Most of the grooms-to-be we encounter are less than thrilled about the wedding planning process. While a wedding day is all about the bride, making a little effort or a small sacrifice can quickly change the mindset of your groom from ‘planning dread’ to ‘all about being wed.’ Here are some easy ways to make your groom more enthusiastic about planning your big day and even an idea or two about how to surprise him on your actual wedding day. Afterall, he is getting married too.
1. Incorporate some of HIS favorite things into your wedding reception. The easiest way to do this is via food. Turn his love of pizza and wings into a fun cocktail hour snack bar. If your groom is passionate about his beer, why not set up a beer tasting area during the cocktail hour? Our first inspiration board is dedicated to incorporating HIS favorite things into your reception. 
Another easy way to pay tribute to something your groom loves is to surprise him with a grooms cake. Check out some of Concept Wed’s favorite grooms cakes below. 
2. Use the non-traditional boutonnier. Let’s be honest, how many guys are excited by the idea of wearing a blooming flower on the lapel of their jacket? We can’t think of many. Instead of a floral pin, let him and his groomsmen wear non-traditional boutonnieres. Concept Wed loves the simple heart pin shown below. And how cute is the bundle of golf tees! Work the your wedding theme into the boutonnieres and even our girliest of brides won’t miss the traditional flower.
Many unique (non-floral) boutonnieres can be made by hand. But if you are not the DIY kind of bride, check out http://www.etsy.com/. There are many vendors who will create custom boutonnieres for all the guys in your wedding.
3. Have a cigar bar at your reception. Not only does it invite a manly tradition into a female focused event it can serve as a reception gift for your guests. Even if your groom is not an avid cigar smoker he will appreciate the tradition in it and will be happy when he sees all of the men (and some women) at the wedding reception enjoying themselves at the cigar bar.
4. Pamper your groom. Think of all the pampering you will be doing in preparation for your big day. Just because your groom-to-be is a guy doesn’t mean he does not need or want, for that matter, a little pampering himself. So take a little time plan some special pampering for him (because we know he won’t do it himself). 
Get him a traditional shaving kit to be used on the wedding day or even better yet, give him a complete kit of everything he needs to prepare himself on the wedding day. Another cute idea is the minimergency kit (shown above). This kit can be purchased from http://www.msandmrs.com/ . Give it to him the night before the weeding. He will find it funny and will love that you thought of him.
5. Recognize His Family and/or Friends. The day of the wedding is typically focused on the bride and her side of the family. Surprise him (and his family), by paying a small tribute to them. One of the Concept Wed teams favorite ideas is to present your groom and his complete wedding party with custom cufflinks to be worn on the day of the wedding. Each set of cufflinks could be unique to the specific individual or each set could state their role in the wedding (Groom, Father of the Groom, Groomsmen, etc). Another cute idea, have engraved mugs or glasses for each of his family members waiting for them at their reception palce setting. 
It is important that your groom feel part of the wedding during the planning and on the actual day. If he does, planning your wedding will be that much easier. Oh, and one more thing, if his dog is his best friend, find a way to include rover in the event… even if it is just for a few pictures.
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