If you need a tux, it's better to go ahead and rent one unless you plan to wear it many times during the next few years. Tux rentals ultimately save you money because you're just paying a one-shot fee to wear a tux for a single time. Purchasing one is a waste of money because they're quite costly and will sit in the back of your closet for years if you're not one to need it for other formal occasions in the following four years. An owned tux that's more than four years old tends to look out-of-date which defeats one of the purposes of wearing one, which is to look classy, dressed-up and stylish.



When going through the process of tux rentals, you can make the whole process go smoothly by planning ahead to make sure you have the best selection, and to guarantee that you'll get a tuxedo that fits well.

The first thing you're going to want to do is familiarize yourself with the tuxedo rental shops in your area. You can ask around for recommendations, of course, but it may simply be easier to flip through the pages of your local phone book. Some of the ads for these types of stores may be large enough to provide a little bit of information about the establishment. It's best to choose stores that will fit your tux rentals based on measurements. Also, look for stores with multiple locations since they tend to be larger, more established and have a wider selection of formal suits.

Give yourself lots of time to go to store before your wedding. You should have plenty of time and shouldn't have any excuses why you can't make it. Ideally go to your chosen store at least one to two months before the wedding to get yourself properly measured. This will ensure a more accurate fit in your tuxedo rentals than if you were to do the measurements yourself. A sales associate will measure your bare waist at belt height, you hips including your behind, your sleeve length from the middle of your back, the circumference of your neck, as well as your chest including and excluding the width of your arms.

Once your chosen store has your measurements, you can decide of the cut of the tuxedo rental. Your fiancée may want a say in this so that you match her, the groomsmen and the bridesmaids. A good sales person will be able to help you find a cut that compliments your build and is suitable for how informal or formal your wedding is. Some argue a cropped jacket will make a shorter man seem taller and that heavier-set men should wear jackets with wider lapels. But these are decisions you'll need to make for yourself once you try the tuxes on.

Tuxedo rentals are not cheap and expect to pay $100 or more for the rental of an entire tux. This includes the trousers, shirt, ties, jacket, socks, shoes, cummerbund or vest, and sometimes cufflinks. You'll be required to pay a deposit when your measurements are taken with the balance due before you leave the store with your tuxedo. Schedule a fitting at least one week before your wedding so that you have time to get any alterations.