Today’s grooms are significantly more involved with wedding plans than the grooms of yore. A wedding is a big event, and your primary role is to provide support to your bride. She will appreciate your direct involvement with your wedding. Little details such as arranging lodging for out of town guests, scheduling appointments with service providers and wedding consultants, and active involvement in wedding invitations and thank you cards will help lighten your fiancee’s load significantly. However, there are a few aspects of wedding arrangements which have traditionally been the groom’s responsibility.
Engagement/ Wedding Rings
It is the groom’s responsibility to purchase the bride’s engagement ring and wedding band. Most often, couples will select their wedding bands together. A nice touch is to have your bride’s wedding band engraved with a personal sentiment. Learn more about engagement ring selection in the Rings section.
Selecting Best Man & Ushers
The best man is responsible for keeping the legal documents and rings safe on the wedding day and providing payment to wedding service providers. So it goes without saying that you want to choose someone who is both organized and reliable. Groomsmen not only escort the bridesmaids down the aisle, but they most often assist with seating guests as well. The number of groomsmen in your entourage will be determined by you and your bride, as you will decide together what size the wedding party will be.guest list
Guest List
The bride and groom usually develop guest lists together. However, it is the groom’s responsibility to have the names and addresses of his guests compiled and ready for invitations at least 3 months out.
Marriage License
The groom usually arranges for both parties to acquire the marriage license and any necessary blood tests, as well as paying for any legal requirements involved with marriage license. Learn more about marriage licenses on the Legal Documents page.
Rehearsal Dinner
It is traditionally the responsibility of either the groom or his family to organize and pay for the wedding rehearsal dinner. Visit the Wedding Rehearsal section to learn more about marriage license hosting the rehearsal dinner.
Church & Registrar
The groom is responsible for any church and wedding official fees associated with the wedding. Prices vary from provider to provider, whether it be clergy, justice of the peace, or church elder.
Gratuities for Service Providers
Tipping service providers is something that should not be overlooked. Although the groom is financially responsible for tips, it’s a good idea to delegate the task of delivering tips to your best man. Tips are most often provided for the ceremony officiant, ceremony assistants, florists, caterers, photographers, musicians, drivers and servers. View our Tipping Guide to learn more about standard wedding gratuities.
Bride’s Wedding Gift
Unless you and your bride have agreed beforehand to not exchange wedding engagement ring day gifts, it is a good idea to provide your new wife with a special token on your wedding day – something that will always remind her of your union. If you are budget-conscious, a bouquet of flowers and a card will suffice. If you are able to spend a bit more, a customized piece of jewelry is a wonderful choice. Most often, the bride’s gift is given privately, after the wedding reception.
Male Attendant Gifts
A small token of thanks to your groomsmen for their participation in your wedding will go a long way. A traditional choice is cuff links, but you can give them anything you wish. For more attendant gift ideas, visit the Gifts section.
Tuxedos
The groom is responsible for choosing the Tuxedo style for all males in the wedding party. This includes yourself, your groomsmen, ushers and both the father of the bride and father of the groom. Whether you choose to rent or buy your tuxedo, you are responsible for fittings, ordering and paying for your tuxedo. The groomsmen and fathers usually take care of their own rentals.
Gloves, Ties, Ascots
boutonniere If you are having a formal wedding and will be wearing gloves, ties or ascots not included with your tuxedo rentals, the groom will provide such details for himself, his attendants, and both fathers.
Bride’s Bouquet
Whatever the color scheme or theme of your wedding, it is most likely that your bride will choose her bouquet. However, it is traditionally the groom who pays for the bride’s bouquet.
Mothers’ Corsages
Consult with your bride for flower choices and overall color scheme of the wedding, then order a corsage for both your mother and your future mother-in-law.
Boutonnieres
The groom provides boutonnieres (or buttonholes) for himself and all male party attendants. Most often a single bloom of the same variety as what’s in your bride’s bouquet will suffice.
Wedding Day Transportation
Whether it’s by limo or horse-drawn carriage, the groom takes care of wedding day transportation to and from both the wedding ceremony and the reception for all wedding party members. This includes the bride, the groom, parents of the bride and groom, and bridesmaids and groomsmen.wedding transportation
Reception Speech
The groom usually gives a speech at the wedding reception in which he toasts his bride and the bridesmaids and thanks the groomsmen. Write the speech on a piece of paper and have it ready when reception time comes.
Wedding Night Accommodations
If you are not planning to leave for the honeymoon immediately after the wedding reception, be sure to have wedding night accommodations arranged ahead of time. This includes room reservations, payment and any amenities you wish to delight your bride with.
Honeymoon
Honeymoon destinations are usually decided between the bride and groom, it is traditionally the groom’s duty to make all necessary honeymoon arrangements. This includes necessary travel documentation, packed luggage and travel expenses. It’s always a good idea to make all honeymoon arrangements months in advance of the actual wedding, so you will be worry-free when it comes time to travel. Browse our Honeymoon section to find some great honeymoon inspiration.
