Many men assume that planning the wedding is solely a woman’s affair. What these men forget is that the wedding is about the two becoming one and as such, when they play an active part in the wedding planning, the day feels and is a combination of the couple rather than solely a show of the woman’s tastes and desires.
When the groom helps in planning the wedding, some of the pressure on the bride lessens allowing her to enjoy the process rather than dread the thought of another day of running around. Below are a few things that the groom can do during wedding planning.
1. Groomsmen
It’s up to the groom to select his best man and groomsmen. He is also responsible for selecting what they will wear, the colour of the suit can be agreed upon by the couple, and decide whether they will buy the suits or get them tailored.
The groom also needs to follow up with his groomsmen as regards fittings, haircuts, and any other tasks that will be required of them on the wedding day.
2. Guest list
Before there is a master guest list, the two, the bride and groom, each need to write down who they want to invite to the wedding. The groom will need to write down his intended guests and consult his parents on anyone they think should be invited to the wedding.
3. Invites
The groom can send out the wedding invitations to his guests. He is also responsible for following up on his guests’ RSVPs.
4. Wedding bands
Once the couple has chosen their wedding bands, the groom can follow up with the jeweller and ensure the rings are well made and delivered on time.
If he wishes to, he can assign one of his groomsmen, usually the best man, to be in-charge of making sure the rings get to the wedding venue.
5. His side of the family
The groom must be a go-between if anyone in his family is disgruntled by the wedding plans. Should there be a problem from his side of his family, he should speak to the person concerned and if need be, consult his fiancée. In this way, he will diffuse any tension that might be building up between his side of the family and his bride before it blows out of proportion.
6. His pre-wedding prep
Just as he did for his groomsmen, the groom should take charge of his wedding prep. This entails ensuring that he gets his suit and accessories long before the wedding day.
7. Venue
Once the venue is selected, the groom can follow up with the management and work on securing it on time. He can sort out minor details regarding payments, ensuring it’s clean, etc.
8. Sound/music
This is majorly a man’s domain. The groom should work on finding sound providers and also help with the music selection (of course, with the input of his bride-to-be).
9. Cars
This is another area where the man can take charge without too much interference from his fiancée. He should ensure there are enough cars for the bridal party as well as a means of transport for the immediate family.
10. Honeymoon
And once the celebrations of the day are done, a well-planned honeymoon will help the couple relax and finally enjoy wedded bliss. If he is sure his bride doesn’t mind, the groom can plan a secret honeymoon that will earn him major points right at the start of their marriage.
All in all, any help the groom gives the bride during wedding planning will be highly appreciated. It’s better for her to say ‘no thanks’ than for her to get upset that you didn’t lift a finger to help plan your big day.