You’ve popped the big question and the
love of your life said, “Yes.” You’re both ecstatically happy.
What are your responsibilities as you plan your wedding? As
the groom, you share many of the pre-wedding responsibilities
with your bride. Other responsibilities are yours alone.
Taking these responsibilities seriously will endear you to
your bride, enable the wedding preparations to run smoothly,
and lead to a wonderful wedding day.
With Your Bride
You and your bride work together on
these activities leading up to your wedding.
Write the engagement announcement and
publish it in your local paper, if that’s the custom in your
area. E-mail your announcement to friends and relatives.
Develop a wedding budget. The bride’s
costs will be much higher than yours. Although the average
wedding in the United States costs between $15,000 and
$25,000, spend according to your budget. Traditionally, the
bride’s family pays for the wedding and the groom’s family
pays for the rehearsal and dinner. Your families may decide to
split the costs, or you and your bride may decide to pay for
event yourselves.
Choose and book the church or location
of the wedding and meet the celebrant. Ask about any specific
requirements. Get to know the celebrant if you are not already
familiar.
Arrange appointments with providers or
vendors for the wedding and reception location, cake, flowers,
caterer, music, church, and other wedding services. Confirm
everything one to two weeks before the wedding.
Choose the engagement ring and wedding
bands and arrange for engraving.
Concerning the guest list, decide how
many people you will invite to the wedding. Select and address
the wedding invitations. Mail invitations three to six weeks
before the wedding. Provide maps and airport shuttle schedules
for out-of-town guests.
If you have music at the reception,
choose the song for the first dance and other songs you and
your bride like. Find out whether your state has a waiting
period for getting a marriage license. Allow plenty of time to
take care of this responsibility if you don’t want to be in
the doghouse. In most states, you and your bride must apply
together in person. Bring along a proof-of-age document. If
you choose to write your own wedding vows, start early in the
preparations so the words express your feelings just right.
You will have time to revise. Scout for a picturesque location
for outdoor pictures such as a park, a gazebo, a historic
house, a private home, or an attractive building. Talk to
everyone who comes to your wedding.
Solo Responsibilities for the Groom
These responsibilities are yours alone.
Plan the honeymoon. If you’re going
outside the country, make sure your passports are current. You
may want to spend the first night nearby or in a hotel near
the airport if you’re flying out the next day.
Buy the gift for your bride.
Arrange transportation for the wedding
party on the big day. Consider a limo service, antique car, or
a carriage.
Write your toast or speech for the
wedding reception. Thank the bride’s parents. Be complimentary
to the bride. Thank the best man for all he has done. Thank
guests for attending and for their gifts. Toast the
bridesmaids. Acknowledge guests who’ve traveled a distance and
thank them for coming. Acknowledge any grandparents and great
grandparents and thank them for coming.
Choose your attendants
Choose your best man, groomsmen, and
ushers. Brothers or best friends often serve as the best man;
sometimes the groom’s father serves as the best man. Groomsmen
and ushers can be other brothers, friends, cousins, or the
bride’s brothers.
Review the best man’s responsibilities
with him.
Tell your best man what kind of a
bachelor party you want so he can plan it accordingly.
Select gifts for your best man and the
groomsmen. Present them at the rehearsal dinner.
Arrange for your best man to pay the
celebrant and musicians.
Ask one of your groomsmen to take care
of the wedding gifts and cards at the reception, load them
into his car, and drop them at your home later.
Ask another groomsman to be responsible
for picking up all the formal wear before the wedding and
returning it to the store.
Choose your Formal Wear
Select your formal wear. Will you wear a
tuxedo or a nice suit? Usually the groom wears a tuxedo for a
formal wedding and a nice suit for a less formal wedding. Will
you wear bow ties or long ties? Choose an outfit that is
slightly different from your groomsmen, such as wearing a
different color, tie, or vest.
* Consult with your bride to so the
men’s outfits compliment the colors and styles of the ladies’
dresses.
* Arrange a time for fittings for
you and your groomsmen.
* Choose boutonnieres that coordinate
with the ladies’ bouquets. Besides ordering for you and your
groomsmen, don’t forget the dads and grand dads, and the
celebrant (if male.)
Follow these guidelines so your wedding
preparations run smoothly and lead to a wonderful wedding day.
For groomsmen gifts
and ideas
visit
http://www.groomstop.com
For more
wedding planning tips for Grooms, groomsmen's
responsibilities and duties, and responsibilities of the
Groom, visit
Smart Wedding Planning.
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