He is getting married too!

Involving the Groom in the Wedding Planning!

A bride’s big day is inevitably something she has dreamed about since she was a little girl. Her daydreams about her perfect dress, the song she will dance to at her wedding, and the girls who will make up her bridal party, have surely been features of her wedding that she has been planning in her mind years before she even met the man of her dreams! All too often, without being conscious of it, these pre-set visions of what her big day will look like leave little room for the groom’s vision of the big day!

Sometimes a bride-to-be has to make a conscious effort to ensure that her vision of the big day includes the ideas and dreams of not only herself, but her future husband as well! Below are some tips a bride-to-be can use to ensure that her groom is involved in the wedding process.

Have a chat!

While it sounds like we are stating the obvious with this tip, all too often we are not really communicating as clearly and effectively as we think we are. An easy way to get the groom feeling as though he is involved is by having a discussion about what the two of you envision for your big day. You might be surprised to hear what he looks forward to, or is nervous about!

Incorporate his interests

Try to look for ways to incorporate your partner’s interests and passions. Is he a big golfer? Perhaps you can incorporate this side of him by holding your wedding reception on a golf course! Another way to incorporate the interests of your groom-to-be is by using party favours that reflect his hobbies. Is he an avid wine drinker? Hand out personalized corkscrews as party favours to your wedding guests!

It is also very important to be aware of any family or cultural traditions his family practices. Incorporating these practices into the wedding ceremony and reception will ensure that not only your groom feels included, but that his family feels heard and respected!

Let go!

As women, we know what we want, and we work hard to get it! We meticulously plan details and earnestly watch our plans play out with the hopes that everything will work exactly as we wanted. Sometimes, however, we need to let go of the need to plan everything down to the last detail. Let go of some of the control, and let your groom take the reigns!

Be transparent and clear about what you want

Finally, it is crucial to be open and clear about what it is you want. Put it all out on the table. Have a discussion with your partner about what things are most important to you. Agree on must-haves before you begin your planning to ensure that both of your priorities are met.

Stop talking and make an information board!

“What time do we have to be there?” “Where is it again?” “How long is it until?”  Ever wonder why you put so much effort into creating an invitation for guests when most of the answers are right there? Don’t get me wrong, I am sure I have done this many times, but after hosting an event you realize how frustrating those questions can be.

Stop repeating yourself and create an information board!  This board will save you those countless times where you reiterate information over and over again.

An information board can give a breakdown to all the events and avoids miscommunication from occurring. I used a sturdy foam board from Dollarama to be able to staple things to it, but it is totally up to you.  You can include as much detail as you would like as in the time of departure, when the hairdresser will be arriving for the guests, what time the event is scheduled for and etc.

If you would like to get more creative, I added an envelope on my information board with printouts regarding directions/addresses to the venues.  I also added little reminders for family members and distributed some duties to cousins. Then, I just got happy go lucky and added a picture to jazz it up!

Put this information board in an area that is easily visible to anyone entering or leaving the house.  It is a handy thing to make and gives your voice some rest.  I would highly recommend this for your upcoming wedding, stop worrying about logistics and enjoy your special day!