Congratulations, you plucked up the courage to pop the question, and she said yes! You may have noticed that you’re girlfriend has turned into an unrecognisable planning diva, constantly making lists and asking for your opinion on flowers, stationery, colours, venues, rings, cakes, music and more…. And all you wanted to do was to get married!
Don’t panic, amongst all this planning frenzy there is some fun to be had… there are just a few things you need to do along the way.
Choosing your groomsmen
As soon as your engaged you will need to work out with your fiancé how many you want in your bridal party. If your Mrs wants 12 bridesmaids, you don’t need to match it, however it may look a little uneven if you only have the one groomsmen.
Now you have decided on how many, you will need to pick your lads. Make sure that the friends you pick will be up to the task. Your groomsmen will have to:
- Organise a great bucks party – yet still make sure you get home in one piece.
- Lend a helping hand on the day – lifting and organising.
- Accompany the bridesmaids to the reception.
- Help the groom out.
Your outfit
Your bride is busy hunting down the perfect dress to wear down the aisle. You need to put some thought into your attire also! Which suit you choose will depend on:
The formality of your wedding
- Casual wedding calls for a regular suit
- Formal daytime wedding – try on some Morning suits
- Formal evening weddings require black tie attire
- The most formal wedding – opt for a white tie suit. These are rarely worn in Australia, but the ladies will love it!
Body shape
- Stocky? Avoid long jackets
- Large chest? Wear a double breasted jacket
- Tall and lean? Anything will look good
- Short? Look for stripes
- Small? Check will make you look bigger
- Chubby? Go for dark colours
Transport
The transport is often the men’s domain, simply because they are more likely to put their hands up to help when cars are involved. Make sure you start this one early. You will need to have the cars booked at least six months in advance of the wedding.
Generally this is the breakdown of what cars you will need:
To the ceremony:
- Car 1: The bride’s transport is the first priority. She will travel with her father.
- Car 2: The bride’s mother and bridesmaids
- Car 3: The groom and best man will arrive about 20 minutes before it is due to start
To the reception:
- Car 1: The newly weds
- Car 2: Bridesmaids and groomsmen
- Newly wed’s parents
To the hotel
- You may like to choose a different vehicle for a getaway car – have a look at fun and flashy cars.
Book the honeymoon
This is traditionally the grooms job, but nowadays the bride often wants to get involved. If you are a traditionalist though, keep the honeymoon a secret and reveal the destination to your bride at the wedding. How romantic!
If you are travelling overseas, make sure your bride has a valid passport and visa, if needed. You will also need to tell her enough so that she can pack the appropriate clothing etc.
Book your honeymoon well in advance. It’s a good idea to book your holiday with a travel agent so that you can be sure that all bases are covered.
Help where you can
Through your entire engagement, make sure you lend a hand where you can. Always ask what you can do and never pick her up on being a bossy bridezilla… and you should get through this alive and happy.