The logistics of wedding-planning are complex enough without having to think about what you’re wearing for the big day. But if you plan ahead and get your clothing ready early, you won’t have to worry about too-short sleeves or an ill-fitting jacket the day-of. In this two-part series, we’re going to make the case for wearing a tuxedo or a suit on your wedding day. Today we’re starting with the tux.

In modern times, we think of the tuxedo as the be-all, end-all of formalwear, but it originated in England around the end of the 19th century as a more casual alternative to the long-tailed jackets that men wore in the evenings. According to legend, the tuxedo—still called a “smoking jacket” in Europe—was first worn stateside during an event at a private club in Tuxedo Park, New York. It’s no longer seen as the casual alternative, but the name has stuck.

The tuxedo—and its slightly more casual cousin, the dinner jacket—have changed very little in the last century, and for good reason. Its monochromatic color scheme of either black or midnight blue (or in the case of a dinner jacket, ivory) against white is dramatic and elegant and can elevate yourself, your spouse and the entire day.

Reasons to wear a tuxedo for your wedding:

• Your wedding day is not like other days, and a tuxedo is not like the suit you may wear each week to work. It indicates that the day is special, and the ceremony is something worth dressing up for (although wearing a tux doesn’t mean that the dress code for all of your attendees must also be black tie).

• You haven’t previously owned a tuxedo, and will now be investing in one that can be worn to black tie events in the future.

• You want to match the formality level of what your spouse will be wearing. 

• Your wedding is being held in the evening at a more formal setting.

• You’ve simply always wanted to wear a tuxedo—and now you have a great reason to do so.