Perhaps the most important part of a wedding is the gown the bride chooses for her big day. The tuxedo appears to be a mere sidekick by comparison, but the reality is this — if the tuxedo and wedding dress don't somehow complement one another, the whole vibe of the wedding feels off.

Matching the tuxedo to the wedding dress not only makes the visual appeal of your wedding more engaging but also creates a doable guideline for choosing attire. Here's the question: do you match the wedding dress to the tuxedo or the tuxedo to the wedding dress? The answer is it's up to you, and often dependent upon which is purchased first.

Complementing wedding style isn't as difficult as it may appear, even if you haven't purchased the gown or the tux yet. Here are some pointers to get your styling in the right direction.

Consider the theme of the wedding

For those who are still in the planning stage of the wedding, choosing the gown and tux should revolve around the theme of the wedding. Planning a destination wedding? Choose something light and flowy for the dress, and something loose and textured for the tux. If choosing a truly white wedding dress, opt for a rich black or navy tuxedo to match.

A bohemian theme can feature many different textures and materials for a whimsical appeal in both the wedding dress and the tuxedo. Here, you get the freedom of color choices as well, since a boho-themed dress and accompanying tuxedo can be anywhere from a light blue to a more traditional off-white, ivory or tan. You can also choose to opt-out of a jacket and just wear a vest.

Consider the cut and style of the purchased dress or tux

When you find what you like, go ahead and purchase it — buying the dress or tuxedo early on in the wedding planning is no uncommon feat, and gives you a larger idea of what direction to go when purchasing the other important wedding attire. Focus on the overall cut and style of the purchased clothing.

The goal is not to create a His-and-Hers matching wedding outfit set, it's to create a continuity with wedding attire. Focusing on just one or two fine details on a purchased item to be continued in the next helps create that complementary look without going overboard.

Consider the way things will look in photographs

Wedding photographs will last forever, and if the tuxedo and wedding dress looks great in person but don't photograph well together, then the aesthetic may be off in the end. When trying on any wedding dress or tuxedo, take photographs in both color and black and white and do a side-by-side comparison of both types of wedding attire.

You may find that a tux's dark tie shows up too boldly in a photograph, or a dress's fine lace detail is too delicate against a more stark and stiff tuxedo look. Either soften a tux's appeal by adding a cummerbund or a lighter tie — or forego a jacket entirely — or give a wedding dress a more commanding appeal by adding a sash or belt to make both wedding outfits look as endearing in photographs as they do in person.

There's nothing wrong with having a color swatch to refer to when choosing a tuxedo. With so many colors in wedding dresses to choose from  — from a dusty rose to a classic white — and an equal amount of colors and styles for a tuxedo to look at, it can be hard to stay focused on finding the right wedding attire for everyone. Color swatches, reference photos, and detailed highlights of what you're looking for in both a tuxedo and a dress are helpful. For your wedding shopping needs, contact us today.