Friday, February 1, 2008

Make Room for the Groom: Ten Ways He Can Participate in Your Wedding Plans

More often than not, wedding planning is a spectator sport for the engaged man. Some men are thrilled to let their future bride shoulder most or all of the responsibility. And let's be real - when it comes to wedding plans, women are usually in their element. They've waited, dreamed about and planned this day for years. As Debra Barone said to her husband Ray an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" when they flashed back to his proposal and the ensuing wedding plans, "You're just the last piece of the puzzle." Ray felt left out of the planning process, as many grooms-to-be do. But guys don't need to simply stand by and watch everything develop around them. Here's a ten-item to-do list guaranteed to keep him busy and make him part owner in the most important day of your lives.

- Is he good with numbers? Have him manage the budget once you both have created it. Not only is wedding-budget management a critical element in the process, you and he will have an opportunity to see how finances will affect your marriage.

- Let him help compile the guest list. Naturally, he needs to provide you with the names and addresses of family and friends he would like to invite. Just make sure he's there when the guest list needs to be pared down. Who stays? Who goes?

- Destination wedding? St. Patrick's Cathedral? The Hoboken Hilton? Ask him to join you when you make the rounds of possible ceremony and reception locations.

- Does he like to eat? Silly question. Have him help select the menu. Tasting all the potential choices will make this activity one of his favorites.

- Here's a test of true love. Make choosing registries and selecting items at each store a team effort. Make a day of it. Make it fun. Maybe make one of your registry choices The Home Depot or CompUSA.

- Is he into music? Ask him to select the band or DJ. He wants family and friends - and you - to have a good time, and he'll go out of his way to find the best band or DJ he can.

- If he's a great dresser - a metrosexual of sorts - let him choose the attire for his best man and groomsmen. Trust him to come up with something that will complement the formality (or informality) of the occasion and make his buddies as comfortable as possible at the same time.

- Have him choose and purchase the gifts for his best man and groomsmen. Who better to pick out gifts for guys than a guy?

- Most everyone these days is video- and photo-savvy to some degree. Ask him to get prices, demos, portfolios and references and, eventually, choose the photographer and videographer.

- Relieve his future wife's stress. OK. Maybe this should be at the top. Only you know what it takes to ease the pressure and tension of planning a wedding - especially in the three or four weeks before the big day. Don't be shy. Tell him what you need. He'll be there for you. He loves you. And he may think it will get him out of one of the other nine on this list. Let the games begin...


About the Author: Susan Hawkins is a writer for My Wedding Favors. For more helpful articles, wedding favors, wedding gifts and wedding shower ideas, visit them online at http://www.myweddingfavors.com.

No comments: