GROOMS: 3 things to know before your wedding

Let’s be honest… as a groom, you have a lot less on your to-do list than the bride. That doesn’t mean you can’t master the things you do need to know and show up ready to go, ahead of schedule and with time to relax!

Here are 3 things we know you usually don’t think about on the daily, so you may want to practice and wrap your head around them in advance, with plenty of time before your actual wedding day:

1. How to tie your bow tie (watch THIS video and practice in advance!)… or buy a pre-tied one. We won’t tell. Pro Tip: PLEASE don’t just start watching YouTube videos the minute we show up!

2. Similarly, how to pin your boutonniere on. Ask your florist for tips on attaching it and/or make sure someone who will be with you while you’re getting ready (either another groomsmen or your mom) has done it before and feels comfortable with that responsibility! The last thing we’d want is to spend time waiting for 10 guys to figure this out and have to help each other get theirs on before we can start taking photos. Your mom is always welcome to pin yours on if she is dressed and can be in the pictures, but help for all the other groomsmen is what we see often lacking and very much needed.  

3. When the photographer is ready to take your getting ready photos, you should be 90% of the way dressed! No one wants photos of you in a t-shirt and boxers on your wedding day. 😉

If you are getting ready in a hotel room and we are starting photos there, all the groomsmen should be fully dressed. As the groom, you should have your shirt and pants on with your tie, shoes, socks (the more fun, the better: colorful stripes? fave sports team? ode to MD?), cuff links, watch and any other meaningful items, in one spot for us to capture right before you put them on. Getting ready photos actually means photographing you as you get your jacket and shoes on, putting the final touches on your tie / cuff links and buttoning your jacket.

If you are meeting us at another location to have your portraits taken (for example, at the spot where you’ll have your first look or even outside the church or venue), then we’ll just capture portraits of you 100% ready to go – adjusting your tie / cuff links and buttoning your jacket make for beautiful and classic getting ready shots.

What NOT to have nearby…

Piles of clothes / bags / food / beverages strewn about. A little tidying up in the room (or corner of the room) that gets the most natural light will go a long way and make your photos that much better!

If you’re able to quickly do all of these things, just think of what it really means: you can pour another glass of bourbon, scotch or grab a can of Natty Boh and relax with the guys. 😉