Grooming the groom

Looking your best

Your wedding day belongs equally to both of you, so like your bride-to-be, you’ll definitely want to look your most dapper.

Spas certainly welcome members of both sexes, so why not plan a spa day for you and your groomsmen? There are even spas that cater exclusively to men. Let the guys get their hair cut and styled, have massages, facials, man-icures, or pedicures so they can look and feel their best on the wedding day, too. Many spas have special packages for men and can also put together packages for the entire wedding party.

Hair and skin are definitely tops on a groom’s priority list. If you have problem skin, a few months before the wedding would be a great time to start a new skin care regimen. This may include facials or just some expert ad-vice on how to properly use a new line of skin cleansing and moisturizing products.

Though a bad haircut definitely takes less time to grow out for a man, you’ll want to try out any new hair style a few months before the wedding, just in case it doesn’t turn out as planned. Same thing on facial hair—if you want to shave off the mustache or beard, you might want to go hairless with ample time to fill in tan lines or grow it back.

If you have any dental issues that will prevent you from smiling in all those wedding photos, see your dentist six months to a year prior to your wedding to have any major work done. Some procedures require several trips to the dentist or oral surgeon over a several month period, so you’ll want to get it all done well before your wedding day arrives.

Selecting the Perfect Formalwear

A beautifully dressed bride requires a handsomely suited groom. Formal wear should be selected based on formality of the wedding. When choosing a tux, keep in mind the time of day and the season in which the wedding will take place. A morning wedding with a brunch reception will require much less formal attire than a late evening ceremony and formal sit-down dinner. Keep in mind the style and formality of the bride and her attendants’ attire to choose formalwear that corresponds appropriately. An experienced formal wear shop can guide you successfully through all these choices.

The basic elements of a groom’s outfit may include any of the following: a jacket, pants, shirt, bow tie or ascot, cumberbund or vest, suspenders, pocket-handkerchief, socks and shoes. Special shoes are often worn with tuxedos and can be found at formalwear shops for purchase or rental.