Today we’d like to introduce you to Grant McNamara.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Grant. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally when I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I started off as a Communication and Change Management consultant and after a couple years at that job, I switched jobs to lead the Employee Communications for the Americas at a large commercial real estate services company for another year. Despite what seemed like a fast-track to early success, I took that job for the wrong reasons and it led me straight to unhappiness. I had also gotten into a serious car accident that really changed the way I thought about my happiness and what I wanted to accomplish.
In that time, I had met someone that introduced me to the fashion world, and since I already loved the style, it quickly became a passion. I was unhappy in the corporate world and decided to leave it to pursue a career in the fashion world. I managed a custom clothier for a few years, quickly becoming a go-to place for menswear. I immersed myself in learning about men’s (and women’s) fashion and style and really figured out my own personal style in that time too. One thing that is obvious is guys just don’t know what’s out there, they don’t know their options and they don’t know how to go about dressing better. It was even more obvious that grooms-to-be needed extra help.
They didn’t know what style was appropriate for their wedding, what would look best on their body, how much they should spend and how to pick colors and fabrics. They walked out of the showroom with a garment that fit perfect, but I was just handing it off and basically saying, “good luck getting dressed on the wedding day.” A few times I wrote out checklists for the grooms to make sure they got the steps correct. Brides don’t know how much their grooms don’t know. Brides and wedding planners don’t know how much help the guys need on the day of the wedding. A few times, I went to client’s weddings just to tie their and their groomsmen’ bow ties, even between appointments.
My aunt owns an event planning company, Parties, Events & More, and I regularly would help her grooms out. Each time I helped her, I thought on the wedding day, the bride always has an army of experienced people to help her look flawless, but who is there to help the groom look his best? I put all this together and thought, wow, there’s really nothing out there to help grooms get dressed and I’m going to change that.
Then I did lots of research and found that there is actually nothing like it out there. So taking my knowledge from designing and dressing guys, coupled with my experience styling men, women and photoshoots, I decided it was time to offer grooms a new service. It helped that I’ve had lots of experience with modeling in photo shoots, especially wedding shoots, and have appeared in local and national magazines, including the cover of ChicagoStyle Weddings magazine. So I get what makes grooms look awesome in wedding photos.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle is that it’s a brand new service, so people are unaware it’s available and they don’t really know what it is. When I say I’m the Groom’s Personal Stylist, people don’t know what that means until I explain it. Since brides and wedding planners often make most of the decisions, it’s also difficult to get them to see the huge upside.
They don’t know that guys are helpless when it comes to getting dressed. They aren’t looking at the grooms when taking pictures to make sure each pocket square and boutonniere look nice, or that pant leg and jacket are laying correct. Only when they see a picture weeks later in which they look perfect but something with the groom doesn’t look nice, do they realize the groom just needed a little attention himself.
I also was unemployed for a long time before starting to substitute teach, so funding any sort of marketing for this has been difficult. Trying to connect with planners, photographers and industry professionals is super time consuming and difficult when they don’t understand what I offer, but are so busy themselves and don’t have the time for me to explain it.
When I do get the chance to connect, people have been incredibly receptive and reassuring, so each one of those conversations keeps me going and lets me know this really is a smart, and much needed, idea.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Wedding GPS – what should we know?
The Wedding GPS is truly unique and the first of its kind. As the Groom’s Personal Stylist, I make sure that the groom, his groomsmen and family look perfect on the day of his wedding. From ironing shirts and steaming the suits or tuxedos, shining shoes and tying ties or bow ties, to fixing fashion emergencies like stains or fallen-off buttons, I make sure everyone looks perfect. Then, I make sure each detail is correct throughout the day for pictures and the ceremony.
I make sure each pocket square is correct. I let them know when the jacket is supposed to be buttoned vs. unbuttoned. Multiple times, guys have forgotten to zip their flies. I’m there to help make sure the guys don’t ruin the pictures. The main focus is on all of that – the day of the wedding. I also offer wedding attire services, in which I help the groom (and his groomsmen) find his wedding day outfit. With my menswear connections in both custom and off-the-rack, I can help the groom find his perfect look at the price that’s right for him.
As a company, I’m most proud of offering a brand new type of service that is there to help the grooms. After all, it’s their big day too and they deserve some attention. It’s a really cool service that grooms, and the groomsmen, really enjoy and appreciate. I love when someone says to me afterward, “I had no idea I needed this, I wasn’t sure what you did, but I completely understand now and I’m so glad you were here. Are you available for my friend’s wedding?”
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
When I first thought about it, persistence, confidence and personableness came to mind. I need to be persistent because great things take time and you have to keep trying no matter what.
Confidence because me believing in what I’m doing will show and keep me positive about what I’m trying to do. Personableness because I want to create genuine connections with people so they truly enjoy working with me, and it’s important they have confidence in me in that I’m charismatic and well-dressed.
But when I thought of all of these words, it all stems from my passion for the business and what I’m doing. I love style, weddings and helping people look and feel their best. It’s so fun for me and that’s what I try to make each groom’s experience feel like. I want them to have fun. As long as I’m passionate about it, I will be persistent and never want to give up, confident in the business’s future success and genuine in my connections.
Pricing:
- Day-of Wedding GPS Services are $750 for the day
- Groom’s Wedding Attire Consultation begins with a FREE consultation, additional services start at $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theweddinggps.com
- Phone: (847) 899-2051
- Email: grant@theweddinggps.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweddinggps/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theweddinggps/
Image Credit:
ChicagoStyle Weddings, Furla Studio, Modern Luxury, Jorge Gera, Kenny Nakai
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