Whether you’re exchanging vows barefoot on the beach or celebrating in a grand ballroom, you’re one of the stars of the day – so make sure your style rises to the occasion. Separate your look from your suited-up groomsmen with special details that scream, groom! Join Western Australia Wedding & Bride’s Hannah McDonald as she sits down with Lisa Hayes, owner of Mandurah Formalwear and Menswear, to discuss how detailed, heartfelt accessories elevate a groom’s look for a lasting impression.
Hayes is passionate about making grooms feel confident, stylish and completely themselves on their special day. Her company is wholly dedicated to providing this exact experience. “Mandurah Formalwear offer a quality fitting service with suits to hire or purchase along with all accessories in quality colours, fabrics and styles. Styling sessions help customers choose items that work well together and complete the look they require for their wedding day,” she explains.
Although the bride is usually (and for good reason) the main star of the show, grooms deserve to feel just as special on the day as they step into forever with their favourite person. “We always advise our grooms that it is as much their day as the brides and the photos are to last an age so they must feel comfortable and confident and enjoy what they are wearing, and it is our job to ensure the perfect fit,” Hayes believes.
Suit Up Smart
To make sure the suit and the wedding are in perfect harmony, Hayes investigates exactly what the day is going to look like. “We ask grooms to provide quite a few details about the wedding – what style and theme they have chosen, details about the venue and even what style and colour the bride is wearing. This helps us to advise them on their choices to ensure an outfit that complements the day as well as the person wearing it,” she shares.
You don’t want to look back on your photos and think, it looks like every other wedding. Accessories are a great way to add personal touches to your look that simultaneously elevate your style. “We often suggest accessories like cufflinks, tie pins, or fun socks to add a unique flair to the wedding party’s attire. Often, we recommend that the groom always maintains an extra point of difference from the groomsmen to ensure that he has a more sophisticated look and will complement the bride,” Hayes suggests.
One way of achieving this is by adding a tie or waistcoat that will perfectly accompany the bride’s attire. This creates a distinct look from the groomsmen and adds a unique, polished touch to wedding photographs.
Details Make The Man
When it comes to a wedding day, it’s the intricate details that separate a man in a suit from a man getting married. From tie to toe, it’s important that everything is elevated. Cufflinks, shoes and heartfelt touches are a great place to start.“Cufflinks always add that extra special layer of finesse. They add a touch of expense and can often transform the look from being black tie to one of more sophistication and style,” Hayes begins. “Shoes can also make or break a look. Venue location can dictate footwear requirements, but a shiny polished patent shoe always brings something extra that make a wedding party stand out.”
According to Hayes, the addition of heirloom pieces is a common request from grooms. “Their granddads cufflinks or pocket watch adds a sentimental touch to the day, especially from a family member that cannot be in attendance. Styling is considered around the item, and recommendations are made to ensure that any heirloom item looks like an effortless, well-chosen accessory to complement the groom’s attire,” she explains.
Turn Up The Fun
Although a wedding day marks a serious commitment in you and your partner’s lives, it can also be a great time to connect with your loved ones through light hearted gestures. “Younger wedding parties love to bring the silly side out in the groom and his groomsmen. Fun socks and underwear are a great accessory and a fun way to unite the wedding party. Lapel pins that have significance, from a club or event that are worn by all the groomsmen can unite them in a fun way,” Hayes notes.
For that extra oomph that draws the eye, pocket squares are the perfect addition that add flamboyance or formality to your wedding-ready look. “Pocket squares can add flair and fun to finish off a look. We always recommend pocket squares and offer many folding and styling options when wearing them. A folded square brings a more serious tone to the outfit whilst flared and layered square add a more fun vibe,” Hayes describes.
Usually, the more relaxed your wedding is, the more cheerful elements you can bring in. For instance, a beach wedding is primed for cheeky details that make your day your day. “Matching sunglasses are a fun accessory for beach weddings – painted toenails too, for those barefoot weddings!” Hayes suggests.
Final Flair
If formality is more your thing, don’t be afraid to up the elegance. In Hayes’ eyes, a well-dressed groom is always a bold fashion statement. “Even if he is overdressed for the venue, it shows that he takes his wedding seriously and is prepared for timelessly classic wedding photos to look back on when remembering this special day,” she says.
For the bold groom, Hayes is armed with a plethora of textures, layers, patterns and colours that both complement and add personal flair to the look. “Colour and textured materials bring out the extra ordinary, making the grooms look unique and memorable,” she adds.
If lists and lists of details make you feel overwhelmed, Hayes recommends the one touch – for grooms and groomsmen – that never goes astray. “Adding a bowtie – always a classic, paired with a sophisticated black suit. It gives the wedding party their statement piece and most groomsmen feel dapper and enjoy the opportunity to wear a bow tie,” she concludes.
Image courtesy of Mandurah Formalwear and Menswear