Throwing a Spotlight on the Groom

Welcome Back!

We all know the wedding day is the Bride’s day.  The wedding day is, after all, the day she’s been dreaming about since she was a little girl, and it’s only right that she should have the first and last word on the big decisions…

But in the midst of celebrating the Bride, we sometimes forget about the other person without whom non of this would be possible…

The Groom!

If you think through it, the Bride has many special moments throughout the day, while the groom has far fewer highlights.  While the Bride has her own unique processional down the aisle, a the bouquet toss at the reception, the tradition of, “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue,” not to mention all of the accoutrements like the gown and bouquet and hair and makeup services, the Groom, by contrast, has very few special “fusses” made over him over the course of the wedding day.

It is not so in every culture, however.  Many cultures pay special attention to the groom throughout the Wedding Day.  Here are just a few examples:

Indian Culture – The Baraat – In traditional Indian Weddings, the family of the Groom puts him on an elephant and throws a parade, singing and dancing to festive drum music, while the groom rides the elephant to the Wedding Ceremony.  Today, in America, the elephant is usually replaced by a white horse, and the drums are sometimes substituted for a sound system on wheels playing modern Indian dance tunes, but the effect is the same.  The Baraat ends with the Bride’s family welcoming the Groom and his family into the Ceremony, and feeding the Groom special ceremonial foods to symbolize their acceptance of him as a son.

Jewish Culture – The Groom’s Entrance

In Jewish culture, the Groom has his own special grand entrance into the ceremony.  He is walked down the aisle by his parents, one on each arm.  The groom also “breaks the glass,” or steps on a glass to end the ceremony.

Middle Eastern Culture – The Groom’s Family Pays

Most Middle Eastern cultures stipulate that the Groom or his family pays for wedding.  This tradition shifts the focus from the Bride to the Groom and his family.  The Groom’s family makes most of the major decisions about the festivities, and the Groom even has a special grand entrance into the Reception before the Bride’s entrance.

Chinese Culture – Groom Games

Do you think that having to “pay” for your wife is old fashioned?  Well, Chinese culture still demands payment – in the form of grand displays of love and devotion, that is.  Traditionally, the family or the bridesmaids of the Bride force the Groom and his grooms men to complete a series of challenges successfully before he can see his bride.  Known in Mandarin and Cantonese as, “Games that block the door,” or, “Playing with the Groom,” the games are meant to give the Groom a chance to show his resolve and commitment to the marriage.  The games often involve blind taste tests, grand declarations of love, Q&A games, paying the bridesmaids, and No Pain No Gain challenges (like doing a set number of pushups in your underwear.)

What if your culture doesn’t have special highlights to honor the Groom during the Wedding Day?

We have a few ideas that will help make the Man of the Hour feel special:

• A Cut & A Shave – The Bride has the Getting Ready Suite for herself and her wedding party, so make the Groom’s Getting Ready just as much fun by booking him and his guys shaves and haircuts at a local barber shop.  You can even have lunch catered there or have beers waiting for them when they arrive.

• Groomsmen Gifts – It’s fun to throw a little special twist into the Wedding Day, surprise each of your Groom’s groomsmen a little special something.  We’ve seen all kinds of great gifts, such as engraved flasks, engraved pocket knives, matching sunglasses, or even funny socks to wear during the wedding. Have the gifts delivered to them while they are getting ready!

• Activities – Gift the Groom and his guys a fun activity before the wedding.  Golf, boating, or even a nice lunch for him & groomsmen will all be appreciated and remembered.

• Groom-Centric Reception Ideas – Offer more male-centric activities during the reception. A Cigar Bar is a great activity that appeals to all generations of men, encourages socialization between both sides of the families, and will be talked about for years to come!

Have questions or ideas to share? 

We’re here for them! 

Get in touch today, and let us help you start planning your dream wedding!