Yes, Groom, we’re talking to you!
As your big day approaches, it’s likely that you have a million and one things on your mind. Who’s going to be your Best Man? What caterer are you going to book? How do you keep yourself – and your significant other – from going crazy with the planning?
Before you get your mind in a jumble, know that we have good news for you…
Preparing for your wedding day doesn’t have to be stressful!
With so many bride to-do lists for planning a wedding, we figured it was time to lend you grooms a hand by breaking down all the things YOU need to do before your wedding.
Check out our easy-to-follow list below to get all your wedding details in order – so that you too can be prepared AND excited for your big day.
Ready to get your wedding planning organized and under control? We’ve got you covered.
If you’re a groom who is preparing for your big day, follow our Groom To-Do List and never miss a step!
This one may be a no-brainer, but it’s important to conquer this step early on. By choosing your Best Man and groomsmen at the beginning, you give them loads of time to get ready for your wedding AND help you along the way.
You don’t have to go above-and-beyond when it comes to inviting your groomsmen to be in your wedding, but it’s tradition to do something special for the occasion. Let them know that you’re excited to have them by your side with a custom invitation or gift. You can also give them their own mini to-do list for the big day so it goes off without a hitch.
Here comes the fun part! Discuss your ideal wedding with your significant other. Make it a day neither of you will ever forget. Get excited discussing the wedding date, location, etc. No one person should do all of the planning on their own – this is your day too! Dream up a wedding both of you will love.
Work with your partner on deciding who you will be invited to the wedding. It is typically the groom’s responsibility to coordinate with his friends and side of the family. However, you and your fiance will likely decide on the number of guests, and means of sending out invitations, together.
It’s best to make your own list and discuss the options with your partner. The number of guests can affect the wedding plans quite a bit – from accommodation arrangements to costs – so it is important to be on the same page from the get-go.
If you want to avoid getting a bunch of silverware as wedding presents, it is best that you set up a gift registry.
This can be a great way to get items for your new life together. This should be a collaborative process as well. There is no shame in adding some things that you want to that list.
Once you have the theme and colors picked for your wedding, you will want to pick your look for the big day.
Your partner may have already planned this for you, but if not, you will want to brainstorm some ideas yourself – or hire a stylist to help you.
You will then want to go tux shopping, likely with your groomsmen, to find the perfect tux. You can then order alterations if need be. Be sure to allow yourself enough time before the wedding to do this.
You may choose to take some time to get your legal marriage license before your wedding. It will take a bit of paperwork to get it done, but it is so nice to not have to worry about it after the wedding. Work with your sweetheart to make this process a breeze.
Grab some dance shoes and get to it!
If you don’t know how to dance already (and don’t want to get embarrassed at your wedding) then you may want to take a class to learn how! It can be fun to do this as a couple, but you can go solo as well, Or, perhaps a YouTube video will do the trick.
This is an optional step, of course, as maybe you are totally confident in your weird dance moves. That’s okay!
It’s a good gesture to get your bride or partner a gift for your wedding day, along with gifts for your groomsmen.
Though weddings can get a bit pricey, and you have likely already bought gorgeous wedding rings, you may still want to get your partner something sweet to remember the day by. If you haven’t bought you’re wedding rings, then it’s time to jump onto it.
As for your groomsmen, you can get something small like personalized shot glasses or tie clips to show that you appreciate them.
As a groom, it’s typically your job to follow up on the RSVPs from your side of the guest list. This means keeping track of who will be attending your wedding and who has yet to respond.
Usually, guests will respond via your invitation, but if you are still left wondering if the will be attending or not, a simple phone call should do the trick.
You want to give yourself tons of time to plan the honeymoon as well – especially if you are taking a trip out of the country.
Decide on your destination and book your flights and accommodation in advanced. Make sure your passports are up-to-date and remember most countries need your passport to have 6 months validity as well. The more you plan now, the more you can relax after your wedding.
If you are going the route of writing your own wedding vows, you want to give yourself ample time to thinks up ideas and then practice them before your wedding.
If you are hitting writer’s block, you may find some inspiration online, or by chatting about them with a friend. Try not to overthink them, though. They should come from the heart and simply say what you want your partner to know about your love for them.
Work with your significant other to plan the rehearsal dinner and coordinate details with your guests. Again, you will likely be responsible for wrangling your friends and side of the family. You will want to be sure that everyone has directions to the venue, the event details, and their responsibilities (if any).
Time to pay the bill! Probably not the most fun part of wedding planning, but it needs to be done. Your wedding officiant, caterers, photographers, etc. will likely need to be paid up before the wedding. Don’t wait until the last minute or after the wedding. You want to avoid that stress on your honeymoon.
It’s traditional for the groom (and other members of the wedding party) to give a toast at the reception. To avoid bumbling through your speech, you may want to write and practice one ahead of time. However, if you are a public speaking pro, you may just go off the cuff.
It’s time for the big day and you may be scrambling to get the last minute details together. If you followed this list, it’s likely you have avoided having all of that stress on your wedding day. Now is the time to be excited and take it all in.
Say “I Do” and cherish the moment – and rest assured that you are prepared for what’s to come.
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