groom

Revamp The Bridal Party

Today, gender roles in weddings have become much more relaxed. Gone are the days of having to have either gender in any specific roles.

If you want a woman as your ‘best man,’ then there’s no rule to say you cannot go for it. Similarly when it comes to the bridesmaids there’s been a move toward including grandmothers in the bridal party too. Or if the couple getting married has children, why not ask them to step in to some of the key roles, such as the ‘best man?’

This goes for the walk up the aisle too. While it’s traditional to have the father walk the bride up the aisle, this might not be something that is right for every family for a number of reasons, so don’t be afraid to change it up.

The main thing to keep in mind is that, you need to do what suits your family best and with same sex marriage now finally legalised in Ireland for the last couple of years, there’s a very real sense that now more than ever that traditional roles no longer apply.

So remember, there’s no need to stick to any set or traditional lines of convention and while in the past that might have been harder to pull off, thankfully today there is more openness and inclusivity than ever before.

Here’s some ideas to get you thinking. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

The Best Person

Some grooms may have a close friend who is female, or an aunt or a sister who they’d be more comfortable with filling the role of the ‘best man.’  And there’s no reason why that cannot be the case. Just be sure that your partner-to-be is also happy with the choice.

 

Kids Filling Roles

These days many couples already have children before they decide to tie the knot. So why not have them get involved in the key roles of the day. It will make them feel included and special and it’s something they will always remember too.  From the best man to a maid of honour or even escorting mum down the aisle, there’s lots of ways to get your children involved.

 

Get Grandparents Involved

Not all couples are lucky enough to have their grandparents around when they get married. So many of those how do, can often be very close to them and realise how special it is to have them be a part of their wedding day. So why not get them involved in the bridal party? Be it your granny as a bridesmaid or your granddad as your best man, it’s a lovely tribute and something you will both always remember.

 

The Walk Up the Aisle

Recently the world watched as Meghan Markle tied the knot with Britain’s Prince Harry. She walked up the first half of the aisle by herself and was then joined by her husband-to-be’s father Prince Charles who escorted her up the second half of the walk. Gone are the days when the father has to do the walk up the aisle. These days it’s all about what suits the couple and the family best. Sometimes a father and step father might share the role, sometimes a mother will do the walk, sometimes both parents will walk on either side, or sometimes a bride will want to walk alone. Chose what is right for you and your family situation.

 

Images via Pinterest 

Morning of The Wedding Surprises

The morning of your wedding day is really special. In many ways it’s the calm before the very exciting storm that is to come. It’s one of the only times on the day when you’ll have a moment to yourself. You’ll likely spend the rest of the morning with your close family and friends as you all prepare for the ceremony.

It’s also the last time you’ll be away from your partner as a ‘single’ person.

Those few hours are generally spent full of emotion, from laughs to tears to excitement and a little nerves. So it’s nice to surprise your other half with a little heartfelt gift or message to put a smile on their face.

There’s so many ways to do this and the only limit is your imagination. And don’t forget to enlist the help of the bridesmaids or best man too if needs be.

Here’s some visual inspiration for you. In the meantime don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

Letter

There’s nothing wrong with a classic and these days how many of us have actually sat down and written our other half a love letter? Your wedding is the perfect time to do it and why not have a member of the bridal party deliver it, or hide in his or her luggage.

 

Send a Sneak Peek Text

Most couples don’t see each other for most of the day and night before the wedding and while some swap the odd text, you still won’t be seeing each other for a full 24 hours. So why not send a sneak peek text? Get your bridesmaids together with signs saying something like ‘Wait until you see her’, or get the groomsmen together with signs saying ‘He can’t wait to see you.’ So  while you’re not really giving anything away as such, it’s still guaranteed to bring a smile to their face

 

 

Boudoir Shoot

For something a little more unusual, why not arrange for a boudoir style photoshoot before the wedding and surprise your other half with a picture on the morning of the wedding. And this goes for the guys too not just the women!

 

Jewellery

Another classic, the presentation of a small piece of engraved or personalised jewellery like cufflinks or a necklace, is a very thoughtful surprise for the morning of the wedding.

 

Embroidered Hankie

This is a very sweet idea and you can go for a few lines that mean something very personal and special to your not as a coupe. If you’re stuck for words then a lot of craft website like Etsy or Notonthehighstreet will give you plenty of beautiful inspiration.

 

Customise Their Clothes

This is a great surprise if you can pull it off, but you’ll need someone on the inside to help! AKA a bridesmaid or groomsman. A secret note sewed into the grooms tie, or into the underside of the brides dress or something on the sole of a shoe will definitely elicit a smile.

 

Images via pinterest 

Groomsman Gifts

It can often be the bridesmaids who get most of the attention when it comes to tokens of thanks, but them groomsmen and best man are just as much a part of the wedding day as the ladies and indeed if it’s groom marrying groom, there’s even more groomsmen to think about.

It’s a lovely gesture to give your best man and groomsmen just something small to say thank you for all their help and support in the run up to your big day, which you may have been planning for months or indeed years. Also don’t forget these people tend to be your closest friends and family so you’ve shared a lot over the years and this is the perfect time to think about a really thoughtful gift, they’ll really appreciate.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Jewellery
Nothing says special like jewellery and you don’t have to spend a fortune to pick up some really thoughtful pieces that will mean a great deal to your best man and groomsmen. Think about watches, antique style pocket watches, cufflinks, tie clips or even money clips or pens.

Personalised
Personalising your gift is a wonderful idea. It means each time he uses it, he’ll hopefully think of the wedding day and all the fun he had in the run up and on the day itself. Thankfully these days practically anything can be personalised, so don’t limit yourself, but some nice suggestions are; hipflasks, toolboxes, leather toiletry bags with initials, wallets with each man’s name, the wedding date or initials on them.

 

Accessories
If you and your groomsmen are a dapper group, then definitely think about investing in some really smart accessories for the big day. Think socks, boxers, bowties and handkerchiefs. Also why not consider some designer shades to match, retro style braces, flat caps or even shoes? And if they can wear them again after the wedding then it’s an even bigger bonus!

Funny Gifts
Finally remember to have some fun with these gifts too and reflect all the great times you’ve had together and your common interests, so if could mean superhero, movie or sport style cufflinks, funny printed t-shirts, mini hangover kits in personalised boxes or even special glasses with some of their favourite tipple packaged in a survival box. The list is endless.

 

Images via Pinterest

Choosing the Wedding Suits

Men can sometimes be forgotten to an extent in the wedding attire process. We tend to put a lot of emphasis on finding the dress, but for the groom or indeed grooms, finding the right suit is just as important. If your husband-to-be is not really the shopping type or into his fashion as such, then it can be tempting to jump in and try push him towards a certain type of suit, but bear in mind, even if he’s not a fashionista he’ll still have his own thoughts on how he should look and feel, so take that into account.

The most important points to remember are; finding a suit that feels comfortable and fits well. After that it’s really up to personal choice and what’s going to fit in with the style of the day. The groomsmen suits should then follow easily after the groom’s suit has been chosen.

If you’d like to chat about any aspect of your wedding plans, from themes, to décor to choosing a venue, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Why You Should Buy Your Suits
The big dilemma is always do you buy or rent your suit? There’s a few things to consider. While buying your suit or suits will be more expensive, you will most likely get a better, made to measure fit and higher quality suit. If you’re planning to wear the suit again, even a couple of times, the return on investment is really worth it. If you are planning to buy your suit, then you can always rent the groomsman’s suits to cut down on the costs. Finally, consider that you can always customise your own suit much more than a rented version. And you’ll have it for all time too.

 

Why You Should Rent Your Suits
Renting your suit is better value and these days there are a myriad of expert suit hire companies who should have something to complement your personal taste. Keep in mind when you need to collect and leave back the suits, especially if you’re getting married further afield as you may incur extra charges if you leave it back late. Another advantage of renting is that you can make sure the groom and groomsmen’s suit match perfectly.

The Fit
The fit of your suit is the most important thing to consider. It has to be cut to suit your body shape and be as-made-to-measure as possible, buying your suit is obviously an advantage in this case, but you can still find a good fit in a rented suit too. Think about the different styles you like to wear normally, be it skinny fit or something more traditional and classic. Don’t be pressured into choosing something you’re not comfortable with.

 

Style
Once you’ve chosen the fit, style is really the next consideration. Do you want something modern and slim? A three piece suit? A tuxedo, or even a full dress Ascot style morning suit? It will all depend on what you’re comfortable in and importantly on the theme of the day; is it a more laid back, rustic style wedding or is it a very formal affair? Also consider the time of year as the weather will place a role in the sort of fabric you go for.

 

Colours
Don’t be afraid to have fun with your choice of colours. Gone are the days of just having black as a choice. Today think blue, navy and grey which are all popular colours at the moment. For something a little more daring consider tweed or burgundy!

 

Accessories
Finally don’t forget the little accessories that will really make your suits look stunning. Choose from ties or bowties. A cravat, or no tie at all! Consider vintage style pocket watches, braces, hankies in the top pocket, colourful socks and even hats. The only limit is your imagination!