How Men Should Help During the Wedding Planning Process

In today's world, there shouldn't really be anything that can't be done by both bride and groom when it comes to wedding planning; we're all equal, right? But, let's face it, most brides still do the wedding leg work because they either just really want to or, to be completely honest, perhaps they can't 100% trust their other half to pull off their wedding of dreams as well as they know they can! However, as we all know, planning a wedding is no mean feat. If both bride and groom want their personalities to shine through on the wedding day, then both parties should play a role in the prep, not only to bounce off ideas with each other but simply to keep each other sane and supported throughout the process!

Every couple is different, and there's no right or wrong way of doing things, but if you ask us, both of you should be involved, so we've brought you this feature to discuss how men can help and excel during the wedding planning process. Belt up, guys; you're in for a fun and insightful ride!

Understanding the wedding planning process

First things first, it's important to know what's involved in the wedding planning process; whether you (the groom) get involved in every aspect or just a couple, learning about the different stages of wedding planning, from the engagement to the big day, is essential. As a starting point, the Say I do blog is home to a wealth of information and accessible wedding planning advice, from what to do when you get engaged to budgeting tips and how to choose your dream wedding venue.

However, if you kick start wedding planning together, you can familiarise yourself with the various tasks and responsibilities involved in planning a wedding and, from there, divvy up some of the jobs and share the load from the beginning. If you're hiring a wedding planner, they will help guide you seamlessly through the process, but if not, you can absolutely do it together if you work as a solid team from the get-go.

Getting involved in wedding planning

Take initiative; we can't stress that enough! But if it immediately feels overwhelming for you both, start by offering to help with specific tasks because you could easily take some less glamorous tasks off your blushing bride's shoulders, such as managing the guest list or coordinating travel arrangements. Remember to show interest in the process and ask how you can contribute; being proactive in suggesting ideas and solutions will make the wedding planning process smoother for everyone. But whatever you get involved in, keep up the communication channels and run decisions past each other; it's both of your days, and you're working towards the same end goal.

Creating a wedding website

Why not take the reins in building a wedding website? Start by researching and choosing a platform that ticks all the boxes and suits your needs and style. There are plenty of wedding website platforms out there that you can play around with and see how it works (they’re much less complicated than they sound!). Of course, you can work together on the content, but why not show your partner a few different platforms offering various features before choosing one together? Then, once you've chosen a website builder, you can simply customise your wedding site with your wedding details, including the wedding date, location, and RSVP information. Don’t forget to add features such as a guest book, photo gallery, and accommodation information to make it a one-stop shop for guests to find out everything they need ahead of the big day.

Planning and organisation

If you're hosting more festivities than just a ceremony and reception, such as a welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner, or a post-wedding brunch, you'll need to create a detailed schedule of events. When you’re ready, and the details have been confirmed, go ahead and share the itinerary with guests through the wedding website or invitations. Of course, it goes without saying, but for each event, you must coordinate consistently with vendors and the wedding party to ensure a smooth execution on the day.

Research and recommend local hotels and accommodations for out-of-town guests that provide various options for a range of budgets and tastes. Alternatively, you could consider booking a block of rooms for guests to make the process even easier. A lovely, helpful touch would be to provide guests with detailed travel information via your wedding website, including directions to the venue and transportation options.

Communicating with guests digitally

Understanding the importance of creating a wedding website to centralise information and communicate with guests from the very beginning of planning will really help you stay on track and on top of tasks such as RSVP management and guest list admin. Set up a digital RSVP system to track guest responses and send reminders to laid-back guests who forget to reply on time. Believe us; this will save you a massive amount of energy and stress later down the line!

By choosing a wedding website platform such as Say I do, you can take advantage of extensive features and design and send out save-the-dates, formal invitations, and thank-you cards, all from the comfort of your home. Next, choose stationery that reflects your wedding style and theme; you’ve been warned—there are a lot of awesome designs to choose from! You can even align your whole stationery suite, which will help to create a look of cohesiveness and professionalism.

Staying organised and focused

It's the same with anything in life; we all start tasks all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the beginning, but the novelty may soon wear off. Try not to let this happen with wedding planning because time will quickly slip away! Use a wedding planning checklist to help keep on track and set deadlines for tasks that need to be done by a specific date; that way, you're making yourself accountable.

The tasks that must be completed before the wedding might include getting booking confirmations from vendors and RSVP management. If so, prioritise tasks, and you can even delegate responsibilities to the wedding party, but keep up the communication with everyone involved. Just remember to review and update the checklist regularly to help you stay on track.

Final preparations

You're nearly there; you're almost at the stage where you can relax and get excited for the impending celebrations! However, these final stages shouldn't be overlooked. Basically, you want to get confirmation from all vendors that they are up to date with what they are supplying you. Do they have all the necessary details regarding numbers, logistics, and timings? This is also an excellent opportunity to take it back to the beginning and give them all the essential information once again: date, time, location, contact numbers, etc.

Review and confirm all vendor contracts and details and share contact details between your venue and the vendor (you're essentially limiting the number of calls you may get on the wedding morning), so ensure you share the load!

Other things to finalise: the seating chart, wedding party attire, and other eleventh-hour logistics. Also, make sure you have a backup plan in case of unexpected weather changes or last-minute cancellations. Your venue can help with contingency plans, so have them confirmed and in place should you need them.

It's time to celebrate!

So, the final few days are upon you, and you can now start to relax, knowing that you've done all you can to make the day a special one for everyone involved. This last phase is all about tying up loose ends and your ceremony rehearsal, an integral part of the planning process where the whole wedding party solidifies their roles and responsibilities on the day.

Whatever tasks you've taken on, continue to check in with your partner along the way and celebrate the small wins—make wedding planning enjoyable and mark those milestones together throughout. By getting involved in wedding planning, you can rest easy knowing that you've created a day that truly represents both of you.

Now, it's time to take a deep breath, embark on a new chapter with your partner, and enjoy the celebrations with your loved ones by your side!