Grooming the Groom
Virginia Cole
A wedding-day round of golf with his groomsmen used to be a traditional prenuptial ritual for the groom. Now, facials and pedicures by the fireplace aren’t as far-fetched as they may sound, as the case for a well-groomed face is on the rise. And it’s not just for the groom – he’s making it part of the main event and dragging his groomsmen along.
No need for the bride to worry, though: Everyone’s attention will still be primarily on you, but with the special treatments and products now available, polishing his rougher edges for the big day may no longer sounds like such a bad idea to the groom.
There’s a lot of pressure on everyone to look perfect on the wedding day. A few easy tips and some advanced planning will make it easier for him to look and feel his most confident best for the big day and beyond (pictures, anyone?).
Shave and a haircut
Regardless if he’s more Maxim than GQ, almost every groom will need a day-of shave. Now’s not the time for him to wrestle with the latest ten-blade monstrosity. Instead, get him to splurge (just a little!) on a spin in the barber’s chair. For less than the price of a movie night, he’ll not only get the star treatment – hot towel included – he won’t have
to worry about pre-wedding jitters causing an unsightly faux pas.
Another to-do that’s not worth taking the experimental route: a haircut. He should visit his usual expert (he or she probably knows the nuances of how his hair behaves) about 7-10 days before the ceremony. This will give his hair a chance to look more natural and allow any mishaps – should they occur – time to grow out. When he’s getting that aforementioned morning-of shave, he’ll want to ask his barber to do a quick check of his back-of- neck hairline; it may have grown unsightly since his last trim.
Ahhh...spa!
Destination or day spas provide a relaxing respite when wedding to-do lists become overwhelming. Since more and more men are getting into the spa visit, it shouldn’t take much to get your groom to the massage table. However, he doesn’t have to spa alone. Send your husband-to-be out with the fellas for a little male bonding before the wedding or make it a pampering day for just the two of you – but let him choose from one of the new men-specific spa treatments.
Spas around the country are following the growing trend of male grooming by tailoring more traditional spa treatments to their male clientele. For example, The Lodge & Spa at Codillera in Vail, Colorado offers a Mountain Man Body Treatment, a tri-crystal body scrub with Dead Sea salts, dried sugar cane, and magnesium oxide crystals followed by a skin toning herbal liniment rub and an herbal spice lotion massage. Gentlemen’s facials, which are hugely popular, are customized for men using products uniquely suited for their skin.
With destination bachelor/bachelorette parties and weddings now en vogue, some couples are renting out smaller boutique hotels and taking over their attached spas or booking golf and spa packages at larger hotels, for both the bride’s attendants and the groomsmen to enjoy. “So many destinations have great spas, its hard to not incorporate it into the overall experience,” says Angela Berardino of The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera.
Some destinations are modifying their wedding packages to appeal to the groom. The Ritz-Carlton Club Bachelor Gulch resort in Avon, Colorado, for example, can arrange an after-rehearsal-dinner poker night for the groomsmen, or Port, Scotch, Cognac, or Brandy tastings with a sommelier.
Trouble spots
Despite all of the pre-wedding planning your fiancé has done to look his best, there’s still the chance that an unexpected blemish or other unsightliness can put a damper on his big day. Here, Long Island Bride & Groom gives quick tips to help keep your groom looking dapper.
Breakouts
For truly troublesome spots, a dermatologist can administer a cortisone injection to reduce redness and swelling. In a pinch and no time to hit the doctor’s office! Dermatologists recommend an over-the-counter pimple lotion containing salicylic acid.
Razor burn
Most of this trouble is caused by improper shaving techniques (which is why we suggest he springs for the barber’s chair on the wedding day). Regardless, if he’s feeling the burn, he should apply a soothing face lotion containing tea tree oil or aloe vera (avoid alcohol-based aftershaves, which may worsen the redness and irritation).
Sweating
Wearing a regular cotton T-shirt underneath his dress or tuxedo shirt will not only help him stay comfortable, it should also help absorb any extra perspiration. If excessive sweating is in his genes, doctors may be able to help with stronger, prescription antiperspirants, such as Drysol.
Breath
Ask his best man to slip a slim pack of breath mints into your groom’s tuxedo. The likely hectic pace of the ceremony and reception may leave you deprived of a chance to hit the buffet and an empty stomach can cause less-than-fresh breath.