Although the bride is usually responsible for most of the wedding planning, it’s still the groom’s responsibility to assist her. He should also take on some important responsibilities of his own.
Whether you’re helping your future wife plan the wedding of her dreams or taking on your own tasks, a checklist of things for the Groom to do can help you avoid stress.
1. Hire a Wedding Planner
Hiring a wedding planner is one of the best things you can do to reduce stress. Planning a wedding is a lot of work, especially when you factor in your everyday responsibilities and family life. A wedding planner will take a lot of the pressure off your shoulders and give you the freedom to enjoy this exciting time in your life.
Whether you need help selecting vendors or booking venues, a wedding planner can offer suggestions and guidance. They are also familiar with the latest trends in weddings and can provide you with ideas to bring your vision to life. They will also be able to help you create a comprehensive timeline, including the smallest details that may have slipped your mind.
Most importantly, a wedding planner will be on hand to help you navigate any bumps in the road that might occur. From wardrobe malfunctions to guests forgetting their dietary restrictions, a planner will step in to mediate and resolve any problems so that you can focus on marrying the love of your life.
2. Set a Budget
A common mistake couples make is falling in love with a venue, dream dress or over-the-top cake before talking numbers. Instead, start by setting a budget that is within your price range and work from there. This will help you avoid the pitfall of going over-budget and allow you to find ways to cut costs where possible.
Set up a spreadsheet that will have three expense columns: Estimated, Modified and Actual. Put the amount you think you should spend in Estimated, then adjust your estimates as you receive proposals from vendors. Make sure you include tax in each estimate, and double check that vendors are including taxes when they quote you a price. Then, once you have all of the estimated amounts for each category and any contributions from your family members tallied (and, if necessary, adjusted), you’ll have a complete picture of how much your wedding will cost.
If you haven’t already, discuss how you and your future spouse will pay for the wedding with your families. This may impact who is responsible for covering what expenses and when, and it’s important to have a clear plan in place before anyone starts swiping plastic.
3. Confirm the Final Details with Your Wedding Party
As the wedding day approaches, you will want to confirm the final details with your bride and groomsmen. This is a great time to discuss attire, arrive times and any responsibilities they may have on the day of the wedding (giving a toast, reading or performing a song). This will help to minimize any confusion, people showing up late or last-minute surprises.
Also be sure to set the boundaries for your wedding party as far as who can bring a date and whether or not children are invited. It will save you and your partner a lot of stress if you land on these things upfront and can stick to them.
It’s important to remember that your wedding day will be a beautiful and memorable experience, regardless of whether it goes exactly as planned or not. Be sure to set the priorities of what you want your day to look like, such as having five-star food or a packed dance floor and make decisions that will support those goals. Also, don’t forget to take the time to get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast to ensure you have the energy you need for the big day!
4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
It’s no secret that wedding planning is a lot of work. But it’s also a time to celebrate your love with the person you want to spend forever with. So don’t forget to take some time out for yourself and get a good night’s sleep the night before your big day.
It is important to eat a healthy breakfast the morning of your wedding. This will help you to feel energized and ready for the day ahead of you. Try to avoid eating foods that your body isn’t used to, as this may cause you to have an allergic reaction on the big day.
If you are someone who is notorious for being late, make sure to have a backup plan to get you there on time. Share your wedding day timeline with all of the members of your bridal party and family, so that everyone knows what time to be there.
This will give you peace of mind knowing that even if something goes wrong on the day of your wedding, they will have everything covered and can still have a great day. And if you are still feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help!
5. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Wedding planning can be very emotional and stressful. Often, things will not go exactly as you plan them to, and this can cause a lot of anxiety for the bride and groom. However, it is important to remember that everything will work out in the end. Instead of getting upset when something goes wrong, focus on finding a solution to make it better.
It is also important to start getting ready early on your wedding day. This will help you avoid feeling rushed and stressed out throughout the day. It will also give you enough time to take care of all your grooming needs, such as showering, shaving, and applying makeup.
Another thing to keep in mind is to eat a healthy breakfast. It is recommended to eat foods that are high in protein and fiber, which can help you stay full and energized for the day. Some good options include eggs and whole wheat toast, yogurt with fruit, or a smoothie.
Finally, it is important to practice self-care throughout the wedding planning process. This can be done by taking a few minutes to meditate, going for a walk, or spending some quality time with your fiancé. It is also important to set aside some time for date nights and other activities that make you happy.
6. Start Getting Ready Early
A wedding is not just about the party (although the dance floor is definitely a highlight) but rather about committing to your partner forever, sharing a meaningful commitment with them, and celebrating this special occasion with those closest to you. It is important to remember these things when you start feeling overwhelmed by the countless to-dos and uncontrollable factors of your big day.
To avoid burnout during the wedding planning process, try to dedicate a couple of weekdays and full weekends to activities outside of the wedding and find ways to decompress like exercise classes, long walks, journaling, or board games. Getting rid of the clutter, dubbing a room in your home as “no wedding talk” territory, or having regular date nights without discussing wedding details can help you take some time off from planning to recharge.
On the day of your wedding, try to get ready early enough to give yourself time to relax, take a shower, and eat a healthy breakfast. This will prevent you from becoming overly stressed and will ensure that you have enough time to finish up any last-minute tasks before the ceremony. It is also a good idea to allow some extra time in case something goes wrong on the big day – it will probably be faster than you think!
7. Do Your Best to Relax
There is a lot to get done in the run-up to your wedding day, and it is easy for stress to build up if something goes wrong or doesn’t turn out exactly as you had planned. However, you need to remember that it is not the end of the world if something doesn’t go your way.
During the planning process, it is essential to take time out of each weekday and weekend for yourself. This could include exercise, eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, or anything else that helps you to feel happy and energized.
It is also important to have a close group of friends who can support you and help keep you calm when things start to get stressful. Finally, it is important to remember the reasons why you are planning a wedding in the first place! Your big day isn’t about the party or the venue, it is about marrying the person you love and sharing a special commitment with your friends and family. If you can remind yourself of this every time you start feeling overwhelmed, it will make the whole experience much more enjoyable.