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GROOM'S WEAR
“What should I wear for my wedding?” is not a
big question for the groom compared to
choosing bridal wear for bride. However, it depends on what type of wedding you are
planning to have.
In Sri
Lanka, where most of the weddings based on
Poruwa Ceremony, many grooms choose “Nilame
Suit” or generally known as “Mul Anduma”
(The First Dress). This gives a majestic
semblance to the wedding ceremony. “Mul
Anduma” reflects the importance of the
wedding ceremony by its royalty & prestige.
This
dress originated in 1815 and was worn by the
Kandyan aristocracy in the days the Nayakkar
dynasty was powerful, though never by the
king. According to Kandyan wall murals, the
king had worn the atamulu thoppiya (eight
cornered hat) – a kind of hat, brim raised
with eight protruding points – with a jacket
of long, loose, frilly sleeves, and dhoti,
trousers that stuck close to the ankle at
the bottom but were slack and baggy up.
Other than being worn by the Diyawadana
Nilames (officials of the Dalada Maligawa –
palace, for the worship of the Buddha’s
tooth relic) and by the Basnayake Nilames
(officials of the low country) when
performing certain functions of their
office, the mul anduma was worn only by the
aristocratic families and on important
occasions. However, the aristocracy has lost
its exclusive claims to the Mul Anduma; it
has now become immensely and increasingly
popular as a wedding-day fashion across the
classes.
Top
part or the Jacket of Mul Anduma made of
soft deep coloured (mainly maroon) velvet &
carefully woven labyrinthine patterns. Cost
of preparing Mul Anduma is very high,
compared to western formal dresses & it
takes a long time for completing as well.
Therefore, normally people hire these suits,
shoes, jewellery. Don't forget to
attend to traditional customs if you have
decided to wear Mul Anduma on your
wedding.
My
personal choice is long sleeved shirt
without collars up to the knee and a white
Sarong, which is the national dress for men
in Sri Lanka. If you feel like it’s too calm
or impassive, you can add some embroidery.
An embroidered Shawl would be a great
amalgamation for this national dress.
For
western groom suits, you have several
choices because the groom should select his
formal wear based on the formality of your
wedding, the time of day, and the bride’s
gown. For a semi-formal or formal wedding,
the groom will need a tuxedo. A tuxedo is
the formal jacket worn by men on special or
formal occasions. The most popular colors
are black, white, and gray.
Best
thing you can do is plan early, so that you
have time to make adjustments.
Standard tips in
selecting western formal wear
Informal wedding:
Business suit, White dress shirt and tie
Semi-formal daytime:
Formal suit, White dress shirt,
Cummerbund or vest
Four-in-hand or bow tie
Formal daytime:
Cutaway or stroller jacket, Waistcoat,
Striped trousers
White wing-collared shirt, Striped tie,
Studs and cufflinks
Formal evening:
Black dinner jacket, Matching trousers,
Waistcoat
White tuxedo shirt, Bow tie, Cufflinks
Cummerbund or vest
Very formal daytime:
Cutaway coat, Wing-collared shirt,
Ascot,
Striped trousers, Cufflinks, Gloves
Very formal evening:
Black tailcoat, Matching striped trousers
White wing-collared shirt, Waistcoat
Patent leather shoes, Studs and cufflinks,
Gloves
- Gayan |
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