Groom Calendar Countdown page 3 - Weddings & Honeymoons

• Purchase and wrap your wedding party gifts, which you and your Bride will hand out at the get-together following the rehearsal.

• Assist your fiancée to plan how your wedding gifts are to be transported from your reception to either your parents' home or somewhere else. Assign someone reliable to take charge.

• Assign someone trustworthy to handle the envelopes of money you will be receiving. A fancy money gift box should never be unattended.

• Organize a follow-up telephone campaign to call guests who have not answered your invitations.

• The Wedding Gift Display - a traditional gesture is displaying your gifts at the Bride's home. If yours is not a traditional wedding they can be display at your home. Either way, the cards can be shown or removed. Cheques should not be shown, however you can show a list of people who have sent you money.

• Plan how your honeymoon luggage is getting to the airport or to the hotel you are staying in overnight before you leave for your honeymoon.

• See a final draft of your wedding day program so you can make any last minute changes.

• Try to keep this week open to allow for emergencies. If you can take some extra time off from work, this is the week to do it so you are not doing too many things at the last minute. (Remember that stress shows on your face and you know that every Groom is handsome!)

• Honeymoon plans - You or your Best Man pick up the honeymoon tickets, travellers cheques and other necessary documents. Be sure you have your charge cards, passport, driver's licence and a list of phone numbers for emergency.

• Pack essentials for the honeymoon. Don't pack your clothes until one or two days before.

• Put the fees for the officiant in a sealed envelope. Your Best Man can handle this.

• Pamper yourself, have a manicure, pedicure, massage or go to the gym. Do not do anything new to your face (like a facial) and above all, try not to argue with anyone.

• Arrive at your rehearsal early so you can greet your wedding party. Have a copy of the guest list to give the ushers. Make sure they know if you have guests who may be handicapped or elderly and who are sitting in the reserved seating.

• Traditionally the Groom's parents host the rehearsal dinner or get-together following the rehearsal. Out-of-town guests are often invited or hospitality is shown in another way.

• Check out all the clothes you are wearing on Your Wedding Day. Make sure everything is in its place - your shirt, shoes, underwear, jewellery.

• Get a good night's sleep.

YOUR WEDDING DAY

• Depending on the time lines for the day, give yourself plenty of time to relax. Let the day take on its own life the way you planned it. Your main need is to have time on your side for the unexpected things that sometimes happen.

• Get to the ceremony on time.

• Be sure that the rings are with your Best Man or on the Ring Bearer's pillow.

• Revise any vows you are going to make.

• To close the ceremony, you will kiss your Bride, sign the marriage certificate and escort her up the aisle, followed by the wedding party. Outside, you, your Bride and the wedding party will pose for photos. You may be going to the photographer's studio or another location to take your wedding pictures.

• At the reception, your Best Man is traditionally the Master of Ceremonies.

• At the appropriate time, you will have the first dance with your Bride as a married couple and the celebration begins!

• This is your special celebration. You've planned it, along with the assistance of people who love you. So if something goes wrong, it's part of the day; take it as it comes; don't panic or become upset.

• Often a brunch or luncheon is held the day following the wedding, hosted by either or both parents, especially for out-of-town guests who are still in town. If the newlyweds are in town, they are the Guests of Honour.

The Groom's family may co-host or hold their own brunch or luncheon for their out-of-town guests the day after the wedding.