Grooms, Plan Your Wedding With These Groomsman Tips

Planning a wedding is a special way to set the tone for your marriage, and it is increasingly common for grooms to play a major role in the process. Grooms should participate in wedding planning to help alleviate any stress their partner might feel and to ensure the day reflects both partners' personalities. While the best man and groomsmen are responsible for planning the stag night, the groom should have a say in what he and his groomsmen wear and can also help with the guest list and choosing a date.

Planning the stag night

The first step is to decide on the duration of the stag party. A night, a day, or a whole weekend? A longer celebration gives you more time for activities and a chance to spend quality time with friends, but it also means more planning and a higher cost. Once you've decided on the length of the stag, you can start thinking about the location and activities.

For a weekend away, the Mediterranean is a popular choice, with destinations like Spain, Greece, France, and Italy offering a mix of beautiful beaches, wild nightlife, and exciting activities. Ibiza, for example, is known for its clubs and activities like go-karting, quad biking, jet boat rides, parasailing, and scuba diving. If you're looking for something more low-key, the Greek island of Crete offers a balance of nightlife and restaurants, along with luxury accommodation. For a touch of glamour, Monaco is a unique choice, offering fine dining, glamorous casinos, and an antique car museum.

If you're staying local, there are still plenty of options to make the stag night memorable. You can organise a bar crawl, a game of football, a pub session, or a nice dinner. Paintballing is also a popular choice, but only if it's something most of the group hasn't done before—originality is key!

Of course, a stag night wouldn't be complete without a few pranks. These can range from harmless fun, like getting the groom to wear a mankini, to more elaborate schemes like casting their leg and pretending they broke it. Just remember to keep the groom's safety and comfort in mind, and don't do anything too embarrassing or humiliating.

When planning the stag night, it's essential to consider the logistics and keep things simple. Choose a location that is accessible to most of the group and book your accommodation and activities early to get the best deals. You can even book everything as a package through an outside company to save time and money.

With a bit of creativity and planning, you can create a stag night that the groom and their friends will never forget!

Choosing groom and groomsmen's outfits

When it comes to choosing the groom and groomsmen's outfits, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, the outfits should align with the formality of the wedding and the venue. For instance, if the wedding is formal, suits or tuxedos would be appropriate, while for a more casual event, dress shirts and slacks could be considered. The time of day and season should also be taken into account, with lighter colours and fabrics being more suitable for warmer months and daytime weddings, and darker suits or tuxedos for evening or black-tie events.

Secondly, while there is no rule that dictates the groom must wear a different outfit from the groomsmen, it is often preferred that the groom stands out. This can be achieved through subtle styling tricks, such as having the groom wear a tuxedo while the groomsmen wear suits, or by choosing a different colour or style for the groom's suit, tie, dress shirt or accessories. Alternatively, the groomsmen can wear suits they already own and simply purchase or rent coordinating accessories.

Thirdly, it is important to maintain a cohesive colour scheme between the bridal party and groomsmen. It is recommended to select the bridesmaids' attire first, and then choose complementary colours or styles for the groomsmen's accessories, such as ties, pocket squares, or even their suits. This ensures that the wedding party looks well-coordinated while still allowing the groom to stand out.

Lastly, it is worth noting that the groomsmen typically purchase or rent their own attire, so it is considerate for the groom to select an affordable option and communicate any expectations or guidelines clearly and in advance.

Buying gifts for groomsmen

Grooms are usually responsible for getting gifts for the best man, the groomsmen, and any other male members of the wedding party. These gifts are a way to thank them for their help and support and to commemorate the occasion.

When it comes to choosing gifts for your groomsmen, it's important to consider their individual personalities and interests. For example, if they are sports enthusiasts, you could get them something like a personalised NFL Locker Room Canvas with their favourite team and their names on the jerseys. If your groomsmen are geeky or nerdy, you could get them gifts that celebrate their unique style. For instance, if they are Star Wars fans, you could get them Star Wars-themed gifts.

You can also opt for an experience as a gift, such as a camping trip or tickets to see their favourite sports team. If you have a large wedding party, you might want to consider getting one gift for all the groomsmen to share, like a round of drinks or a group outing. It's also a good idea to look for sales and discounts when shopping for groomsmen gifts, as you can often find great deals on personalised gifts. If you're crafty, you could even consider making the gifts yourself to save money and add a personal touch.

In terms of budget, grooms typically spend between $20 and $50 on each groomsman, but this can vary depending on your budget and preferences. If you have the means and desire to splurge, you could consider gifts over $100, such as a badger hair brush and razor shaving set. However, it's important to remember that a small, meaningful token of appreciation is usually sufficient.

Assigning tasks to groomsmen

A groomsman's role is to assist the groom before, during, and after the wedding. The best man, or best person, is the leader of the groomsmen and will organise and delegate responsibilities. Groomsmen are typically the groom's close friends and/or relatives. Their main role is to support the groom during the wedding planning and on the wedding day.

Groomsmen are expected to attend pre-wedding festivities, including the engagement party, couples' shower, bachelor party, and rehearsal dinner. They are also responsible for organising and booking their own travel and accommodation. Groomsmen should be prepared to give a speech and make a toast at the rehearsal dinner or reception.

On the wedding day, groomsmen should arrive on time and be ready to help with any odd jobs, such as holding items for the groom or decorating the getaway car. They should also be prepared to pose for group photos and act as a point of contact for guests with questions. During the reception, groomsmen can help keep the dance floor filled and ensure guests are mingling.

After the wedding, groomsmen can help with cleaning up and breaking down the venue, as well as offering rides to the airport for out-of-town guests. They can also take gifts and other essentials back to the couple's house if they are heading out for their honeymoon immediately after the wedding.

Practising the wedding speech

While it is not compulsory for the groom to give a speech, it is a wonderful opportunity to thank everyone who has helped make the day special, including the bridal party and groomsmen, the guests, his parents, the best man, the bridesmaids, ushers, and anyone else who has contributed to the wedding. The groom should also use this moment to praise and compliment their new spouse and express how happy they are to be married.

The ideal length for a groom's speech is between seven and ten minutes. To make your speech more impactful, look your guests in the eye as you deliver each sentence. If you are grateful for their support, say so while looking sincerely at the guests you wish to thank. You can also give gifts to the bridal party and groomsmen as a token of your appreciation, but it is best to do this in the morning when you are getting ready as it will be more personal in private.

• Thank everyone who has helped make the wedding day special.
• Lavish praise and compliments on your new spouse and share how happy you are to be married.
• Raise a toast to your new spouse.

Remember, your speech is a chance to shine and express your deep gratitude, so take the time to prepare and make it memorable.

Frequently asked questions