In all the hustle and bustle of your wedding day, a key part of prepping is focused on how you look. Now, I'm one to think that my clients look stunning when they're happy, more
so than if they're wearing the finest, most chic and expensive outfit. However, there are a few special touches you can make to help give your outfit that little pop in your pictures.
Most of the time, the biggest issue my clients face isn't the outfit they chose for their wedding, but how they're wearing it. Hopefully your future spouse thinks you'll look heavenly even if you wore a paper bag, but maybe let's impress them by having those buttons done properly. I know I'm working high-speed that day to make sure everything looks good, but sometimes my eyes are prioritized on something else or I'm simply not in a position to tell you to fix it. (I can't stop your ceremony to tell you your fly is down or your dress has a stain!)
So keep these tips and tricks handy for your big day. You'll feel prepared and put-together for sure!
Masculine Types:
Button it Up
If you're wearing a suit, take a look at the buttons. The easiest rule to remember when you have a single line of buttons is, "Sometimes, Always, Never." This correlates to the number of buttons from top to bottom.
- One button: ALWAYS button it up!
- Two buttons: ALWAYS button the top one, NEVER button the bottom one.
- Three buttons: SOMETIMES button the top, ALWAYS button the middle, and NEVER button the bottom.
Remember to unbutton when you sit down, or everything will ride up and wrinkle. There are a bunch of other nuanced rules and other rules for double-breasted button combinations, but more often than not I find that the single line of buttons is what I encounter (and correct) the most. If you want more details and some history, along with examples of people wearing different suits, you can check out this handy video.
Mix or Match?
When it comes to color choices, it's important to be on board with your partner. Suit colors vary, but not usually as much as dress colors. If your wedding has a color scheme, make sure you and any suit-wearers standing behind you at the altar aren't clashing with anything.
Shoes and belts should always* be the same color. Brown shoes, brown belt. Black shoes, black belt. Asterisk for some clever individuals who knowingly broke this rule because
they had some very unique shoes or belt options that there was no way to match exactly. But that's the type of exception where you know it if you see it. Otherwise, keep it simple and just make them match.
Speaking of Tying the Knot...
If you're wearing a tie, PLEASE practice how to put it on before your wedding. If it's your first time with one, it can eat up a lot of time trying to get it perfect. Sure, you can tie it the night before so it's easy to just slip on, but practice just in case. I always use a four-in-hand knot, but experienced wearers can get creative.
Oh, and bow ties? I LOVE them, but I never got the hang of tying those. My highest praise if you know how to get those looking good, but the pre-tied ones look stunning too (and are absolutely less of a hassle when you've got a million other things to think about that day).
Feminine Types:
Get That Fit
Most dresses need some sort of tailoring. Even if you find it's a nearly-perfect fit, it's worth taking it to a tailor to make sure. They will be able to tell you if adjustments should be made in the length (no one wants you to trip and fall on your face in the aisle), or if the top part fits correctly so that it doesn't fall throughout the day. Don't forget those shoes, as a tailor will want to see what you're working with that day. (More on shoes below.)
Maybe you got lucky and you know the dress fits absolutely perfectly! You found the unicorn of dresses! Still, make sure you take some time to wear it around the house for an hour or two to see if you notice anything that should be adjusted or considered for that day. Can you sit in it? Can you dance in it? Can you breathe in it?? Don't just assume that the dress will do all the heavy lifting for how pretty you'll look that day, or that suffering through it is worth it. If you can't get comfortable, you won't look comfortable in your pictures.
Bustle Hustle
For the love of the wedding gods, please practice fastening your bustle. Nothing is worse than a complicated skirt setup with no understanding of how it works and a reception entrance in 5 minutes. There are a many different kinds of bustles, so it's important to know what kind your dress has and the process of getting it up correctly. Have a parent or one of your party practice with you, as you most likely won't be the one putting it together! In fact, take a video of it being done and make sure you send it to your go-to bustlers the day before.
Oh My God, Shoes
Please don't be THAT person who wears 6 inch heels for the very first time in their life for walking down the aisle. I've seen those disastrous results. Grass and cobblestones can be a nightmare for heels, as can alcohol. I look like a newborn baby deer walking on ice if I attempt heels taller than my pinky, and I could absolutely NEVER make a pair fresh out of the box look confident and smooth. It takes practice to get the stamina to walk in heels properly for a long period of time, and believe me, your day is going to feel extra long regardless of what's on your feet. If you're determined to work some stilettos that day, at the very least you should wear them in so you know where the pain points will be. Also, try them on with your dress to see if they'll actually even be visible! I've seen a growing trend of fun (i.e. comfy) shoes for the reception at the very least, and certainly your guests will be much happier knowing you can have fun pulling your best dance moves.
For Everyone:
Clean Up Your Act
By which I actually mean your face (and other parts of you, in general). Specifically, it's a good idea to start a skin care regiment well before your wedding day. Don't try new products beforehand, since you don't know if you'll react poorly. Get with a dermatologist if you're worried about something specific. If you're working with a makeup artist, see if they have suggestions based on your skin type. Get regular haircuts in throughout the months/year beforehand, and get at least one trial run in for any hair styling you might want that day.
I'm not saying that reaching for the cookie dough during some particularly stressful wedding planning won't help (it does, I've tried it), but consider adding new diet and exercise habits to your routine. I'm all for body positivity here, and I'm absolutely NOT here to fat-shame anyone. I make this suggestion for keeping your skin clear and your immune system healthy so that you're less likely to get sick right before your big day. A routine stroll around the block just helps you blow off some steam after struggling with seating chart drama. You gotta treat your brain right first.
Crisis Averted
Pack yourself an emergency kit, and thank me later. If you forget, I often have important items on me as well, but it's better to be overprepared. You could either get a fancy pre-made one, or just gather these items from around your house. Either way, just make sure you have one for each of you. No one likes a wardrobe malfunction, so have these things on hand to help get you back up and running:
- Tide pen
- Safety pins
- Bobby pins
- Crochet hook (for stubborn buttons on the back of a dress!)
- Band-Aids
- Thread and needle
- Double-sided fashion tape
- Pain meds & immodium
- Extra underwear (these I do NOT keep on me, so please don't ask!)
- Deodorant
- Mouthwash
- Single-use toothbrush
- More safety pins, band-aids, pain meds, and Tide pen
I'd be remiss to not again mention the Tide stick. I've saved multiple barbecue-splattered lives with one, once even on a moving boat.
At the end of the day, if you're celebrating with the love of your life then you're going to be glowing. Most of the above list are just aesthetic etiquette, with some peace-of-mind things in the mix. There are a million tips and tricks out there for having your best day ever, but the best ones will come from those closest to you who've done it all before. Sit down with your married friends and family, and see if you can glean any good advice from what worked--or didn't work--for them.
And get another dang Tide pen.
