Mr. Handsome – Dressing The Groom, Part 2

Timeline: If you’re going with a tux, order it (along with all of the groomsmen ensembles) at least 3 months before the wedding. Plan on having alterations with your final fitting about a month before the wedding to leave time for last minute adjustments. Suits and other wedding wear, like beach-perfect khakis, should also be tailored for you to look your best, so select them at least a month before the big day.

Begin skin treatments like facials at least a couple of months prior to your nuptials.Professional sessions and home regimens will make a huge difference in your overall appearance on the day-of, but you should consult with an esthetician before starting. And you don’t want to test out a treatment a week before the wedding only to discover your skinreacts undesirably to exfoliants.

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Tips:

Weddings don’t just mean tuxedos anymore- your outfit choice should reflect your venue and level of formality. While tuxes look stunning on all men, a lighter colored suit decked out in fall colors is more appropriate for a less formal outdoor orchard wedding. Casual can still look sharp and polished- just make sure that all of your pieces fit your body perfectly and flow with the overall wedding.

Consider the cut and quality of your shirt and vest as you’ll probably take your jacket off at some point. Have an extra shirt and pair of socks on hand to refresh your look throughout the day.

When you finally pick up your tux or suit, try everything on before you leave the store. Make sure each item fits properly, you have everything you ordered, and the groomsmen outfits match. If renting, check for stains, tears, etc.

Rent or buy? If it’s likely that you’ll need a tux about three times in the next few years, it’s usually worth it to buy one. If not, rentals are just fine and cost about 10-30% of a tuxedo’s purchase price. Find a rental shop that regularly updates its inventory and can supply everything you and your groomsmen need for your ensembles. Get all groomsmen suits/tuxedos from the same shop to ensure consistency. If some groomsmen cannot make it to the fittings, they should have professional measurements taken and sent to the store.

Accessories count for you too men! Have any jewelry you plan on wearing professionally cleaned and make sure shoes are polished to perfection!

Whether you opt for beach sandals or dress shoes, have a pedicure along with a manicure. We promise, you’ll feel clean and confident, and your bride will be happy later on. Whatever you do, do not skip the manicure! While you won’t have the fancy polish the bride gets, your hands will look much nicer in those close-up shots of the rings. Also, we recommend splurging on a professional shave for you and the boys- what a way to feel special and relaxed (not to mention you’ll look great!).

Most importantly, BE YOURSELF! You don’t need to change your rocker hairstyle for the wedding (although you should tame it and make it presentable for grandma)- this day should showcase the very best version of you, not a cookie-cutter groom!

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A Final Word: Okay, so lots of brides have every minute detail of the day planned way in advance (some even before they meet their partners) and yours just doesn’t think your personal style can fit into her vision. What do you do? Well fellas, this is your day too, and we guess that even the staunchest of brides will let you make some big choices if you know how to approach her. Remember that compromise is key, but society has told us all for a long time that weddings are strictly the woman’s day- your bride has been convinced through years of conditioning that everything should be exactly as she wants it (so don’t jump to anger when she expects the final say in all of the decisions). When you start protesting, she may see your interference as unfair. The key is to keep conversations positive and show appreciation for all of the work she is putting into making your joint day spectacular. If she wants you to make a drastic change, like in hairstyle, or wear something that makes you feel uncomfortable, get her undivided attention and tell her how much it would mean to you to stamp something personal on your wedding day look. Women respond much better to feelings than control struggles, so remind her how much you love her and are looking forward to marrying her, and that you would really like to be involved by choosing your own outfit and a few personal touches, like cuff links. Let her know that you can’t wait to be surprised when you see her at the end of the aisle, and while you plan on keeping your ensemble in line with the wedding theme, you would like her to bepleasantly surprised as well. Assure her that you’ll be groomed (pun intended) to perfection and she can expect to find the best possible you waiting to join your life with hers!