7 Things You Need to Look Your Best on Your Wedding Day
In the past, wedding prep for the groom was simple: you threw on a suit, laced up your dress shoes and made a futile attempt to smooth down a stubborn cowlick. That was basically it.
The beauty bar was—and still is—set embarrassingly low for grooms. That’s a shame because it’s your big day too. Don’t you deserve to look like a million bucks on one of the most important days of your life? We think so.
Enter: this wedding prep checklist for the groom. Once the ring is on her finger, there’s no time to waste. Here’s everything you need to have to look and feel like an A-lister on your wedding day.
A Classic Haircut
Your wedding day is not the time to be rocking a wild and trendy haircut, fellas. Do you really want your trendy hairstyle for men—that will no doubt become cringey within a decade—to be immortalized in your wedding photos? Probably not.
To avoid embarrassing your future self, aim for a classic men’s hairstyle that has timeless appeal. The side-part is a great option because a) it’s classic and b) you can combine it with other cool hairstyles, such as the quiff or the pompadour. Pro tip: If you’re going for a completely new style, get your haircut as early as possible. You’ll want plenty of time to experiment with your new ‘do to learn how to style it for your wedding. Which brings us to our next point…
Styling Products
Once you’ve settled on a haircut, think carefully about how you want to style it for your big day. If you want to keep wedding expenses to a minimum, skip the barber/salon and learn how to style hair yourself. With a few quality men’s hair products and a little trial-and-error, you can easily get salon-quality hair all on your own.
For a timeless and traditional look, consider sticking with styling products that have a matte finish or a low shine. The natural finish is classic and looks great on camera. Getting hitched somewhere windy? Be sure to lock strands into place with a high-hold product for all-day sexy hair.
A Great Shave
It doesn’t matter whether you’re going clean-shaven or rocking a full beard. Proper grooming is essential to acing your wedding day look. If you prefer a smooth face, make sure that you have the essential men’s grooming tools you need to get the job done.
It’s perfectly acceptable to rock stubble or a full beard for your wedding, so long as you tidy up your facial hair right before you walk down the aisle. And for the love of all that is holy, don’t shave your beard too close to your wedding day. Although seeing a groomsmen walk down the aisle with a beard tan line is kind of hilarious, it’s much less funny when it’s the groom.
A Strong Antiperspirant
Planning a summer wedding? As much as everyone loves the sunshine, the heat and humidity can lead to one annoying problem: smelly, sweat-stained pits. Hopefully, you and your groomsmen are wearing summer suits with lightweight fabrics. Even so, you’ll still want to use a strong antiperspirant to reduce sweating as you dance and mingle.
Make sure that you choose an antiperspirant/deodorant combo. Deodorant by itself won’t keep you from sweating through your white dress shirt—it will only neutralize the odour. Antiperspirant works by temporarily blocking the sweat glands, resulting in less sweat and, hopefully, fewer pit stains.
A Full-Proof Skin Care Routine
Sorry, but splashing a bit of cold water on your face in the morning doesn’t count as a skincare routine. If you want to have sexy skin by the time you say, “I do,” you need to have at least three products in your skincare arsenal: a facial cleanser, a moisturizer and an exfoliating scrub.
Wash your face twice daily with a good cleanser, exfoliate maybe twice a week and follow up with a moisturizer after each wash. For your moisturizer, try to find one that contains SPF (skin cancer is no joke, guys). Oh, and remember to start your skincare well in advance of your big day. If you have sensitive skin, it may take some time to find products that won’t cause redness or irritation.
A Picture-Perfect Smile
Given how much you’ll be smiling on your big day, it’s not a bad idea to freshen up those pearly whites. Sure, a good wedding photographer can brighten up your smile through editing, but having the real deal is a million times better.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist for a standard cleaning. While you’re there, ask about cosmetic procedures that can help whiten your teeth or remove stubborn stains caused by food. They usually have teeth whitening options that you can book about a week in advance of the wedding. Otherwise, simply level up your dental hygiene on your own by using a daily teeth whitening toothpaste and mouth rinse.
Manicured Hands
One pre-wedding appointment that you shouldn’t overlook? A manicure. Your hands are probably going to be photographed a bajillion times on your big day. To keep them looking great for your big day, schedule a manicure to have your nails trimmed, buffed and moisturized.
Before you turn your nose up at the idea, let us just say that manicures aren’t strictly for women. Even NBA stars are getting their nails done—with zero shame, might we add. If LeBron James can get manicured for his basketball games, you can definitely get one for your wedding day.
It’s Your Big Day, Too
Sure, the bride may steal most of the spotlight on your special day, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to look your best. From getting a new hairstyle to freshening up your pearly whites, a little pre-wedding maintenance can go a long way. But a word to the wise: don’t wait until the last minute. Start working on these things now, and you’ll be a stylish and handsome groom come the big day.
