Nobody teaches you this stuff. You get engaged, you start shopping, and suddenly you're reading product pages full of words like "peak lapel," "single breasted," and "side vents" as if you were supposed to already know them. You weren't. The whole vocabulary is about six terms deep, and once you have them, the mens tuxedo wedding decision gets a lot smaller. Here's the plain-English version. First: What Makes a Tuxedo a Tuxedo One thing, mostly. Satin. A tuxedo has satin facing on the lapels, usually satin-covered buttons, and traditionally a satin stripe running down the outside of each trouser leg. A suit doesn't. Same silhouette, different finish — and that finish is the only thing separating a mens tuxedo wedding look from a plain suit. Everything else you're about to read is a variation on that one idea. If you want the deeper history, Art of Manliness has a thorough breakdown of black tie, including why the jacket got its name from a town in New York. Tuxedo Lapel Styles, Ranked by How Loud They Are The lapel is the folded panel running down the front of the jacket. Three shapes cover the entire mens tuxedo wedding market, and the difference between them is genuinely just the shape of the notch where the collar meets the lapel. Notch Lapel A simple V-shaped step cut into the lapel. It's the same shape you'll find on almost every suit jacket you've ever worn, which is exactly why it feels familiar and why it's the easiest to wear again. Traditionalists rank notch as the least formal of the three for strict black tie. In practice, it's the most versatile mens tuxedo wedding option on the market, and it's what Grooms Club uses on our tuxedos: a 2-button single breasted jacket with a satin notch lapel, side vents, and flap pockets. If you want a tux you'll actually pull out again for a gala or a New Year's party, this is the shape that does it. Choose it if: You want one jacket that works past the wedding. Peak Lapel The lapel points flare upward and outward, toward your shoulders. It's the most formal of the three and the most flattering on most builds, because those upward points visually broaden the chest and shorten the torso. A peak lapel tuxedo wedding look is the safest choice if your invitation says black tie and you want zero ambiguity. Choose it if: Strict dress code, evening ceremony, or you want the sharpest line in photos. Shawl Lapel One continuous, rounded curve with no notch or point at all. It's the oldest of the three shapes and the one people picture when they picture a dinner jacket. A shawl lapel tuxedo reads smooth and classic rather than sharp. Choose it if: You want a softer, more vintage feel, or you're wearing a white or ivory dinner jacket. There's no wrong answer here. Lapel shape is the detail your guests are least likely to notice and you're most likely to overthink. Single Breasted vs. Double Breasted This one takes ten seconds. Single breasted means one column of buttons and a jacket front that closes with minimal overlap. It's the standard, it works on every body type, and it's what almost every mens wedding tuxedo on the market uses. Double breasted means two columns of buttons and a wide overlapping front panel. It's a bolder, more retro look. It also stays buttoned all night, which means it doesn't drape as well when you sit down for dinner. For a mens tuxedo wedding, single breasted is the default for good reason. Go double breasted only if you actively want the look. Mens Tuxedo Wedding Colors: The Short List Tuxedos come in far fewer colors than suits, which makes this the fastest decision in the process: Black. Formal, evening, black-tie. The one that's never wrong. Navy. Warmer than black, easier to pair with color, and better for reuse. Blue. A brighter, more modern read for daytime and spring ceremonies. Light grey. Warm weather, outdoor venues, and destination weddings. We went deep on this in our guide to choosing a wedding tuxedo color, including which shades photograph well under evening light. The Rest of the Vocabulary Six more terms and you've got the whole mens tuxedo wedding vocabulary: Vents. The slits at the back hem. Side vents (two) move better when you sit and are what we use. A center vent (one) is more common on off-the-rack suits. Break. Where your trouser hem meets your shoe. A slight break, roughly half an inch of fabric folding at the top of the shoe, is the modern standard. Flat front. Trousers with no pleats at the waist. Cleaner and slimmer than pleated. Stud set. Small removable fasteners that replace the buttons on a formal shirt placket. Cummerbund. The pleated waist sash worn with a tux. Wear one or a vest, never both. Facing. The satin panel on the lapel. If someone says "satin-faced peak," that's all they mean. That's it. That's the language. What Actually Matters More Than Any of This Fit. It isn't close. This is the one part of mens tuxedo wedding shopping that genuinely moves the needle. A well-fitting notch lapel tuxedo at $199.99 will photograph better than a poorly fitting peak lapel one at three times the price. Shoulders that sit flat, sleeves that show a half inch of shirt cuff, and trousers that break cleanly matter more than any styling detail on this page. That's why our tuxedos are built with 4-way stretch fabric, a stretch lining, and a waistband that flexes up to 2 inches. You move through the ceremony, the dinner, and the dance floor without once thinking about the jacket. No alterations needed for most guys, and every order is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. For the etiquette side of things once you've picked your look, read our dos and don'ts of wedding tuxedo etiquette. And if you're still deciding whether the dress code even calls for a tux, The Knot breaks down every wedding dress code for guys and Zola covers what black tie actually permits. Your Mens Tuxedo Wedding Shortlist Four decisions, in order: Color. Black for evening and formal. Navy, blue, or light grey for everything else. Lapel. Notch for versatility. Peak for strict black tie. Shawl for a softer, classic feel. Front. Single breasted unless you specifically want double. Accessories. Bow tie or necktie, vest or cummerbund, then a pocket square to bring in your wedding colors. You can make all four in one sitting — no showroom, no appointment. Build the look in our Customize Your Look tool, see it assembled before you commit, and share it with your groomsmen so everyone orders the same thing. The mens tuxedo wedding category isn't complicated. It's just badly explained. Now you know the words, so go pick the one you like. Shop Wedding Tuxedos