June 8, 2006

Don’t Forget the Groom!

Weddings are all about the bride, right? After all, “Here Comes the Bride” is played, she walks down the aisle with a special escort, while the groom hangs out to watch all of the festivities unfold. Actually, a wedding celebrates the union between two people who will be spending their lives together, therefore it is important to make the groom feel included.
Even though many of the magazines are geared toward the bride, the major wedding issues include tips for the groom as well, notably a listing of his responsibilities leading up to the big day. Here are some of those responsibilities, courtesy of YourWeddingPlan.com.
• Announce engagement to family and friends.
• Choose and pay for engagement and wedding rings with your fiancée
• Draw up a guest list with your family.
• With fiancée, meet the celebrant and discuss the ceremony, legal requirements and any pre-marital counseling that may be required.
• Choose your Best Man and ushers.
• Discuss honeymoon destinations — check passport validity, visas and vaccinations required.
• Choose your wardrobe and arrange for the male members of the bridal party to provide sizes.
• Pre-book accommodations for out-of-town guests and attendants
• If you’re having a bridal registry, help your fiancée choose your preferred styles.
• Arrange to pay for bride’s bouquet, corsages and boutonnieres.
• Confirm and reconfirm honeymoon arrangements, pick-up travel documents, travellers cheques and, if travelling overseas, exchange at least $100 of foreign currency.
• Attend (and try to survive) bachelor party two weeks before the wedding.
• Consider your grooming — if a haircut is in order, try to make the appointment for at least a week before your wedding day.
• Pick up suits and arrange their return (usually via the Best Man).
• Plan and practice your speech.
• Place celebrants fee (and other on-the-day expenses) in an envelope and give to the Best Man.
• Make sure the Best Man has the rings — then make sure again!
• Be on time, and be understanding when your bride is not.