Getting Hitched?



When wedding preparations start, the brides think of wedding dresses, and the groom thinks like a calculator. But if money is not an issue, wedding planning, which is usually done a year ahead, can be stressful not only for the bride, but for the groom and their families as well.

So if you're popping the question tonight, better gear up for the wedding planning assault. If you don't know what is in store for you, here are a few things you should know about weddings, culled from the experience of other gentlemen:

* Girlfriends immediately busy themselves shopping around for wedding dresses, so don't feel left out during those shopping crazy days.

* Always be sober and ready for batteries of questions like, "should I get a train?" "Do I look good in this?" "Do you like this?" "How do I look?"

* Be honest about your assessment about the bridal gowns and dresses tried on.

* Be firm about the budget if you are spending for the dress or if you have agreed to share the expense.

* Be ready for the tantrums. They're part of the game and shouldn't be taken seriously as ominous.

You also have a say on the wedding date and venue, but when it comes to your groomsmen, the choices are yours alone, unless, as a concession to the bride, you include her brother or cousin. To make things easier for you, enlist groomsmen to run errands for wedding preparations if it is possible.

Men and Weddings

A decent wedding today can cost as much as $5,000. The average wage earner can only dream of fairy tale weddings, but brides-to-be are not wanting in creativity to come up with memorable weddings that won't send you to the almshouse. But don't ever think that one of those wedding dresses and the tux will be scrapped to stretch the budget.

Whether it's a traditional wedding or a barbecue wedding, let your bride look the prettiest on her special day. Splurge on the gown, accessories, make-up, hairstyle, and manicure and pedicure. Be sure, though, that you approve of her total look to make you extremely proud.

Although it's the woman's role to look pretty in pictures, the groom should also look his best in his tuxedo, a perfect match for the bride's dress. If they can, men will check that the wedding dress is in perfect condition before the wedding to prevent untoward incidents and hysterics.

In all the hustle and bustle for the wedding, the men are forgotten. They also have the same anxieties and pre-wedding jitters. Sharing the wedding preparations and realistically expecting what's in store for you readies you for the shock ahead, but with a positive perspective, you can make the dreaded experience fun.

So if you're popping the question, be ready for the avalanche of wedding dresses questions, shopping, and a host of wedding details to pore over, whether you're getting married in a cathedral or in the front yard.