The Youngrens | San Diego Photographers

Last fall, Jeff and I photographed the small, intimate ceremony of Eric and Rachel. When I say small, I mean that it was the couple and their parents. And it was awesome (check out the beautiful La Jolla ceremony).

While Rachel was planning her wedding, I very much became her wedding consultant – we dished about locations, chatted over the value of buying boutonnières or not, and picked a time of day that worked best for photos. We usually don’t have so much input on the main logistics of a wedding day, so it got me thinking - what’s my biggest piece of advice when it comes to photos and weddings?

There’s SO MUCH I could say on this topic, but I want to focus on a portion of the day that doesn’t get addressed very often – the groom. The bride, yes, needs to look absolutely breathtaking. But don’t forget that all of you fabulous brides out there are only half of the photograph – your grooms need to look gooooooood. After all, they’re 50% of the subject matter in a bride and groom photo. And I hate to say it, but in the flurry of designing a vintage estate destination wedding, the main man can end up in a rented black tux that doesn't fit whatsoever with the look of the wedding or the look of his bride.

So ladies, this post is for you AND your man. Grooms listen up, 'cuz our grooms are the kind of guys with a whole lot of personality and impeccable style, so take a note from these awesome men with six tips that will make the biggest impact on your wedding day look. I make one promise to you - by the time you're done reading this, you'll look so handsome that your bride won’t be able to take her eyes – or her hands – off of you.

1. Fit the Wedding

When it comes to picking your groom look, don’t just go with a basic rented tux and colored vest that matches the bridesmaids – can you say blah? Pick an outfit that helps you feel your best. This is your wedding day, folks, not your prom, so find a suit or tux that will fit the look and feel of the wedding as well as your personality. Are you getting married in a meadow under an oak tree? What about a light gray suit with a fitted jacket and a pop of color in a patterned tie? Is it going to be a backyard casual reception? Think about linen slacks and colored shirts for a casual jacketless look instead of tuxes. Get creative!

I loved Ipp’s look for their backyard 1920's Pasadena Estate Wedding. Three-piece suit with a patterned bow-tie matched with a brown belt and shoes. The bow-tie matched the wedding colors, and the rest matched his personality. Perfect.

Ryan’s light-colored suit with a fresh tie was perfect for their morning beach wedding.

Kent’s smashing tailored tux fit marvelously with their black tie New Year’s Eve wedding at The Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barabara. Nothing short of this stunning outfit would have worked for such a glamorous occasion.

2. Buy. Don’t rent.

Before you make another move, please hold up your left hand, place your right hand over your heart, and repeat after me.

“I will not rent my wedding day suit. So help me God.”

Rentals are meant to fit every shape and size, so even though the wonderful folks over at the rental shop wrap you in measuring tape and give you a suit ‘perfect for your size’, I can’t tell you how many baggy tuxes with crazy long shirt sleeves we’ve had to photograph. There is nothing personalized about a rental no matter what they tell you. We see the finished product every weekend, so please trust me when I say that no guy looks good in a rented outfit. Plus, I’ve heard way too many horror stories of rental shops forgetting to include shoes, shirts, pants, or the right sizes altogether.

Think about it this way: the wedding is the perfect opportunity to buy a super nice tailored suit or tux that will last for a lifetime. Every guy needs a nice suit in his wardrobe for job interviews, black tie events, career opportunities, and upscale dinners, so why not invest in one for the wedding? You’ll thank me later when your bride gets invited to that swanky black tie fundraiser event at her favorite boutique hotel and you don't have to worry 'cuz you already have the perfect outfit…

3. Get Your Suit Tailored

Since you won't be renting, make sure to get your suit, tux, or whatever you wear tailored to fit you perfectly. Some guys like to lose weight before the wedding, so get it tailored a month or two before the wedding when you've reached your ideal size. Ill-fitting clothes automatically add ten to fifteen pounds in photos, so avoid the in camera weight gain and make sure your suit or tux fits your body perfectly.

Check out Jeff’s chic, custom tailored suit for his downtown Los Angeles wedding at The Marvimon House. Classy, elegant, and fits him like a glove.

4. Add Personal Details

Once you've chosen your suit, add some personal touches that are meaningful and reflective of you.

For example, we’ve had groom’s wear rainbows…

Vans…

Ostrich leather cowboy boots…

Striped socks…

Pocket watches…

Crazy nice watches…

Sytlin' hats...

And everything in between to add personality to their looks. Do what fits your personal taste, but add a little somethin’ somethin’ to round out your wedding day style.

5. To bout or not to bout?

Boutonniere that is.

While I’m a fan of boutonniere’s, I always suggest keeping them simple and a bit masculine using flowers that are hardy. I’ve seen one too many boutonnieres fall apart from hugs and heat long before the ceremony starts, so make sure that the flowers you choose for the guys will last through the hardship they’ll be put through. Or follow Calen and Kendall's lead and go with cute fabric designs from Etsy.

With that being said, if you're looking to cut back on part of the floral budget for use elsewhere, skip the groom and groomsmen boutonnieres altogether and just order some for moms and grandparents. Focus on the overall style of the guys' outfits instead of the small flowers since the suits will make a much bigger impact.

6. Speaking of the groomsmen...

I think it's only natural to put a lot of effort into the look of the bridesmaids - there's so many options, colors, fabrics, and styles with the girls that it's just plain FUN. But Jeff and I have had our fair share of rockin' bridesmaids matched with severely blah groomsmen, so don't forget the boys on your inspiration board. One tip: think retail. We’ve had entire bridal parties outfitted with suits & dresses from places like Express, Bloomingdale’s, H&M, Forever 21, and Nordstrom and sometimes it ends up being the same cost if not a little cheaper for your best man to purchase a pair of slacks, a colored shirt, a funky tie, and a classy vest from Express than to rent a suit. Plus, you can typically be a little more creative because retail just plain has more options to choose from. The look of the groomsmen has a big impact on the entire look of the wedding, so help the guys look and feel stylin’ by thinking retail instead of rental.

For example, Johnny’s groomsmen all wore complete outfits from Express and every guy looked handsome and stylish.

And I have to include Eric's guys - loved the socks!

Whatever you decide with your look and with the style of the groomsmen, just make sure that it's something that fits YOU. Don't rent black tuxes just because you feel like you should. It's YOUR wedding and you should be the best version of you on that day. So consider this official permission to make your wedding day look all about your personal style!

Hugs,

Erin