Congratulations on your engagement! While your bride-to-be is likely in full wedding planning mode, as the groom you also have important responsibilities leading up to the big day.

Instead of sitting back and letting your fiancée handle everything herself, make sure you take an active role in getting ready for your wedding.

Use this groom wedding planning checklist and tips to support your future wife, enjoy the wedding preparations, and pull off an amazing wedding day.

Wedding Planning for Grooms

Traditionally, brides take a major role in wedding preparations, from selecting a wedding venue to picking your color theme. Ideally, you should provide assistance and input as she goes through her planning to-dos and makes key decisions about your wedding.

That said, remember that the groom has significant wedding planning responsibilities, too.

Here's a look at some of the things you should be doing to prepare for your wedding day and related events.

Share Budgeting Responsibilities

Discuss your personal finances and agree on a wedding budget with your bride. Look for ways to save money like finding affordable vendors, minimizing guests, or cutting back on certain details.

Help With the Timeline

Collaborate with your bride to create a detailed wedding day timeline. Make sure it includes transportation, photos, venue setup, vendor arrival/departure, wedding party prep, reception events, and more. Having a structured schedule will help ensure everything runs smoothly.

Attend Meetings and Appointments

Your bride-to-be likely will schedule meetings with wedding vendors like your prospective wedding photographer, caterer, and florist. Make an effort to attend as many of these as possible—your input matters!

Give Your Opinion

Look over your fiancée’s wedding day Pinterest boards, wedding magazines, and other resources. Make sure your bride knows you care about the wedding planning process, and that you're excited about getting married. Share your ideas and hopes for your wedding day to blend your styles and preferences.

Help Choose the Tuxes/Suits

Select the style, color, and fit for your own tux or suit first. Then help pick the groomsmen's apparel to complement yours.

Book the Honeymoon

Take the lead on researching destinations, travel dates, transportation, and hotels for an unforgettable post-wedding trip.

Build the Wedding Website

Create your shared wedding website and link your registries, travel information, wedding party bios, and more.

Purchase your Rings

Shop for your bride’s engagement ring with her style and taste in mind.

When it's time to select wedding bands, conduct the research and shop for the rings with your bride-to-be.

Share the Bachelor Party Planning

Work with the best man to organize a celebration that fits your personality and interests.

Review Contracts and Make Payments

Look over contracts from vendors and pay deposits or payments when they’re due. This is a responsibility that you should share with the bride. Make sure to keep communication open about contracts, your budget, and expenditures.

Rehearse the Ceremony

Attend the wedding rehearsal to practice walking down the aisle, cues, vows, and any special elements you have planned for your ceremony. You'll also need to attend the rehearsal dinner, where you can give a toast thanking your wedding party.

Supporting Your Bride From Engagement to 'I Do'

Your fiancée might sometimes feel overwhelmed by the wedding planning process. Make sure you provide emotional and practical support along the way:

-Listen to her ideas and share your honest opinions.

-Give encouragement through the stressful times

-Help research vendors and wedding details when needed.

-Provide a second opinion when she’s deciding between options.

-Attend tastings and show your enthusiasm about menu choices.

-Give reassurance if conflict with family members or drama arises.

-Accommodate requests, like communicating with guests and helping with rehearsal dinner plans.

-Express your excitement as the wedding day gets closer!

By supporting your bride every step of the way, you’ll lay a strong foundation for your marriage.

Picking Your Wedding Party: Groomsmen and Best Man

One of your first tasks is selecting the important people who will stand by your side on your wedding day.

Here are some tips for choosing groomsmen and your best man.

Selecting Groomsmen

We suggest aiming for three to eight groomsmen.

Brainstorm a preliminary list of friends, brothers, and cousins. From there, consider including college friends, work colleagues, teammates, or other significant people in your life.

You'll want to choose reliable, supportive friends who you know will attend events and fulfill their duties.

If possible, try to mix personality types—close friends, life-of-the-party types, sentimental friends, and others.

Inform them they’re selected with a phone call, creative gift, or invitation. Just ask—most will be thrilled to take part!

Your Best Man

Typically, you'll pick your closest friend, brother, or cousin for this honored spot.

Make sure he is someone outgoing, organized, and responsible who won't flake on best man duties. Consider who keeps you balanced, shares your values, and will give a heartfelt, meaningful speech.

Ask in person if possible and explain why he’s so important to you. You might want to provide a small gift like engraved cufflinks.

Take time to get him up to speed on your goals and make sure you're both on the same page when it comes to best man responsibilities.

Once your wedding party is set, work with the best man to choose suits and plan a killer bachelor party.

Groom Wedding Day Tips

After months of planning, your wedding day will be here before you know it! Follow these tips so you can enjoy a smooth, stress-free day:

-Make sure you get a good night's rest leading up to your wedding day.

-Don't forget to eat. Even if you're nervous, you'll need a good breakfast to get energy for the long day.

-Allow plenty of time for getting ready with your groomsmen.

-Read your personalized vows out loud multiple times to practice.

-Bring essentials like vows, rings, the marriage license, your outfit and accessories, and touch-up products.

-Stay focused and avoid seeing your bride before the ceremony if you’re doing a “first look.”

-Make sure you and the groomsmen put on boutonnieres.

-Maintain your emotional composure during the ceremony and smile at your bride walking down the aisle!

-Hold hands affectionately, make eye contact, and speak clearly during your vow exchange.

-Give hugs and thanks to parents, the wedding party, and guests at the reception.

-Prepare a toast thanking your bride and important loved ones. Keep it personal and heartfelt.

-Don’t get drunk at the reception—pace yourself and hydrate.

Soak in every moment with your new spouse on the dance floor and during wedding events.

Groom Wedding Etiquette Tips

Brush up on some basic wedding etiquette to ensure you make a polite impression on guests:

-Arrive early or on time for the ceremony and reception.

-Introduce your new spouse to guests as your “wife” or by her new name.

-Stand to greet wedding guests at the reception line.

-Thank parents and in-laws for their support and contributions.

-Write heartfelt thank-you notes to your groomsmen.

Planning a wedding may feel overwhelming initially. Make sure you break tasks down step-by-step, ask for help when you need it, and remember what the big day is really all about—celebrating your love!

Using this advice, you can confidently embrace your wedding duties.

Before you know it, you’ll be standing at the altar hand-in-hand, saying “I do” to your soulmate.

Best of luck navigating this exciting time and creating beautiful memories together!

The Bell Tower on 34th is one of the leading venues in Texas for weddings and special events.

Our purpose-built venue, with full event-planning services, is based in Houston near The Woodlands, Texas.

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