Pre-Wedding Grooming Tips
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Looking Your Best on Your Wedding Day
Okay, so you have the perfect suit with all the right accessories and details. You have the perfect fragrance for you and your partner. There’s just one other thing to do: pre-wedding grooming.
Grooms need — and deserve — a bit of self-care before the big day, too. After all, you want to look and feel your best for yourself and your future spouse. Plus, you’re going to be in the limelight in front of all those guests and, of course, the wedding photographer.
Pre-wedding grooming doesn’t have to be overly stressful, though. In fact, if you create and stick with a schedule over the few months preceding the big day, it should all go smoothly.
With that out of the way, here are the biggest grooming-specific considerations and tips to help you look your best on your wedding day.
Set Up a Timeline
First, you need a timeline. Chances are, you’ve been planning for your wedding for months or even years. Don’t leave anything to chance by putting your pre-grooming needs off until the end.
A good rule of thumb is to start a few months before the big day. That way, you’ll have time to make it to any appointments — and reschedule those that need it.
Here’s what a general timeline might look like to minimize the pressure.
- 2 to 3 months before the wedding: Get a facial. You’ll look and feel great. Try to establish an at-home routine to keep your skin smooth, clean, and fresh.
- 1 to 2 months before the wedding: Get your teeth professionally whitened (or use an at-home teeth whitening kit).
- 2 to 4 weeks before the wedding: Get a full-body massage to work out any kinks or tight muscles.
- 3 to 7 days before the wedding: Get a manicure and haircut for all those photographs.
- Day of the wedding: Get a professional shave (no nicks or cuts on the big day).
Get a Haircut
One of the biggest mistakes a lot of grooms make is to have a bad haircut on their wedding day. Unfortunately, no amount of digital editing can completely fix a bad haircut — though it might be able to help.
Rather than let this be an issue, get a haircut about a week before the wedding. That way, you’ll look fresh and ready. But you also won’t look like you just went to the barber, since those extra days will give your hair time to grow into a more natural cut.
The exception is if you have a shorter hairstyle. In that case, schedule a haircut no more than a few days in advance.
Schedule a Manicure
For many guys, getting a manicure falls outside their comfort zone. The thing is, though, your hands are going to be photographed a lot on your wedding day. So, there’s probably going to be at least one close-up of the wedding rings on your fingers.
If your nails or cuticles look bad, or if you have a hangnail, it’s going to mar the photos. Even if you never get another manicure in your life, it pays to get one a few days before your wedding. Your partner will appreciate it and, chances are, you will too.
If you still don’t feel comfortable with a professional manicure, at least buff your own nails before the wedding. Be sure to use moisturizing lotion for your hands, too.
Set Up a Skincare Routine
Now, if you only have a few days left until the wedding day, this pre-wedding grooming tip isn’t going to help much. But if you have more time, it can make a huge difference in how you look — and feel — when the time comes.
If you don’t already have a daily skincare routine, there’s no better time to set one up than right now. Then, in the 30 days or so leading up to the wedding itself, make a habit of moisturizing and cleaning your face twice a day — morning and night. You’d be surprised at the results.
At a bare minimum, you should use a gentle facial cleanser followed by a moisturizing lotion. You could also get a facial before the wedding for a healthy glow.
One other trick for making your skin look even better is to stay hydrated. So, drink plenty of water, too.
Groom Your Facial Hair
If you normally have a beard, mustache, or goatee, then keep it. Just be sure to keep it clean and neat. On the other hand, if you prefer a clean-shaven look, get yourself a professional shave the morning of the wedding. And, if you fall somewhere in between, do what feels best to you.
There’s no rule that you need to be clean-shaven, but the clean-shaven look usually looks best for formal occasions. When in doubt, ask your partner what they’d prefer.
Get Your Teeth Whitened
Just like your hands, your smile is going to be at the forefront of many pictures. Unless you already have pearly whites, consider getting your teeth whitened. You can do this yourself using a teeth whitening kit or get it done professionally.
In either case, it’s a good idea to start at least a month early. After all, teeth whitening takes time to show results.
Schedule a Massage
This one isn’t absolutely essential, but getting a full-body massage can help you relax and alleviate any built-up pressure. See about scheduling one a few weeks in advance. Even if you don’t need it, it can still feel great and put you in the best mindset for the big day.
Bottom Line
So, there you have it. These pre-wedding grooming tips can help you prepare for the big day without added stress or pressure. Along with that, they can make you look and feel your absolute best as you stand before your future spouse.