for the boys: the do's and don'ts of formalwear

i came across a vintage GQ magazine recently and thought this was worthy of being passed along...

1.  do buy a tuxedo.  shelling out $100 for a sad-sack rental each time you attend a black tie event makes no sense.
2. don't buy a three-button tux.  stick with the classics: a one- or two-button model will never go out of style.
3. do wear a shirt with a conventional, straight lay-down collar.  and make sure it has french cuffs.
4. don't ever wear a banded collar (those priestlike ones favored by country singers and nfl players).  ever.
5. do learn how to tie a bow tie. (refer to our previous post on this.)
6. don't ever buy one of those matching, patterned cummerbund-and-bow-tie sets.
7. do wear a black bow tie or straight tie.  and skip the cummerbund - you'll achieve a cleaner, more modern look without one.
8. don't stress out over finding cool studs.  a well-made formalwear shirt will have nice, sturdy buttons.  or avoid the issue of the bejeweled button substitutes altogether and go with one of those hidden-button placket-front shirts.
9. do wear a peak-lapel tux jacket if you insist on wearing a wing-collar shirt.  and make sure the wings are tucked behind your bow tie, not peeking out above it.
10. don't muck it up.  keep the outfit simple and keep it black and white.  the cleaner the better.

vintage vineyard vows: jenn and cody

one of my favorite weddings of 2010...  jenn and cody worked on their wedding for a long time, trying to find the perfect blend of vintage and modern, and jenn left no detail untouched in the DIY department!  this bride made cookie bags, and programs, and burlap table numbers.  she scoured etsy for hair accessories and cake toppers and pennant banners.  and the cookies...this pittsburgh native had a cookie table covered with cookies all made by the mothers of the bride and groom.  we had tons of fun putting together this vintage design and it really paid off in the end!

many thanks to the wonderful vendors who helped make this wedding perfect:
flowers: pat's floral design
photography: simply bloom photography
venue: veritas vineyard & winery
cake: favorite cakes