals on the guys’ attire?

Tags: menswear, philadelphia |

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13 Responses to “Vested Interest in Incorporating the Vest (AKA My Bridal Epiphany!)”

Member

yeahmarlene (message) 27 posts, Newbee

really digging the 5th picture go for the “just the vest” really nice to see something different from the same-o same-o.

6/27/11 @ 11:32 am (reply)

Member

woodwindwaker (message) 590 posts, Busy bee

Vests are SOOO hot!! I think it would look awesome if your groom wore a vest and the others didn’t, like the one picture you showed. Or, what about having the groom in charcoal grey, with the groomsmen in a lighter shade of grey? That would also look “smashing!”

6/27/11 @ 11:55 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Pony (message) 4,171 posts, Honey bee

I love the vest look, there is something so timeless about it! And they universally look good on every guy.

6/27/11 @ 12:12 pm (reply)

Member

ThePinkPeony (message) 264 posts, Helper bee

What a great idea! I might suggest it to Mr. PP - like Mr. Sweet Cream, he VERY much knows what he wants sartorially (I just love that word, pardon the totally superfluous use of it here!), and wants formal with a capital F - black tux, possibly tails, and a bowtie. totally killing my dream of slouchy-chic biscuit linen suits Then again, it’s his day too, and if he dreams in tophats and tails, then he deserves to have it! (plus, I have to admit, bowties sort of make my heart go pitter-pat. Bizarre hangover from my love of old movies, I think)

6/27/11 @ 12:53 pm (reply)

Member

weddingstars2012 (message) 430 posts, Helper bee

OMG! We’re totally doing the vest thing! The guys will be in black pants and black vests with a light pink shirt from Express. Yeah, my fiance said it has to be from Express. So much for making it a little cheaper for the guys. But at least it’ll still be an investment. Oh and black ties and black chucks! And their shirt sleeves will be rolled up, like in that J. Crew pic. And I’m pretty sure the fiance is going to go with a charcoal color just to make it a little different. Oh and I want them all to wear aviators for the pictures. I got SUPER stoked when I dragged my brother to Express to try on what I was visualizing and it looked BEYOND amazing! And the best part is, the fiance came up with the outfit idea at the same exact time my brother did (yeah, I can’t take credit). So Yay!

6/27/11 @ 1:19 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Tartlet (message) 3,207 posts, Sugar bee

Mr. T was extremely opinionated about his attire, down to the types of cuffs on his shirt and lapels on his suit. I love the vest look, but I’m probably a bit biased on that one. If you camp sales and hoard Express coupons, the men’s suiting there is quite reasonable!

6/27/11 @ 1:44 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Cannon (message) 457 posts, Helper bee

Express is having a sale right now so we’re trying to stuff figured out. I actually wish Mr. Cannon had an opinion on clothes, because then I wouldn’t have to worry about it. But he keeps putting it off and it’s driving me crazy!

6/27/11 @ 1:59 pm (reply)

Member

weddingstars2012 (message) 430 posts, Helper bee

Yeah I definitely clicked on your Express link with the charcoal gray and realized the 2 gray colors are almost half off! Quickly forwarded to the fiance!

6/27/11 @ 2:21 pm (reply)

Member

justsplendid (message) 18 posts, Newbee

What a perfectly timed post. We’re doing vests and pants and the boys are supposed to go shopping on Wednesday. You gave me a couple good ideas of cheaper options (Express, H&M, etc) to pass along to my dude.

Thanks!

6/27/11 @ 2:38 pm (reply)

10.

Member

Jenlon (message) 287 posts, Helper bee

My FI is wearing a 3 piece suit, while the groomsmen are just wearing the vest and pants from that suit - SO excited that my man will stand out from the other men… And so excited for how good they’ll all look - I love the look of just a vest!

6/27/11 @ 3:41 pm (reply)

11.

Member

solsticedark (message) 92 posts, Worker bee

I am so envious of all of you with grooms with opinions. When I mentioned the subject to mine, multiple times, his responce has stayed the same each time. “I don’t care I will put on whatever you tell me to put on.” May sound nice to some, but for me its another major decison I have to make.
I do love the look of rolled up sleves with the vest tho. *saves those pics*

6/27/11 @ 6:33 pm (reply)

12.

Bee

Miss Cucumber Sandwich (message) 569 posts, Busy bee

Sadly Mr. Cucumber Sammie is not a vest guy so as much as I love those pictures it is not in the cards. We are doing grey suits though and we are waiting for a 50% sale from Jos. A Banks or Mens Warehouse.

6/27/11 @ 11:16 pm (reply)

13.