The bride won't be the only focus of attention on your wedding day. Make no mistake, she will be the primary focus, but eyes will be upon you as well. You'll want to look your best on the day for your bride and both families, but there's the added fact that your wedding photos will be around for years to come. We know that you've been in charge of your own grooming for years, but we'd like to offer a few wedding day tips all the same.
Get a haircut. Go to your usual barber about a week before your wedding. By giving your hair a week to recover from the shock of the cut, it will look right on the day. This is not the time to try out a new stylist or cut.
Shave. Most grooms will take some time off before their wedding and yield to the temptation of letting their beard grow for a couple of days. When he finally shaves for the rehearsal dinner and wedding, there's a far greater chance of developing razor rash. You can let your beard grow after the wedding, but to avoid the skin irritation (which will be exacerbated by that tux shirt collar, and evident in the photos), treat the week before your wedding as a work week, at least on the shaving front.
Nothing radical. This is not the time to make a radical change in your appearance. Shaving off your mustache or getting that buzz cut you were thinking of trying could give your bride a coronary. Of course these choices are fine once the wedding is over, but for now, surprising appearance changes should be shelved.
Scent sense. On your wedding day, the scent of perfume and flowers will fill the air. The bride won't be the only woman wearing perfume. Her old aunt, the one who has lost her sense of smell, will have used part of a bottle, your sixteen-year-old cousin will surely be liberal with the Hi Karate cologne. The good, clean smell of soap and deodorant should be just fine for you.
Minty Fresh. Keep some breath mints in your pocket. You'll be talking to and kissing people all day long. You may get very little to eat because of all that socializing. Breath mints (preferably the kind with real sugar) can keep your breath fresh for your guests and stave off hunger pangs for a little while. Don't opt for gum.
From several reliable female sources, we've heard a few grooming tips that show you've gone the extra mile for your bride.
A manicure ~ this $10-15 procedure will make your hands look great. Don't worry, it's not about nail polish, it's about clean fingernails.
Cut your toenails. Some of the romance could be dulled when she gets scraped by those clam shells.
Shave that hairline on your neck. Even if you've had your haircut a week ago, buzz that neck hair the day before the wedding.
Attire
In your quest to look your best on the day, the choice of a suit that fits well is an important one. Several days before your wedding, lay out the clothes you plan to wear for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. Make sure you have everything covered:
Polished shoes
Appropriately-colored socks (usually black)
Tuxedo or suit
Tuxedo shirt or dress shirt -- starched
Cufflinks
Shirt studs for tuxedo shirt
Collar stays for a regular dress shirt
Bow tie or long tie
Cummerbund or vest
Suspenders (if you wear them)
Two final shirt-related details. If you ask the dry cleaner to put medium starch in your tuxedo shirt and dress shirt, you'll look crisp all day long. Make sure you wear a comfortable cotton tee shirt under your tux or dress shirt for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. During the wedding process, you can never be sure when you'll break into a sweat!
As she walks down the aisle, all eyes are on the bride, her gown, her glow. But once the ceremony begins, she’s sharing a double bill with you, the groom, and your tuxedo should be a perfect fit.
The bottom line is that you can’t overestimate the importance of finding a suit that fits you well, so don’t borrow one or drag out the senior prom tux. Instead, go to a proper tux store and work with the tailor. When you’re wearing a suit that fits right, you’ll feel more comfortable on the day, it will cut down on the perspiration and you’ll look great. But there’s more to consider than jacket size and inseam. The style of the suit you choose can make you look your best. Here are some classic looks for the four body types.
TALL
SLENDER
MEDIUM HEIGHT & BUILD
The choice is easiest for you: any style. But the perfectly fit suit is still just as important. Thinner men look good in a double-breasted jacket. Ask that the shoulders be padded a little more than normal and the waist be taken in to a comfortable extent. These tactics make the body seem more muscular and create a great line. The trousers look best when the legs are slightly fuller than normal with a higher rise. But to be honest, with this body type, it’s hard to go wrong with your tuxedo choice.
TALL
HUSKY
VERY MUSCULAR
The shawl-collar tux is the right choice for you. This is the smooth, thinner collar without notched lapels. The jacket is usually single-breasted with one button. Wearing a jacket that is long enough is very important too. With hands relaxed at your side, your fingertips should reach the bottom of the jacket. As with any good suit, your shirt cuffs should ride about an inch beyond the jacket sleeve. If you have a wide face or a thick neck, your collar and tie choice is important too. You don’t want to look like you’re being choked.
Choose the spread collar rather than the wing tip and avoid thin bow ties. This doesn’t mean you should appear in a giant ’70’s butterfly bow tie, just choose one that’s in proportion with your face and neck.
The jacket should feel a little loose so you can move easily and let some air circulate. Ask that the trouser legs be slightly wider if you have large or muscular thighs for the sake of comfort and looks.
Avoid the double-breasted jackets since the buttons tend to focus the eyes on your midsection and make it look wider. If you are on the heavier side, you may think of choosing a vest over a cummerbund since they look and feel less constricting.
SHORT
MUSCULAR OR STOCKY
If you’re on the shorter side and muscular or stocky the choice of a shawl collar is the right one. Again, this is the smooth, thinner collar without notched lapels. The jacket should be single-breasted and the button should be quite low, around the belt line to make your torso appear longer and leaner. It may be counterintuitive, but choose a jacket without a lot of shoulder padding. Your own shoulder line will help you look less broad in the photos. Pleated trousers can also be a good idea but aren’t obligatory. Some people think they’re slimming, but opinions vary. The legs of the trousers should be cut as low as possible without looking unfinished, making the break between the trouser leg and the shoe as subtle as possible. If they are angled a little in back, they’ll make your legs look longer. As with the huskier men discussed above, avoid wing-tip collars and very small ties if you have a large face or neck. You may be more comfortable choosing a vest over the traditional cummerbund if you are on the heavier side.
SHORT
THIN
If you’re shorter and thin you’ll look best in a single-breasted jacket with a single button placed low. This will lengthen the lines of your look. If you’d like to appear a little broader, a notched or "peak" lapel is a good choice. You would also look fine in a double-breasted jacket and achieve the same effect. The trousers could be pleated with reverse double pleats if you’d like, and the trouser legs should break just above your shoes, angling slightly downward in back. Smaller bow ties are the best choice for your frame as are vests with an elegant, understated pattern.
Just a final word: if the choices are sparse, and in some parts of the country they might be, you’ll probably be shown single breasted suits with different collar types. In the absence of the perfect jacket, opt for the shawl collar. It’s a classic. You can’t go wrong.
HOW TO HANDLE YOUR BRIDE
WHEN SHE'S STRESSED OUT
ABOUT THE WEDDING AND BELIEVE ME, SHE WILL BE!
Suggestions for the Groom…
by Sheryl A. Garman,
President of Perfect Weddings, LLC
Your Bride…No one knows your bride better than herself. If she tells you that she is upset and crying for no reason, chances are she is experiencing pre-wedding stress and has no idea what is happening to her. This is common and can happen at any time, but is usually more noticeable about one month before the wedding.
Many last minute decisions have to be made and the fear of making the wrong decisions and worrying the wedding might not go smoothly may affect her demeanor.
Be patient and supportive by asking what it is that you can do to help finalize your wedding plans. Women tend to vocalize frustration and feel much better after venting, so let her talk. Give her a back rub and don’t ask for one in return. Make an appointment, during a time you know she has free, for her to have a manicure and pedicure and drive her to the appointment. Take her to dinner afterwards at your favorite restaurant. Stepping away from the wedding details for a while, even just for an evening, is recommended. Let her know you are there for her by being attentive and loving.
For the wedding day, write your bride a love letter. Ask her mother or maid of honor to give it to her when she first wakes up. You can be guaranteed that your letter is something she will cherish her whole life.
Your Bride and Her Family…You are not only marrying the woman you love, you are becoming a member of her family. Make it a point to not only be a wonderful husband to your wife, but a welcomed addition to her family through support and understanding of their lifestyles and needs. Go out of your way to let them know you will do whatever it takes to ensure her happiness.
Your Bride and Your Family…Undeserved stress is taken off your bride’s shoulders when she had the chance to meet your family members prior to the wedding. During your engagement, make plans to attend or organize family events and outings where she can meet everyone before the wedding weekend. Your bride will be thrilled that you thought of her and will love you even more.
Your Best Man…Your best man may ask for some guidance regarding his wedding responsibilities. Be ready to give him a list of tasks that can include ensuring that all the groomsmen have all submitted their measurements to the tuxedo specialist in a timely manner. Before the ceremony, he should be given both wedding rings in one ring box to keep in his pocket, guaranteeing the rings will not be lost through a hole in his pocket or fall into the lining of his tuxedo. He should also have a handkerchief available to hand to the groom should he or the bride start to cry. The best man’s toast at the reception is a time for him to tell a story about you, the single guy he has been a friend to for so many years, and to wish your bride and you a long and happy life together. Ask him to be discreet and selective in the stories he wishes to tell so as not to upset the bride and to keep the toast to no longer than five minutes.
Honor Attendants…Would you like your sister or female friend to stand with you at the altar? Honor attendants can choose a dress to match the color of the groomsmen’s tuxedos or they can wear a dress identical to or similar in style and color as the bridesmaids’ attire.
Your Groomsmen…Groomsmen take their job very seriously and want to do their best for you. Advise them to escort female guests to their seats before the ceremony by extending their right arm first to the oldest woman in a group. Provide them with a list of family members and guests who are being seated in reserved pews. Make sure they know the quantity of wedding programs you have provided and how many guests are attending. If they are not told, the general assumption would most likely be one per guest, but that is not always the case. They can remind guests to sign the guest book, distribute reception direction cards, direct guests to restrooms along with assisting guests in wheelchairs and providing parking information to physically challenged guests.
Your Honeymoon…Many grooms assume the title of “travel agent” and plan the honeymoon. The first few days of your trip should be relaxing to allow time for you both to reenergize after the wedding. You may want to consider waiting a day or two after the wedding to depart so you can pack and take care of last minute household and pet care details. One week before the wedding, reconfirm all of your travel plans and confirmation numbers. Reconfirm your airline flight schedule and airport shuttle or limousine transportation the day before departure. Make copies of your itineraries, hotel information and passports for your parents along with the telephone number and name of your travel agent. Call credit card companies and tell them you will be using their cards on vacation – ask them if there is an additional processing fee associated with using your card at your destinations. Many hotels and airlines will give you free last minute upgrades, but you need to show them a copy of your marriage license to prove you are newlyweds. At the airport, ask if it is possible to be upgraded when you arrive at the gate. If you are surprising your bride with your destination, you may want to ask her mother, friend or maid of honor to help you choose gifts of clothing and shoes that would be appropriate for your new bride to wear on your honeymoon. A few months before the wedding, give your bride an indication as to what type of shoes and clothing she should pack so she has time to plan her wardrobe.
Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a
while they got to know each other so well, they
decided to get married.
One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other
the groom broom.
The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white
dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his
tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.
After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the
bride broom leaned over and said to the groom broom,
"I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!!!"
"IMPOSSIBLE !!!" said the groom broom.
"WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!"
P.S. For goodness sake... Sounds to me like
she's been "sweeping" around!!!!
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