I'm going to step out on a limb here and assume that your betrothed isn't as concerned with wedding attire as you are. However, even if you've known your whole life that you'll be wearing an A-line gown in duchess satin with a cathedral train, I'll bet you haven't considered the details of what your groom will wear. And don't tell me he's wearing a tuxedo -- that's like saying you think you might wear a dress.
In order to sound knowledgeable when you go shopping for his formalwear, there are a few terms with which you should be familiar (Brides.com has a fantastic guide to men's formalwear). Today, we'll just discuss jackets.
- Cutaway coat (aka morning suit): Jacket has single button and a wide tail that goes to about the knee, and is generally worn with striped trousers and an ascot. This is a very formal option for a daytime wedding.
- Stroller: More subtle version of the cutaway coat with a shorter tail.
- Dinner jacket: Basically a tuxedo jacket, but can also refer to a white jacket cut like a tuxedo jacket. Normally worn in warm weather with black formal trousers.
- Tailcoat: Front of jacket cuts away at the hips, and long tails extend down the back. Extremely formal evening attire.
- Tuxedo: Traditional black or gray jacket with satin lapels. Worn with black dress trousers.
- Double-breasted: Jacket has two sets of buttons down the front and must stay buttoned -- has lost popularity in recent years.
- Single-breasted: Much more common than the double-breasted, having just one set of buttons on the front. Can be worn buttoned or unbuttoned.
- Notch lapel: This is the lapel style you see most often, with a bit of a notch where the collar and lapel come together (clever name, isn't it?).
- Peak lapel: More pronounced than the notch, with the lapels extended in a point.
- Shawl collar: Collar doesn't peak, but rather curves around neck and down jacket.
