I positively adore this thread on the Offbeat Bride social network: What offbeat grooms are wanting to wear. Hint: it ain't a tux!

… All too often non-traditional wedding planning falls along remarkably traditional gender lines, so it's refreshing to see grooms who are so actively involved in envisioning their weddings. I wish there were so many more! We're making progress, but it was depressing to me when I pitched my lit agent with the idea of doing an "Offbeat Groom" partner book, her answer was a simple: "No one buys books for grooms. Except brides. There's just not a market for it." Sad!

Kent, the offbeat groom who started the groom thread, even started an offbeat grooms social network.

Any suggestions for how to "dress up" a bride with eyeglasses? I wear wire rimmed glasses that are a subtle cat-eye shape (can't be too crazy since I work in a hospital) and I can't wear contacts b/c of a medical condition. However, I find that glasses tend to "dress down" any fancy outfit I wear and I never see wedding photos where the bride has glasses. Any experience out there? -Kerith

Seems like there are two strategies you could use for wearing glasses at your wedding:

1. "My frames are a part of my face!" (ie, stick with the glasses you've got)
If you love your frames and feel like they're really part of your face and identity, or are planning a low-key, mellow wedding, stick with the glasses you've got. If you're a make-uppy type, you could go for extra dramatic eye make-up under your usual specs to add some flair. Dude: when was the last time you tried quality fake eyelashes? Bridget Bardot in spectacles anyone?

2. "My frames are part of my wedding outfit!" (ie, get new ones)
Wearing a pair of one-of-a-kind frames that aren't your usuals would make a great visual impact on your wedding — I say go for frames that coordinate with your dress. To be even more daring and dramatic, go for frames that coordinate with your flowers. Let your glasses be an extension of your bouquet: a visual splash! You could also go super light and understated — ie frameless lenses that barely show.

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