Wedding Anniversary Dinner in a Tuxedo

A wedding anniversary is one of the rare occasions when two people dress up just for each other, and a tuxedo makes the evening feel different from an ordinary dinner. You have two routes: wear your wedding tuxedo again if it still fits, or make a new one that carries the mark of the present. Both are fine, as long as you choose deliberately.

Wearing your wedding tuxedo again, or a new one

Wearing the wedding suit again has a touch of sentiment: the garment is tied to the memory of that day, and putting it on is a gentle reminder. But check a few things first:

• Does it still fit? After a few years the shoulders, chest and waist may have changed. Try it early and not just before the date. A tailor can let out or take in to a certain extent if there is spare seam allowance, but not every change can be made. The article on wearing a wedding tuxedo again explains the limits of alterations.
• Do the colour and cut still suit you now? A suit made for a groom many years ago may need a new bow tie, shirt or buttons to look current.
• Has it been well kept? Check for damp smell, small stains, or scuffed shine on the satin lapels.

A new suit is different: you can try colours you did not dare at the wedding, such as midnight blue or wine red, or a more relaxed cut. A new tuxedo also serves many other occasions afterwards, so it can be a reasonable investment; see the midnight blue and navy collection. A middle path is to keep the wedding jacket and make a new shirt, bow tie or waistcoat to give the old suit a different look.

Pairing with your wife's dress

You are going together, so the beauty lies in harmony rather than matching. A few suggestions:

• Take the dress colour as the starting point. A red dress: wear black or midnight blue with a wine-red pocket square or velvet bow tie. A navy dress: choose black, charcoal or a dark wine red.
• Balance the fabrics. If her dress has satin sheen or sequins, choose a matte tuxedo cloth; if her dress is soft, a tuxedo with satin lapels makes a good counterweight.
• Match the level of formality. A long evening gown goes with a tuxedo; a short cocktail dress goes with a suit or a simpler tuxedo.
• Echo one small detail: cufflinks in the colour of her jewellery, or a pocket square in the colour of her shoes.

The article on pairing a tuxedo with your companion has fuller principles if you need more ideas.

Restaurants with a dress code

Many upscale or fine dining restaurants have dress rules. Before you book:

• Call or check the website for the requirement: "smart casual", "jacket required" or "formal". Most do not require a tuxedo, only a smart jacket.
• If the restaurant does not demand black tie, a tuxedo is still handsome but may stand out among other tables. You can tone it down by switching to a dark suit, or wearing the tuxedo with restrained accessories. Read more in dining at a fine dining restaurant.
• If the restaurant is inside a hotel hosting an event that night, ask the staff whether a black tie function is on, to avoid dressing out of tune.
• Tell the restaurant it is an anniversary: some places prepare a special table or dessert.

Keepsake photographs

Many couples like to take a picture every year on their anniversary. A few notes for photographs that look good and gain value over time:

• Shoot from the same spot or angle each year, if you can, to compare across the years.
• Wearing the wedding tuxedo again for one photograph is an idea many couples love.
• Ask someone to take it, or use a tripod; a low-angle selfie distorts the line of the jacket.
• Button the jacket when standing; press it well and check the shirt collar before the shoot.
• Stand close and angle slightly toward each other so both outfits sit in the frame.

A fitting at Mon Amie

If you plan to wear the wedding suit again, bring it in so the tailor can check the fit and suggest alterations; if you want a new one, making time depends on the style and the fitting schedule, so order early. Book a fitting at a showroom to decide with a consultant.