Wear a dinner jacket or tuxedo in white, pastel or a vibrant colour with black or matching pants for that elegant look. A matching waistcoat will look terrific with a plain or fancy shirt with a winged or turn-down collar. Your patterned or ascot tie should match your waistcoat or shirt. Accessorise the look with black, gold or jewelled studs and cufflinks, black silk or nylon socks and patent or polished leather dress shoes.

Semi-Formal - Winter

A formal dinner jacket or tuxedo with matching pants in black or another dark colour to match the colour scheme of your wedding, is ideal for the occasion. Your pleated or ruffled-bosom shirt in white or another pale colour, with a turn-down or winged collar, will look marvellous with a black or patterned ascot tie to match your waistcoat.

Black, gold or jewelled studs or cufflinks, black silk or nylon socks, patent or polished dress shoes and a black single- or double-breasted overcoat will complete the winter look.

Formal

Go all out for this one in a black full dress or tailcoat jacket with matching pants. Your white pique waistcoat with a separate winged collar, white bowtie and white or pearl studs and cufflinks, together with your patent or leather slip-on shoes, black silk socks and black dress coat will ensure you're the talk of the town for a long time to come! Now, if many of the terms used in the earlier descriptions left you in a spin, you'll need to go over our handy glossary to familiarise yourself with the formal wear jargon.

Ascot Tie
Available in stripes, florals, paisleys and plain, this tie should be worn with a winged collar shirt. It forms a double knot and has wide ends that fold over the chest and is secured with a tie pin.

Band Tie
A modern alternative and resembling more of a band than a tie, it is worn with a stand-up collar shirt. A stud or button cover is usually placed in its centre.

Buttonhole
A small floral arrangement, consisting of usually either a carnation or flowers from your bride's bouquet and a little greenery, this corsage is pinned to the buttonhole of your left lapel.

Bowtie
The most well-known of all formal wear, the pre-tied version is readily available and is the most convenient.

Its colour should match that of your cummerbund or waistcoat and it is available in a wide range of colours and patterns.

Button Cover
More for decoration than use, the button cover resembles a cufflink and is covers the top button of a stand-up collar shirt, alleviating the need for either tie or band.