When talking about weddings, most of us think of the bride first. She gets all sorts of advice on finding the perfect dress, the parties she should expect, how to decorate for the wedding, and more. But there are two stars in the show—the bride and the groom. We’ve compiled a list of five essentials for every groom-to-be to have as you prepare for the big day with your bride.
Your Suit
Although this may sound obvious, some men forget about their suits on the big day, especially if there was a lot of partying at the rehearsal dinner. Ensure you’ve already got your outfit for the wedding pressed and loaded into the vehicle you’ll bring to the venue. This prevents any mishaps so you can spend the wedding day focused on getting ready and celebrating with your groomsmen.
In addition to packing your suit and dress shirt, you should make sure it looks like it did the day you bought it. Keep the tie or bowtie, shoes, and all your other wedding attire in a safe spot before the big day.
Groom Tip
Evaluate your suit or tux at most a week before your wedding to check for wrinkles. If you’re renting this garment, pick it up several days prior to the big day. You may need to send it to the dry cleaner to ensure it looks perfect as you wait for your lovely bride’s debut at the altar. On the wedding day, you may need a suit brush to remove lint or pet hair from the material.
Wedding Rings
On the wedding day, it’s your best man’s job to protect the rings until the ceremony, when he’ll return them to you. But you have to remember to pack them for the big day so you can hand them to him. Don’t create unnecessary stress for yourself. The rings should remain somewhere safe, and if you think you may forget them, tuck them into your suit jacket or put them beside your car keys.
Getting Ready Essentials
You need a few things to get ready on your wedding day, and unlike your bride, you don’t have a team to do this for you. Some key items to bring include:
- Shoeshine
- Hair product
- Deodorant
- Shaving kit
- Breath mints
If applicable, it’s also a good idea to pack a backup pair of contacts or glasses so you don’t have to worry about your vision on such a big day.
Some Great Speeches
You may have to give a few speeches depending on how you organize your wedding. For example, while some couples make an original vow at the altar, others present these vows in private as they do first-look. In addition to this, you’ll give a speech at your wedding.
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to tips for writing a groom’s speech, including length, speech template, and more. Most also advise you to thank your guests and keep it shorter. Weddings have several speeches, and you don’t want guests to get bored listening. Once you write what you plan to say, read it aloud with your bride and make necessary revisions.
Comfortable Shoes
You’ll need to stand for at least 30 minutes at the ceremony, and at reception, you’ll have your first dance, walk around to thank guests, and celebrate your union. Of course, you need comfortable dress shoes to accommodate all this time on your feet so your focus remains on the wedding.
As you shop for wedding shoes, try on various pairs to find something that’s comfortable and looks great. You could also buy an additional pair of shoes like loafers for after your first dance so you look and feel great while partying.
Make Remembering Everything Easy
It can be easy to forget one of these five essentials for every groom-to-be to have, especially if you wait until the last minute to pack up. A great way to make certain you grab everything you need is by making a checklist. Jot down each of these items and anything else you feel you need on your wedding day, then make a copy to give to your best man. Two minds are better than one.
A checklist also helps lessen the stress you may otherwise feel as you rack your mind for each item you need to bring. Your wedding day should be one of the best days of your life, so keep yourself prepared to make focusing on the happy moments easy.
