Outdoor pre-wedding shoots: tuxedo by location

The location shapes the tuxedo more than most grooms expect: the same black suit looks wonderful in Da Lat morning mist and becomes a trial on a beach at midday. Choosing by location means looking at climate, light and background colour first, and only then at cloth and cut.

Cool Da Lat: velvet, waistcoat, layers

Early mornings and late afternoons in Da Lat are colder than many people from the south expect, and those are exactly the hours photographers like. This is where a layered tuxedo earns its place.

• Velvet jacket: velvet catches light softly and suits pine forest and mist. Burgundy, moss green or smoke grey have real depth. TUX-012, a smoke-grey velvet with shawl collar, shows the direction.
• Waistcoat: worn under the jacket it adds warmth and structure; when the jacket comes off for walking shots, the waistcoat still holds the look together.
• Overcoat: a long overcoat in a muted tone over the tuxedo, for standing portraits on a hillside.

Choose a wool of moderate weight, not too thin. A fabric that does not breathe will leave you sweating as soon as the sun comes up and chilled when the wind arrives.

The beach: ivory, no waistcoat

The beach is the least forgiving place for heavy pieces. Sun, humidity and salt wind make a three-piece suit uncomfortable very quickly.

• Choose an ivory or pale beige dinner jacket that matches the sand and sky. See TUX-015, ivory with shawl lapel or TUX-042, an ivory dinner jacket with black lapels.
• No waistcoat, no cummerbund: take layers away. A light shirt and a thin jacket, sleeves rolled if you like.
• Skip patent shoes. Soft-soled leather or loafers are easier on sand, or go barefoot for frames near the water.
• Watch the glare: ivory in harsh sun burns out in photographs. Ask your photographer about timing, usually early morning or late afternoon.

Old quarters: muted tones, classic styling

Hoi An, Hanoi's old streets and the French villas of Saigon have yellow, brown and moss-green backgrounds. A bright or loud suit gets lost there. Muted colours do their job.

• Black, charcoal, deep navy and chestnut brown all work. TUX-009, chestnut brown with peak lapel sits well against old brick and wood.
• Style it classically: hand-tied bow tie, pocket square, leather-strap watch. A fedora if it suits the concept.
• A shawl lapel feels more nostalgic than a peak, so choose it when you want an earlier-era mood.

Travel and keeping clean

Outdoors has two enemies: dust and creases. A few habits carry the suit through the shoot without needing rescue.

1. Garment bag: always carry the suit hanging in a garment bag, hung straight in the car, never stuffed in a backpack.
2. Separate the vulnerable pieces: shoes, shirt and bow tie in their own bags; bring a spare shirt.
3. Change somewhere clean: not on wet grass or sand; ask someone to hold the jacket between scenes.
4. Carry a clothes brush, lint roller and damp cloth: wipe quick marks before shooting; leave heavy ones to the cleaner.
5. Do not sit casually: stone, steps and grass leave the seat of your trousers dirty and creased; lay down a cloth.

At the end of the day, hang the suit straight away, let it air, then have it professionally pressed. For longer trips involving a flight, see packing a tuxedo in a suitcase.

A tip from the Mon Amie workroom

If you shoot in several locations, a three-piece tuxedo with a removable waistcoat is flexible: warm in Da Lat, lighter at the sea just by removing a layer. For help choosing the number and colour of outfits, see tuxedos for pre-wedding photos, or browse wedding tuxedos. Tell the consultant your location and season at the measuring, so the cloth suits the climate. Book a fitting at a showroom.