While we all know that the wedding tends to fix all eyes on the beautiful, blushing bride, that is no excuse for a groom without style, poise and polish. Hopefully you only get married once, and when you do, it's a fine time to pull out all the stops relative to your appearance and find, if you haven't already, and hone your own personal style. These days most brides truly want input from the groom so speak up about what you and your groomsmen will wear and how formal or informal you want the ceremony and reception to be. After all, marriage is a partnership and involves input and compromise from both parties. You might as well start putting your two cents in now!In order to look your best on the big day, grooming is key. Figure out if you want to keep the same hairstyle you have now or if you want a new cut, will you be going to a new stylist? Steve Moore of Atlanta's The Moore Agency says if you are in the market for a new look it's best to start shopping for a new stylist/barber 3 months before the wedding. He also recommends a few highlights to add pizzazz to your look. "This works great for defining the hair in photos, recommends Steve. Also, while messy hair is still in for the season, it might not be the best for your wedding day. Opt for a classic style for the ceremony and then add a little water to change for the reception. After all, if she can change her dress you can change your hair." According to Steve, get a haircut the week of the wedding, and use a hair product with a high shine factor as it helps hair look good in photos.
Your hands will likely be photographed many times so be sure your nails and cuticles are in good condition. You might opt for a professional manicure, always a nice treat and an opportunity to sit down and relax in the midst of all the pre-wedding hoopla. If you cannot channel your inner David Beckham (his wife insists he is very in touch with his feminine side and often gets spa treatments and the like) and get the professional manicure, you can certainly use some DIY tricks at home to whip your hands and nails into shape. About a week before the ceremony use cuticle oil or cream every night when going to bed. The morning of the ceremony use an exfoliating scrub on your hands and rub gently into cuticles to remove any loose, dead skin. Follow up with a moisturizer. Nice hands probably isn't something you think about often, but for all those photos where the two of you are showing off your new rings, smooth hands with groomed cuticle make you look like the winner that you are!
You also might consider a professional facial, especially if you experience frequents skin problems such as acne or dry patches. Do this 4 or 5 days before the wedding day. If you want to treat your skin at home, consider an over the counter microdermabrasion kit, which will remove dead skin cells and give you glowing, radiant skin. Use this the night before the ceremony. Follow up with a moisturizer and wake up looking handsome and ready to enjoy the day.
A lot of emphasis on personal grooming may seem foreign to you but believe me it will pay off in the end. You will be so thankful that you took the extra time and made the effort to look your best for yourself and your bride. It's a day you'll never forget and you want to be stylin' while you look cool and confident. Now go for it!
Photo Credit © Svetlana Khvorostova | Dreamstime.com
Laura Carson Miller is a freelance lifestyle writer in Atlanta, Ga. Favorite subjects include beauty, health/wellness, eco-living and design, and fashion.Visit her blog at Laura's Beauty Bounty.
Hello everyone,
My friend is getting married later in the year, and she is getting quite excited even thought there are quite a few months to go. I think she would be very interested in this article and website, so I will be forwarding it on to her. I think she is getting quite worried about the mounting costs, so she is going to make a few changes where she can to save some money. She already told me that she is going to send out ecard invites for her hen weekend rather than spending a lot of money on expensive paper invites. She told me that she had found a Free Invitation eCard site. I checked it out and it looks really cool, lots of funny cards. There are loads of e-Card sites out there, so it may be worth doing your own research and finding one that suites you best. Hope this helps, and good luck everyone on your forthcoming weddings. Love and Hugs.