The Classic Gentleman’s Pre-Wedding Guide

You’ve popped the question, she said yes, and now you get to marry the girl of your dreams! Next comes wedding planning - every man’s favorite, right?

No, not usually. But there are actually quite a few things to do with your buddies before the big day, that don’t include picking out the venue or choosing flowers. To make sure your wedding festivities go off without a hitch, we’ve compiled the top 5 things every groom should think about before their wedding day.

It’s easy (mostly for the bride) to get caught up in the details and want to say yes to everything when it comes to wedding planning. A custom napkin design here, and a rare flower arrangement there can add up before you know it. Instead of going into debt over a one day event - albeit, a very important one - is usually not worth it. Make sure you stick to a budget and add in a little extra cushion in case you just can’t say no to something special.

You’ve got the girl, now you need the perfect group of guys to stand by your side. Your groomsmen will set the tone for all your wedding festivities, so take careful consideration in choosing your band of brothers. Starting your wedding events off by picking the wrong men to be by your side can throw off your whole pre-wedding experience; you don’t want a boring bunch at the bachelor party or groomsmen who won’t be class acts at your reception.

Instead of asking the guys in a lame text message, use this as an opportunity to get them a groomsmen gift that they’ll not only love, but also be able to use! There’s a bunch of generic items you could grab - like sunglasses or koozies - but consider asking the question in style with a personalized Leather Head Gift Set. You can even customize a football or wallet with every guy’s initials.

While the ladies are booking the reception hall, you get to pick out the perfect suits for your wedding day. Whether you want to get all the guys together for a day of trying on suits to get their opinion, or you want to style the ensembles yourself, it’ll be a nice way for you to showcase your personality. You can pick a classic black and white look that almost any wife would be okay with, or add a little quirk with a colorful tie and silly socks. No matter what you want, it’s probably a good idea to ask the future Mrs. before making a final decision.

Arguably one of the funnest things for a groom when it comes to a wedding is planning the bachelor party - or at least having some say in the night’s festivities. In most scenarios, the bachelor party activities are made by the best man, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give suggestions! Maybe you’re the type of guy who likes a low key night in to play poker with your pals, or maybe you want your “last hoorah” to be a weekend trip to Vegas. Whatever you choose, you’ll make some of the best memories of your life.

Some couples go wedding band shopping together, while some want to keep the bands a surprise for the special day. If you and your future wife decide to go pick bands out on your own, this experience can be turned into a fun time by grabbing a friend or two to go with you. To make it more enticing for your friends to join you, bribe them with a glass of scotch.