Should the Groom Wear a Second Look?

Question:Hi Style Team! My fiancee and I are getting married this New Year's Eve in St. Louis! She has informed me that she will have a second look that she plans to wear during the reception.  Is it mandatory that I also have a second look for the wedding day?

Answer:Thanks for your question and congratulations on your upcoming NYE wedding! If your bride-to-be is wearing a second look for the wedding day, it is not mandatory that you also wear a second look.  As a general rule, I like to suggest that the number of looks that the groom has for the wedding day should be less than or equal to the number of the bride's looks.  If the bride only has one look, then the groom should only have one.  In this case, your bride has two looks so you can either stick with your main look or add a second reception look.  Alternatively, you can make subtle changes to your first look that make it appear that you have a second look.  For instance, if you are wearing a three-piece suit, consider removing the jacket and just wearing the vest and trousers for your second/reception look.  Or if you are wearing a two-piece suit with suspenders beneath your jacket, your second look would be the trousers, dress shirt and suspenders.  If you have a little more budget that you can assign it towards a second look, especially if you are wearing a tuxedo. I would suggest purchasing a dinner jacket that can we worn with the tuxedo trousers from the first look for the reception look.  If you want your groomsmen to have a second look (especially if the bridesmaids will have some sort of change), consider gifting them with a pair of suspenders they can wear beneath their first look and use as their reception look. Best of luck!