The Groom and groomsmen
The mystical bond of brotherhood makes all men one
- Thomas Carlyle
This is for you, groom-to-be: the wedding is your day, too! And long gone are the days when the groom only arranged the honeymoon and the transportation. Today, you’re involved (yes, involved) in the wedding planning process -- from choosing items for the gift registry and selecting music or readings for the ceremony to creating the Facebook Wedding Group page, to assisting in selecting the cake, flowers and even the bride’s wedding gown. Together with your bride-to-be, you’ll choose your photographer and videographer, church and reception venue. More often than not, you’ll attend bridal shows and many showers. There are numerous reasons for this shift. Grooms today are more apt to be older and more established with developed and sophisticated tastes; as such you may be paying much of the expenses. If you’re being married for the second or third time, you tend to know what to expect; if there are children involved you likely want to coordinate their involvement in your wedding.
getting the treatment
Manicures are not just for women! A few years ago, most men would never have admitted to receiving a manicure. Today, it’s become more accepted as part of a man’s maintenance regimen because healthy, proper fingernails and hands portray confidence, success and most importantly, cleanliness. The time has arrived for every man to treat himself to monthly manicures; they’re no longer just for women.
Manicures are relatively inexpensive and are a great way to clean, strengthen and relax your fingertips. As for the tip of the nail, the recommended length is between 1 to 2 millimeters. Any more than that is simply not aesthetically pleasing. It’s very important to have well-groomed hands for your wedding! There are photos of hands cutting the wedding cake, or doing the ring exchange, to say nothing of hands being shaken in the receiving line. You should schedule a manicure the day before the ceremony.
ah, the spa
It’s time to look your best! Select a hairstyle you’re comfortable with and that’s familiar to your guests. Don’t try to look like the celebrity du jour. Make a haircut appointment for a week before the wedding so you’re not sporting a newly fresh cut. As a special treat, include a relaxing scalp and neck massage -- you deserve it! A trend in spas for men is a sports facial that results in refreshed skin -- without the pampering effect that might drive some guys crazy.
Regularly apply toner to shiny skin; exfoliate dry or flaky skin and finish with a moisturizer. Make sure to keep nostril or ear hair trimmed and separate a unibrow by tweezing or waxing the hairs between eyebrows. Use teeth-whitening strips for a photo-perfect smile and apply lip balm to chapped lips.
Tradition has it that the groom-to-be should be honoured at a black-tie dinner-party, hosted by his father or best man. Originally, this all-male gathering strictly adhered to the codes of gentlemanly behavior, with the highlight of the evening being a champagne toast given by the groom to the health of the bride-to-be. Each man would smash his glass so it may never again be used for a less worthy purpose. Since then, the trend in bachelor parties has swung full-circle: from the black-tie dinner to the no-holds-barred stag with cakes sprouting strippers and sizzling videos, and now back to the more civilized, yet fun, salute to the groom.
What’s your interest? The newest trend in bachelor parties reflects you – and what you like to do. For instance, your group could take a weekend camping, fishing or golf getaway, a party might include attending a major sporting event. Or the best man and ushers might organize an agenda of entertainment that could include roasting the groom, gambling (where portions of the winnings go to the groom for the honeymoon), or competitions (darts, bowling, croquet, etc.). Great places to hold a bachelor party may be at a vacation home, ski chalet, hotel banquet room, private room in a restaurant, in a private box at a stadium or arena during a favourite sporting event. Today’s trends are finding wedding parties jetting off to Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Diego for a weekend filled with fun and excitement.
A few tips to remember when planning the bachelor party is not scheduling the party the night before the wedding, arranging several designated drivers to make sure everyone gets home safely, or hiring a limousine or car service to provide rides for everyone. Keep the guest list manageable. Open-ended invitations, which allow guests to bring along other friends, may result in a chaotic party, and it loses the point of an evening to honour you. Discuss what you’d prefer with who’s arranging the party for you to ensure that they don’t arrange a monster bash or “female entertainment” if that’s not what you want. If you’re like most modern grooms-to-be, you won’t want to do anything you wouldn’t normally do at a party, nor will you want to upset your fiancé – as you know it’s almost inevitable that your bride find out what happened during the party. The host should organize a party that’s not going to compromise your relationship with your bride-to-be.
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