You know the 80/20 rule, right? Basically, 80% of wedding costs will come from 20% of the decisions. So the trick is to help your fiancée with the right 20%, which means pitching in on the Big Three: the guest list, the date, the venue. There is no need to take control of these areas, but helping out can save a lot of money.
This is your wedding too, so get in on the planning. Pick a few things that interest you such as food (who doesn’t food interest?!), the music, or maybe even the flowers – who knows!
It’s common for the groom to buy a gift for the best man, so this duty falls to YOU. Some grooms also buy a gift for the bride to open on the morning of the wedding. If you do this, be careful in buying any kind of jewellery as your fiancée will have chosen the accessories she will wear on the day well in advance.
Whatever you choose, discuss it with your fiancée first. This is particularly important for any areas where you are introducing colour, such as your tie. Your fiancée may want to make sure it fits with the overall colour scheme of the wedding.
It may seem like a tedious task, but think about it: You get to wander around a store, picking things you want or need for your house and it’s likely that someone will buy it for you – you can’t beat that. Make the most of it!
If she’s doing the majority of the planning for your wedding, she’s probably bordering on wedding overload. Give her a night to relax, cook her dinner, do the dishes, rent her favourite movie and remind her why wedding planning is worth all the stress!
Ensure you pick a friend you can trust to be responsible for bringing your ring to the ceremony. Your guys don’t have to be saints, but they will have responsibilities, and it’s your job to make sure they know what they are.
The day of your wedding, send her a gift, flowers, or a sweet note to read while she’s getting ready. Alternatively, at the reception, pull the videographer aside and tape a special message to her. She’ll see it later and we promise, she’ll love you all the more.
As men, we’re not supposed to like it, but under the right circumstances, it’s fun. Take lessons with your fiancée (everyone does it!) and ENJOY it. It’s something you don’t do everyday, so don’t take it for granted.
Take the lead on this job – it’s a winner. Unlike wedding planning, there’s no etiquette and no formalities. Book way in advance and consider the half ‘n’ half technique – where half the honeymoon trip is adventure, and half’s on the beach.
