Are You a Groom-to-Be? What You Should Know When Preparing For your Big Day

Your wedding day is one of the most important and memorable days of your life. When planning your proposal to your soon-to-be wife, you no doubt will have thought long and hard about how exactly you should execute it in a way which will not only be memorable to the both of you in the future, but also so that it will remain a surprise to her (unless of course she’s been hinting for an engagement!).The same thought and planning must also go into your wedding day as to your wife; this is likely to be all more important than the engagement was. Planning a wedding can take a very long time with many different factors to consider. Regardless of whether you are looking to plan every aspect of your wedding day together or allow your partner to plan the wedding of her dreams, it is a good idea to be aware of what goes into planning a wedding.

One of the key things which should be taken into account before you plan any aspect of your wedding is your finances. Weddings are known for being expensive, so planning out an initial budget before hand is always a good idea. Some couples may find that either set of parents will offer to pay for parts of your overall costs, which is also something to remember when planning the different elements of your wedding. Once you are aware of your financial situation, you can begin with the important planning and details of the wedding. For some, the perfect location can make or break their wedding. Some may have already thought long and hard about a dream location, but it is important to ensure that you visit each potential location with each other to ensure both are happy with the end choice. Depending on the location of your wedding, also think about where you plan to spend your first night as man and wife, and if you are looking to book rooms to spend the night in, think about whether you will be booking for any of your guests also. Once you have decided on the scene for your wedding, book a date which will not only give you enough time to plan the rest of the day, but also so that your guests are well informed of the date they need to save. ‘Save the date’ invitations are a great way to not only announce your wedding celebration, but also to provide your guests with a formal invitation. Invitations can potentially take up a substantial amount of your budget depending on the style and design you are looking for, but this can also help you think of an initial theme for your wedding as a whole. Many women look to having a color theme throughout their wedding whether it be the color of the bridesmaids dresses, lapels on the men and even down to the ways in which the tables at the reception are decorated-all of which adds cost. If your partner is looking to theme your wedding, this may also carry through to your invitations. Before ordering any invitation, ensure you have decided on your guest list as to not risk ordering too many or too little; this will also help you determine who would require a room to be booked for the big day.

Next, you should think about the menu which will be provided at the reception. Depending on the budget you have will heavily determine what you can afford in terms of food, but you may have already discussed this with your partner. Traditionally, guests will be provided with a delicious, traditional meal, but as times have evolved, many couples opt for buffet style food which not only lowers the costs, but also gives the guests more variety as they may not enjoy a set meal. The final part of your big day will be the reception. This is a very important part of the day, as this is the time for everyone to enjoy the day together in a less formal manner, whilst also having some fun in the process. Think about what kind of entertainment you wish to have which not only your guests will enjoy, but you and your new wife also. You may enquire about hiring a DJ, or karaoke facilities or even something a little out of the norm. Your entertainment can sometimes take up a large chunk of your budget, so ensure that the choice you make is one you are completely sure about. Once you have made your decision, enquire about what your first song of the night will be. To many in your family, this will be a great moment as you and your wife take to the dance floor for your first dance. This is a decision you should make together as something which is a little cheesy may make you feel embarrassed as your guests watch you.

A good way to keep track of every aspect of your planning is to keep a check list so you can keep tabs on what you’ve planned, any ideas you’re deciding on, and also the totals of what you’ve spent so far. Typically, a wedding is seen about being all about the bride, but remember, it is your big day too. By putting your input into certain aspects of the wedding, it will not only help make things go smoother, but will ensure you enjoy your day as much as she does.

About the Author: Matt Campbell is the owner of WeddingMuseum.com.  WeddingMuseum.com offers online wedding planning and wedding website museum.

8 essential wedding day do’s and don’ts for grooms

by Jeff Kear, Co-owner of My Wedding Workbook Free Wedding Software

As the big day nears, both brides and grooms tend to get a bit nervous and uptight about a thousand different details. That’s completely normal, because there’s a lot of expectation and emotion that has been building up while you have been doing your wedding planning. However, as a groom, there are a few things you can do – and a few you should avoid – that can make your wedding day go more smoothly and make it even more special for you and your bride.

1. DO take mental snapshots throughout the day.

Wedding days become so full of activity that most couples find the day is over before they know it. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, so make sure you remind yourself throughout the day to take a deep breath and preserve that moment in your mind so you can reflect on it down the road.

2. DON’T piss off the bride.

This may seem obvious, but if you have a bad habit of showing up late to things or tend to drink too much around your buddies and both of these traits frustrate your fiancée to no end, today is the day to make sure neither of these things happen or, for that matter, anything else that may even slightly provoke her. Today your goal is to make her happy to no end, and every ounce of your being should be devoted to this.

3. DO put someone else in charge of wedding day logistics.

Many brides do most of the wedding planning prior to the big day, and it will be impossible to get her to delegate everything on her wedding day. However, it is a very good idea to either hire a day-of wedding planner or recruit the maid-of-honor or another good friend to act as director, general fire marshal (as in the person who puts out fires) and stand-in wedding planner on your wedding day. This way you and your bride can focus on each other and your guests instead of picking up the cake because the bakery’s truck broke down.

4. DON’T plan your bachelor party for the night before.

This is a massively huge don’t, primarily because you want to be able to physically stand up and function at your own wedding. Look at it this way … if you show up to your own wedding horribly hung over, you will hear about it for the rest of your marriage. Not exactly a great beginning to wedded bliss.

5. DO give your bride a keepsake gift the night before.

Many engaged couples have planned either their rehearsal dinner or a family gathering for the night before the wedding, and this is a great time to pull your fiancée aside and give her a small memento, just a little something to show her that your world revolves around her. A really nice touch is to give her something that she can wear during the ceremony (as in something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue), possibly an heirloom piece of jewelry that is from your family.

6. DO bring your wedding license for your officiant to sign.

It’s surprising how many couples forget their wedding license, which needs to be signed and then sent in by your officiant in order for you to be officially married. Just make sure you bring it with you to the church or wherever your ceremony is being held.

7. DO instruct your best man to prepare a PG-rated-or-better toast.

It is also astonishing how many best men either mumble and stammer through an obviously ad-hoc toast or tell some bawdy story about the time long ago when the groom got drunk with a stripper and, well, you get my drift. Don’t assume your best man knows what is in good taste or not; just tell him to keep it clean and sincere. Humor is okay, as long as it doesn’t offend anyone.

8. DO remember to smile.

I’ve seen countless wedding photos of a smiling bride and a groom with a blank look on his face. Some guys do have a hard time showing emotion, and even if they are moved they still look as if they’re doing calculus. So if you’re one of those people who doesn’t naturally smile, remember to flash your pearly whites more often on your big day, because never before and never again in your life will you be photographed this much, and the pictures will be viewed countless times in the coming years.
About the Author: Jeff Kear is co-owner of My Wedding Workbook, the next-generation online wedding planning software that’s free, easy-to-use and helps engaged couples manage every wedding detail, from your engagement to your honeymoon and everything in between. Copyright My Wedding Workbook 2009 All rights reserved.