While future brides-to-be scroll through Pinterest boards and wedding-dress websites and pack their Saturdays with appointments at chic bridal boutiques full of pink Champagne and roses , their male counterparts can hardly begin to seek out their own personal style without confronting a paucity of less than optimal options
Although most men won ’ t cop to the fact that they hope to channel the style hybrid of Muhammad Ali and Paul Newman circa Cool Hand Luke on their wedding day , your groom most likely does . How then , can a bride help her sartorially askew mate from looking less Ben Stiller in Zoolander and more Brad Pitt in Mr . and Mrs . Smith when saying “ I do ”?
Don ’ t Encourage Him to Try a New Style Just because you ’ ve always wanted your clean and coiffed counterpart to embrace the overslept / undershaven mountain man bedhead look , this is not the time to send him down the aisle with a fashionably scruffy shadow and shaggy hair . “ The goal is for him to look like his most refined , authentic self ,”. “ If he usually has some stubble , then it ’ s fine for him to have stubble . If he shaves every day , then he should shave the morning of the wedding .
Best to always get a haircut at least a week before — not a day before . It takes about seven days for a fresh haircut to settle . Remember : These photos are going to last forever .”
Don ’ t Over-Accessorize “ Too often men get excited about shoes and socks and pocket squares and bowties and boutonnieres and they wear everything all at once ,”. “ It ’ s not a good look . Fine if he wants to wear dress shoes on the altar , then change into slip-on Vans for the dance floor , but at the end of the day , his look should be elegant and minimal .” In other words : Keep it simple , stupid .
Don ’ t Expect Him to Turn Into a Style Expert Ignorance is bliss . If your man thinks that Tom Ford is a new type of car , then who ’ s to correct him ? If he doesn ’ t know or care about all things fashion , then tell him to swallow his pride and to elect his most fashionable groomsmen to help shepherd him through his options . “ If none of his groomsman give a goddamn ,” “ then the bride should be the one to take the reins .”
Don ’ t Choose His Ring For Him Platinum or gold , thick or thin , brushed or shiny , the options are endless and every bride as a lot to say about them . But unless he asks your opinion , you ’ re better off keeping your thoughts to yourself . Most likely , this is the first piece of jewelry he has ever purchased for himself , so don ’ t undermine his decision by asserting what you think is best . Instead , encourage him to look around for himself . “ It really comes down to a gut choice . “
Tell him to pay attention to the wedding rings of other guys he knows that he admires and base his decision on that . When in doubt , think classic and iconic : What did his grandfather wear ?”
Don ’ t Let Him Leave His Alterations ’ Til the Last Minute “ If you ’ re renting a suit ,” says Pattison , “ make sure you are working with a company that ’ s reputable , has good customer service , and ships out at least two weeks in advance of the wedding date . Also , if you ’ re purchasing off the rack , definitely allocate at least one to two hundred additional dollars for alterations .”