Just For Him
I do……….What? A guy’s guide to navigating the wedding planning experience
O
k, got the right person. I’ve got the perfect ring. Let’s see, proposed in the perfect setting….. and yes was the answer……. YESSSSS!!! Ok, now I just show up at the wedding when I am told. Right? Um, not so fast there. There is more to your wedding than just finding that perfect person, getting a ring, proposing and then showing up to the wedding. While those are all very important things….there are a few details you might want to consider that lay in between. You will find that the more organized you are, the smoother the day will flow. One of the biggest stresses we hear from brides during the planning process regards the involvement of the most important person in their life….that’s you. A great deal of misunderstanding and unnecessary, unwanted stress can be avoided if you and your bride understand the roles you both are going to play in the planning process. The first important thing that should be discussed with your fiancé is just how involved they would like you to be in the planning process. Couples range from both being intimately involved in the planning experience (stop rolling your eyes) to a situation where one party makes most or all of the planning decisions (stop jumping for joy). As a couple, sit down and talk about it. Figure out where in the planning you fit and how much you need to do. Now remember, once you commit, you have to follow through even if that big game is on! At this point it is a good time to figure out who is going to do what and look at your
By Roy Groat Jr.
wedding budget. Are the two of you going to plan the wedding yourselves? Are you going to hire a professional wedding planner? Will they plan the whole event or just the day of? A wedding planner can take a lot of pressure off of the two of you. These are important questions to answer before moving forward, but you get the idea. Traditionally, the groom will be responsible for transportation on the wedding day and planning the honeymoon. The groom and/or groom’s family are traditionally responsible for the rehearsal dinner. It is a good idea to discuss the rehearsal dinner with your fiancé and your family to decide location, menus and how ceremonious you would like the event to be (i.e. toasts, speeches, groomsman & bridesmaid’s gifts, etc). But other areas of planning your day will be choosing a venue, photographer, DJ or band, videographer, cake artist and caterer. All of which should really, at least have the input of both of you. But wait, there is more! Other important aspects of the wedding are floral design, table settings, linens, chair covers, lighting, alcohol, etc. (Ok, stop rolling your eyes already.) A few other items to consider are where you and your groomsmen will get ready (at the venue, home or hotel). Are you going to have a groomsmen activity? One wedding the groom took all the guys to a go cart racing facility to blow off some steam the day of the wedding. Are you going to do a groomsman lunch? These can all be fun ways of showing the people who are in your wedding (cont. next page)
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