Guest Blogger Profile: Simon Daykin

You don’t want this guy to BE YOU!!!!  Leading up to your wedding you want to be relaxed, you want to know everything is good hands and that you can chill out on the day and pretty much just show up, stand in the right place, say I do and kiss your bride a lot.  But there is road that leads to this Zen wedding day feeling, and I know guys hate to ask for directions on any road…even a metaphorical one, so here I am with a map for you.  It’s just three simple tips but they help, oh boy do they ever help!

Get Involved!!!

I cannot stress this enough!  Get involved with the wedding planning process.  You don’t have to sink yourself into the nitty gritty details of everything.  But attend the décor meeting, voice your opinions and be heard.  That way you know there will be no surprises when you walk into your reception.  Pink bows all over the place anyone!?!  I wanted all our bridesmaids to wear the same shoes, seems simple enough but I was the only one who felt that way.  I got my opinion heard and they all had the same shoes on when I showed up.  Makes sense to me though, same dress = same shoes.  So get involved in all the meetings with your planner that you can, visit the venue, help pick the menu, research the DJ, help pick out the ceremony music and your first dance tune.  It’s not that hard, and it can be fun as well.  Plus you get to bond with your bride to be and they love that!

Pamper Yourself, It’s OK & You Deserve It

This should really only apply if you help out with the planning process, if you do some work you can reward yourself.  But here we go ‘cause I know you’ll step up and get involved.  Pamper may sound silly but the only other phrase I could think of was “manper” and that sounds sillier to me.  Set up a couples massage for you and your bride to be, hell set up monthly appointments if you like.  It’ll keep you relaxed during the planning and leading up to the wedding.  Book yourself in for a manicure, make sure your nails look good for the wedding because you know that shot of your hands and the rings will be taken, nothing worse than chewed up split nails.  Get a haircut, a few weeks before the wedding, but head into a great stylist and get the full treatment, while you’re there get the warm face cloth massage and a shave, a real one, with a straight razor.  You may want to book another massage and facial for you the morning of the wedding to release any left over tension.  It’s up to you.

There Are Suits And Then There Are Suits, Your Should Be The Latter

Engraved Black Border Cufflinks from TheManRegistry.com

I always get on you guys about looking good.  And this issue will be no different!  HA.  Whether you buy a suit or you rent a suit you need to “own” the suit.  Make sure it fits…properly.  The shoulder pads sit ON your shoulders and the jacket hugs your torso.  If you feel comfortable in your suit, it will show and you’ll feel better throughout the day in general, trust me on this I do know a few things!  Make the suit your own…add your own shirt, don’t EVER wear the patent leather rental shoes, other dudes sweaty feet have been in there!!!  Add your own accessories like cufflinks, pocket squares and killer watch.  EnglishLaundry.com has just come out with a new line of cufflinks and PocketsSquarez.com has all manner of pocket squares for you and the prices are good!  You’ll feel better knowing that when people tell you that you look good, they mean it and they aren’t just being nice.  And if you feel better, the day will be even better than you thought it could be, of course you may have to cut the party short because your bride can’t wait to get you back to the room, but that’s the downside of being so “ridiculously good looking” and stylish!

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Feeling good can come to you in a wild variety of ways.  But it has been proven that if YOU feel good, others around you will feel better and you will be the coolest guy in the room, well the last isn’t fact…but all the guys I style sure are.  Take the time to make yourself feel good, this should be every day, but especially leading up to your wedding.  Less stress is good.

Getting involved with the planning process is something you should do anyway.  I know you’re busy and may be tired, but this is an event that should only happen once in your life and you should be a apart of as much of it as you can be.  And again, trust me on this, your bride will notice and you’ll be better off for it (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

And on a final note, NEVER, EVER have your stag or any other drinking themed events the night before your wedding.  Seriously, I will find you and walk down the aisle next to you asking you if “you’d like a greasy pork chop served in a dirty ashtray”.  This wedding cost a lot of money, you love your wife to be and all these folks came in to see you do this thing.  So have the respect not to get right-plowed the night before, it’s common sense, but we’re guys and it’s always….”oh I’ll be fine tomorrow”.  Well no, you may not be, and you don’t want to stink of booze or puke on someone so forgo the silly juice and get a good night’s sleep.

Guest Blogger Profile: Simon Daykin

Grooms can take a note from these guys when it comes to style

Last year North Americans spent over 52 Billion dollars on clothes, sadly most did not buy any style.  Don’t believe me?  Next time you’re travelling internationally, try to pick out the North Americans in the airport.  They are pretty easy to spot for the most part, walking piles of laundry.  Oversized sweaters, rumpled pants, baseball hats, etc.  In contrast, look at the European travelers, smart, well dressed, hair styled and great shoes.  Still comfortable for flying, but they look good while doing it.

I always say that it is never a bad thing to be the best dressed guy in the room, and I stand by this 100%.  I have also noticed that some guys just don’t know how to choose well fitted clothes, the shoulders on their shirt end at their triceps, or the neck is WAY too big for them.  Did you know that when a suit jacket is buttoned up and you pull it away from your body, there should only be the length of your thumb between your body and the jacket?  Any more space and the jacket is not the right fit for you.  I know casual Friday is recognized in most offices, but seriously guys, that doesn’t mean baggy jeans, old stinky sneakers and a “Golden Boy” T-shirt.

Shall We Begin?

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again.  The suit is not the be all and end all, you need to add your style to it.  Accessorize my friends…add pocket squares, a kick ass tie, amazing shoes, even socks can make an impact.  I have my Union Jack socks that I wear to most events, yup, they get noticed.  The suit is a great place to start but it needs to be added to.  And when choosing the suit, I suggest making a trip to a high end suit store to pick the salesman’s brain.  Ask about style trends, colors that are in that season and how to accessorize if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.  Also, if you have a friend or co worker that dresses really well and you like their style, ask them a few questions, trust me…they will be flattered you did.  If you pick up your suit or tux rental and go with what they give you, then you’ll just look like every other guy who got married over the last decade or so, and we don’t want that do we!?!?!

Many grooms accessorize with engraved cufflinks.

Size Does Matter

It’s a pretty simple concept, but it’s also simple to screw this up because a lot of guys don’t know exactly what to look for.  A well tailored suit will make you look a million times better than a suit you pulled off the rack at say…Sears.  When choosing your shirts and suits make sure that the shoulder seams fall on your shoulders.  Pretty simple concept right?  Now have a look at the general public the next time you’re out and see how many guys have broken this rule.  A collar on a dress shirt should fit snugly around your neck, not too tight though.  If you can fit more than one finger between you and your collar, that neck size is not the right one for you.  If you’re getting married on a beach and you’re going with the golf shirt style, the shirt should end just below the waist…not down at the crotch, you ain’t K-Fed!  With the pants, a pant worn lower will elongate your torso, I like this look and it works for me.  A higher waistline will make your torso appear shorter and more stocky.  A jacket that drapes low on you will give you the appearance of having shorter legs, but a shorter cut on the jacket will make them appear longer.  It’s important to try on a few different styles to make sure you get the right one for you.

Quality Always Wins

You can always tell the difference between a tailored suit or tux and one that is off the rack.  Be it the lining, the stitching, the fabric the garment is made of and most of the time, the fit itself.  If you are renting, go to a higher end rental place, forget Moore’s rentals and the “booklet” people.  Go to a place that has stock on site and will let you try stuff on.  NEVER, EVER order sight unseen!  If you’ve decided to get married in a suit, buy a new suit for the wedding, a custom suit, just for you.  I suggest Indochino.com, I get all my suits from here and I can say, they do good work.  You can wear that suit after your wedding, it’s not the dress that gets wrapped in plastic and stuck in a box.  So spend a little extra on it.  You’ll have it for a long time.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

At your wedding you should be the best dressed guy in the room, nay…you MUST be!  So do your research, look into various styles, look at both suits and tuxes as options.  Research the colors and accessories and go shoe shopping.  Never wear the rental shoes!  Try EVERYTHING on!  If you’re thinking about wearing it on your wedding day, try it on before hand.  Put on the full look, down to the cufflinks and socks.  If you’re wearing sunglasses for an outdoor ceremony, put those on with the outfit, they may not look as good with a suit as they do with a beer and boardshorts.  And make sure they fit properly, sunglasses should fit the frame of your face, not hang off the side.
There are plenty of places and people out there that you really have no excuse to be ill dressed at your wedding, or really any day of your life.  Don’t be afraid to ask, or visit if you have any questions.  If you don’t want to go out in public with your style questions, the internet is there for you in the privacy of your own home.  Sites such as Indochino.com have style tips on a wide variety of subjects,  TheManRegistry.com has a stable of experts (myself included) just waiting to help you out, Youtube.com can show you how to tie a bow tie and I’m always available should you need me.

So in closing gentlemen, remember that fashion is fun, once you have a few rules that work for you on the basics, try new things, add brighter colors and may every suit you wear be a well fitted one.

Ben Bunting, editor of Ben The Groom, stops by today with some tips for men on navigating the waters of wedding planning, enjoy!

I’ve learned that becoming a better fiancé doesn’t mean you have to throw all masculinity to the wind nor does it mean you need to fall in love with color Inspiration boards and the latest wedding trends of 2010.  Your bride to be doesn’t need your detailed opinion on chair covers and ring pillows. What she really wants is to see you manning up to the occasion.

Eating healthy & staying in shape will make this wedding planning thing a lot easier.

Dedicate more time these next few month to your health and style. Your bride will love watching you eat healthier and exercising more regularly.  She’ll assume the changed you is in preparation for the wedding (fitting into a suit, pictures, more energy). She’ll be happier, you’ll be looking better, and you haven’t had to give one thought to what salt shakers to register for.

This is also an excellent time to work on your image and wardrobe.  Go in for a fresh new haircut and try something different.  Ask your fiancé what she thinks and how it would look on the big day.  Start shopping for new cuff links instead of opting for the generics that come with the rented tux. Spend sometime working on yourself and it will go a long way in the eyes of your bride.

$85, available at Anna Sheffield, 153 Lafayette St., NYC., (212) 925-7010, annasheffield.comhttp://shop.bingbangnyc.com/

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Guest Blogger Profile: Simon Daykin

We all have our love for facial hair and sideburns.  I myself used to sport a long ass goatee that I had dyed bright red.  Yup, seemed like a good idea at the time.  We’ve all seen the photos of Dad’s wedding, groomsmen with huge mustaches, mutton chop sideburns and oh dear Lord, The Mullet!  My Dad gave me some advice on my wedding day, he said “Son, shave that crap off your face, don’t date your photos.”  Having thought about this I think that was some of the best advice I could have received.  You want your wedding photos to be timeless.

Some grooms may want to consider a different "look" for the wedding

Sure, Wolverine is cool and all…but…

Ah the mutton chop sideburn.  They look great on Wolverine and Elvis, but do you want them in your wedding photos.  When you pull out your photos in the coming years will your kids get a good laugh at Dad’s ridiculous facial hair?  This goes for beards (Do you really want to put your bride through that on the wedding night?) goatees, soul patches, cool 80’s stubble and the “pornstache” that Brad Pitt is now sporting.  Keep in mind he has his for a film role.  Having facial hair that was cool in a certain era will date your photos, it will let people know exactly when you got married and how “cool” you thought you were at that time.  You want your photos to be timeless!

Ha, Ha, Daddy had a mullet!

It doesn’t stop at facial hair fellas, oh no.  Remember the Faux Hawk, the Vanilla Ice lines and the dreaded Hockey Hair or Mullet!  Entire web pages have been dedicated to the Mullet, do you want your wedding photos on such a site!?!  I thought not!  It may have been all business in the front and a party in the back, the best of both worlds you say?  HELL NO!!!  I loved the re-make of Miami Vice, so I grew out my hair and grew a wee moustache, I found out I was NOT as cool as Colin Farrell and my wife and friends still make fun of me. I will be eternally thankful that this phase came after my wedding.  Sure your personality should come through in all aspects for the wedding, but let’s keep is classy shall we.

We Can Help, We Have The Technology

So, how does one tackle one’s facial and head hair then?  For the facial hair I suggest getting yourself a little pampered.  On the morning of your wedding, after you’ve had a nice breakfast.  Head out to a pre determined barber shop and get yourself a nice warm towel facial and straight razor shave.  This will ensure the baby-ass smoothness of your face for your wedding and all the kissing associated there in.  Even better, have the barber come up to your hotel room.

As for your glorious head hair.  I suggest getting your hair cut in the style you want for the wedding  a few weeks before hand.  This ensures it will look good and you will like the style.  Just before the wedding, pop back into the same guy and just get a trim.  Sounds simple right?  Well I got my hair cut right before the wedding, it was way too short and I look like I had a day pass from the Marines in my photos.  Even worse, at the right angle of the sun, it looks like I’m pretty much bald.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

So just a few things to recap here.  Shave that crap off your face, take some time to pamper yourself and don’t cut your hair before the wedding, just have it trimmed.  Oh and one more thing, if you decide to color your hair, give it time to look natural.  If your wedding is on Saturday DON’T dye your mop on Friday night.  It will look fake and you may have some runaway dye on your scalp as well.  No one wants that.

You can make the shave an outing for all your groomsmen if you like.  The bridal party gets their hair and make up done, why can’t you and your guys get a hot towel facial and a shave?  That way you know none of your groomsmen will show up with any crazy facial hair.  Maybe speak to them when you ask them to be in the groom party as some people have a great bond with their facial hair and may not want to give it up.

You want your pictures to be timeless, yes I have said this before but I can’t say it enough.  You don’t want your kids to pull out your wedding photo album to have a good laugh with their friends, you want them to pull that album out and tell their friends how hot their parents were and especially, how great their “Pops” looked.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

We’ve already suggested that you consider getting a professional shave the day of your wedding, but now we’re going to go one metro step further and suggest… a manicure. Why? Because it feels and looks good and when else are you going to do it?

You can't spell manicure without MAN.

Here’s the rundown on what happens: You soak your hands in some nice smelling warm liquid. You get a relaxing hand massage, again, with something that smells really good. A nice lady trims your nails and cuticles, then buffs them so that they look clean and shiny, not girly.

You come out feeling strangely relaxed and manly, in a Don Draper sort of way. Hell, you can even drink your Old Fashioned while you’re getting the manicure.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

Careful with that razor..

So, you do know that on your wedding day your bride is going to look a little different, right? Most likely, she’s getting her hair and make-up done by a professional. Now, I’m not suggesting you go all metro-sexual and put on guy-liner, but what about treating yourself to a hot lather shave at your favorite barber shop? It’ll be a nice relaxing treat, and it’ll avoid the need for little pieces of toilet paper stuck all over your face on your wedding day.

The Man Registry is giving away a killer grooming kit (valued at $50) to a lucky tweeting bride who can tell us in 140 characters or less why their hubby-to-be needs some grooming help.  Whether it’s because he chews his toenails, needs a serious nose-hair pluck, or hasn’t been to the dentist in three years, let us know. The funnier the better.  Just tag your tweet with @themanregistry by July 5th to be eligible. The winner will be chosen by our groom style expert Simon Daykin (and his partner in crime/wife Ciara). Decision will be based on what groom is in most need of grooming help.

Wedding planners, you’re welcome to enter on behalf of a client!

If you don’t have Twitter, you can enter by posting a comment at the bottom of this post.

Brides, send us a tweet telling us why your groom needs this kit!

Let’s be honest, us men love to lay around, drink beer, watch sports, and not give a damn about what we look like while doing it. Don’t believe what you see in those Axe Body Spray commercials, we can actually make it through life being scruffy and stinky… until the wedding day. Enter Anthony Logistics for Men. They’ve created a great gift package called ‘Here Comes the Groomed.’ This kit has everything a groom will need to look his best for the big day.

The kit includes: glycolic facial cleanser, facial scrub, pre-shave oil, shave cream, after shave balm, sea salt body scratch, glycerin hand/body lotion, and comes in a nifty travel case.