Struggling to perfect that elegant look for the wedding day? If you answered yes, today is your lucky day. Our friends over at Marriage.com along with formalwear expert Rik Ducar have put together a video that should help simplify the process.

At Marriage.com, we like to bring on guest experts to offer advice on a wide range of wedding topics. And now, we are fortunate enough to include Rik Ducar as a men’s formalwear expert.  Rik is on the preferred vendor list at prestigious hotels like The Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, The St. Regis Hotel, Palomar Hotels, Montage Beverly Hills, Peninsula Hotel and W Hotels nationwide. He has also dressed some serious celebrity clientele, such as rapper T.I. and football player Matt Hasselbeck.  And now, he is nice enough to offer some dress tips for all grooms-to-be. Recently, we visited Rik’s Beverly Hills store to interview him about some tux tips and trends. Check out the following video to learn about cuff links, pocket squares, and other tuxedo to-dos.

Credits:
Videography: Michael Masarof
Music: “Cosmo,” by Alexander Blu

For additional upcoming interview segments with Rik, check out the Marriage.com blog.

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Marriage.com is the newest innovator in wedding planning, connecting engaged couples with local wedding professionals, expert advice, deals and events. The Marriage.com micro-site will give the bridal community control of the wedding planning process in a personalized, Web 2.0 community and experience, set to launch on Valentine’s Day 2011.

A few months back, our friends at OneWed brought the men’s shapewear trend to our attention. Since then, we’ve noticed an increase in chatter on the topic.. and it’s not pretty. Instead of a workout routine before the wedding, men are turning to molded shapewear to do the job. Call me old fashion, but wtf, mate?

Here’s the latest — Spanx, the company known for body shaping undergarments for women has recently launched a men’s line in the US and is preparing to also do so in the UK. The line includes undershirts and underwear. Company founder Sara Blakely recently stated, “The men in my life, and in Hollywood, have been asking me to make “Spanx for men” for years.”

Hmmm..

Our questions are simple and direct. Men, would you consider wearing shapewear on your wedding day? Brides, how would you feel if you discovered on the wedding night that your groom had been wearing Spanx all day?

Today, we are honored to have Michael Andrews guest blogging on the top 5 men’s wedding attire trends for 2011. Michael is Founder and CEO of Michael Andrews Bespoke – New York’s Designer Custom Tailor that crafts high-end yet affordable menswear with a modern flair.

The 2011 Groom: Coming Soon to a Wedding Near You

Michael Andrew Bespoke’s Top Five Groom’s Attire Trends for 2011

1. For formal weddings, we are seeing a real trend toward slim fit one-button midnight blue tuxedo with peak lapels.  Dark blue looks richer under evening light and provides a better contrast against the black satin on the lapels.  When the jacket is cut trim through the waist, the peak lapels help accentuate the shoulders for a flattering silhouette.

2. We are also seeing a strong trend toward less formal weddings.  Roughly half of the wedding outfits we make are suits instead of tuxedos.  For destination weddings and daytime summer weddings, we see a lot of cotton and linen suits. For evening weddings, we are doing a lot of charcoal grey and midnight blue suits.

3. We are also seeing very few tuxedo shirts with traditional pleats or a bib front.  Most guys are opting for a more simple, updated style.  The most popular is a classic spread collar shirt made in a rich piqué fabric that gives the shirt a more luxurious and formal appearance. The hidden button front offers a clean, formal look and eliminates the need for tuxedo studs.

4. A return to the bowtie.  For the past few years, long black ties had eclipsed the traditional bowtie in popularity, but we have seen the bowtie come back strong this year.  Opt for an oversized velvet bowtie to make a statement.

5. The perfect groomsman gift: matching custom shirts and ties.  It gives a degree of consistency to the wedding party while still being personalized to each groomsman.

To learn more about Michal Andrews Bespoke and to browse their collection of suits, dress shirts, overcoats and more – visit their website.

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How do you feel about Michael’s picks for 2011 groom trends? Anything that you’d like to see on the list that isn’t? Let us know in the comments.

By Guest Blogger Ben the Groom

When was the last time, if ever, you treated yourself to a brand-new outfit (head-to-toe) for one special event? Well if you’re recently engaged here’s your chance. Being a groom is an excellent chance to show off your personal style, so go all out and get what you really want. That being said, being a groom also means making sure your personal style fits into your brides overall game plan. You might have always hoped to be wearing leather saddles during your wedding, but if your wife-to-be is organizing an evening formal, you can kiss that idea goodbye.

Think of it like this, your bride is working tirelessly on every detail to make sure the ceremony is everything she has always dreamed. Sorry grooms, but your fedora and suspenders may not fit into that dream. This doesn’t mean you should wave the white flag, it just means you need an element of tact and creative thinking to make sure you’re both happy!

So, what can you do to make sure your personal taste makes it to the big day?

1. Costume Change – The ceremony is formal, important, dramatic and beautiful, and your personal taste might not fit into what she wants. However, she may be willing to compromise during the reception. Do you have a favorite style hat you’ve always imaged wearing at the wedding? Maybe skip the need to wear it during the ceremony and let it debut at the reception.  You might hate boutonnieres and have a pocket square you’d rather wear, but maybe she’ll let you make the switch after you say your I-do’s?  There are countless ways you can make your formalwear into something you want to wear, just wait till after the ceremony.

2. Picture Time – Buying accessories like a new watch, sunglasses or shoes is part of the fun of being a groom. So, if something you really want to own doesn’t make the ceremony cut, get if for the pictures! She’ll be a lot less picky with what you wear when you’re posing with your buddies. So, this is another chance when you can get what you want and show off your style, while still keeping your bride happy.

3. As You’re Leaving – Often brides and grooms will quickly change out of their formal wear for their great escape. Here lies another opportunity to get what you’ve been wanting!  Ask her what she plans to wear as you’re running to the escape car and tell her that you want to make sure you wear something fun or special.  She’ll be happy you even care and you’re on your way to a new pair of shoes!

It’s your day too guys, so make sure you like the way you look, but remember you’ll be much happier knowing she’s happy!

This isn't the kind of shapewear we're talking about

By Guest Blogger OneWed

We’ve been seeing a disturbing trend in the product pitches we’ve been getting at OneWed.com. There seems to be a growing movement toward trying to convince men that they need “shapewear” for their wedding day.

Shapewear, for those of you who avoid talking to your finacée about her underwear as much as possible, is underwear that uses special space-age technology to keep your stomach firmly in place. Some shapewear also uses less space-age technology to make your backside a little fuller.

Now, I’m all in favor of the breaking down of gender roles, but I don’t think that means men need to take on the neurosis of women.  I’ve always been amazed that very large men have no trouble wearing tank tops or going shirtless in situations when even the fittest woman would feel over exposed, and it would be great to put an end to that, but not at this cost.

We’d love to hear from any grooms who have actually tried men’s shapewear. What made you do it? Are you happy with it? Let us know in the comments section below.