Wedding Day Tips

A million details, big and small, go into planning a wedding. It can be overwhelming, and oftentimes couples don’t even know if they’ve missed something or haven’t prepared for every potential mishap. We don’t claim to be experts in dealing with wilting floral arrangements or awkward toasts, but we do know a thing or two about avoiding clothing-related issues. Here are some tips to help your big day go more smoothly.

1. Bring a second shirt. Let's be honest: weddings can be stressful enough to make any groom sweat. After the ceremony and photos are done, take a minute to freshen up and change into a clean shirt. You’re probably going to loosen up and ditch your suit jacket when the reception starts, which could mean showing everyone your sweat-stained shirt. Both shirts could be identical to keep up the level of formality, or this is also a great opportunity to switch up the style for something more celebratory. We can help design a shirt that still works with your suit while bringing a bolder pattern and color to the party.

2. Have sewing supplies handy for quick repairs. Even the best of us lose a button once in a while. Bring a basic sewing kit with needles and thread, spare shirt buttons, scissors, and safety pins. Pick the bridesmaid or groomsman who remembers the most from their high school Home Ec. class and put them in charge of fixing any wardrobe malfunctions for the wedding party and your guests. Bonus tip: if someone splits their pants, a stapler can hold the seam together (if not their dignity) for the rest of the night.

3. Put together a stain kit. Your photographer can edit little spots and stains out of the photos, but that doesn’t do much good in the moment. Keep some instant stain removers handy. Shout wipes and Tide pens get rid of common stains and are safe for most clothes, but it’s smart to test a hidden area first to make sure they don’t damage delicate fabrics. Liquid hand soap and water also work well to spot clean wool. 

4. Break in your shoes early. If you got new shoes, your wedding day should not be the first time you wear them; it’s much better to get any blisters out of the way early. Wear your new shoes enough to let them loosen up and shape to your foot, as well as scuff up the bottom of the leather sole to avoid slipping.

5. Keep extra toiletries on hand. At some point during the day, you’ll likely need to refresh your deodorant or fix your hair. If not you, someone else in the wedding party will. Come prepared with cologne, pomade, mouthwash, a beard trimmer, and any other grooming essentials you might need. You’ll be in the spotlight all day, not to mention in countless photos, so keep yourself looking sharp.

6. Practice tying your tie. A surprising number of grooms tell us they haven’t worn a tie since prom. If that’s you–or any of your groomsmen–practice ahead of time until you can confidently get it right, even with wedding day jitters. For a bow tie, it’s often easier to learn to tie it around your leg first instead of trying to practice in the mirror. Finally, the groomsmen will look more cohesive if they all tie the same type of knot.