Dorset Brides: How to get the groom involved when it comes to planning your wedding

Weddings are often thought of as girl's stuff, but as the groom you have a major part to play in the proceedings and so need to have at least some idea of what will be expected of you.

Image: Peter Posh

Your first task is to establish who is going to pay for your wedding. Traditionally, a wedding is hosted and paid for by the bride's parents. Today, the etiquette of old is far less rigid and only about 30 per cent of weddings are actually paid for by the bride's parents.

If you and your bride are responsible for organising your wedding then you are strongly advised to set a budget. Unless you have access to unlimited funds, chances are that you will have to financially plan your wedding very carefully.

Once it’s decided who is footing the bill and how much money you have, you are able to choose your marriage and reception venues for the type and style of wedding you want. Whether it’s a church or civil wedding, large or small, you need to pick a place you’re both happy with and then choose a date.

Weddings are family occasions, so you and your bride's immediate families and relatives are always included and it’s your job to make sure that no-one is left out from your side of the guest list.

Whatever your thoughts about the desirability of wedding gift lists, you will be bought gifts by your guests. The difficulty most couples face when considering the issue of wedding gifts is balancing the desire of your guests, who want their carefully chosen gift to be received with appreciation, with your desire to receive gifts that you need or would find useful in your home. Make sure you have an input into the gift list otherwise you may end up with lots of scented candles and picture frames.

Traditionally, the groom is responsible for ensuring the legal requirements are fulfilled together with paying the church or registrar's fees. The legal preliminaries vary depending on how you choose to marry and where.

Most of all you need to be looking sharp and dapper for your big day. If your bride is going to all that effort to scrub up well, it’s the least you can do to make sure you look your best too.

Hiring or buying a suit from a creditable men's outfitters is by far the best choice as they are qualified to advise you on your choice and style and will help you to avoid mistakes that you may later regret.

The measurements an outfitter will require are chest, waist, inner leg, sleeve length, collar size and height. You’ll be nervous on the day so it is important to be comfortable, look good and feel good in a suit that fits.