Early on this month, I read an article about
Brides.com debuting the "first-ever Groom’s Room” during their Valentine’s Day Wedding atop the Empire State Building. I thought it was such a novel concept, that I wrote it down on my to-blog list. Then, late last week, a planner colleague detailed her dealings with a groom who felt that he was being left out of the wedding planning. He wanted to be a VERY integral part of the planning process, which I didn’t think was too much to ask, although it is usually not the norm. It also highlighted how the men are often overlooked when we get caught up in the glitz and glamour of weddings. I thought I should get right on the topic: Don’t let this happen to your groom! Pamper him and treat him like the special man he is: give him his very own Groom’s Room on the day of your wedding.
Although everyone knows about the bridal suites before the ceremony, there was
very little information to be found on “constructing” a Groom’s Room, as it is such an innovative idea. So, let me tell you what I think a Groom’s Room should be. There are three components to keep in mind when getting your Groom’s Room ready: primping, food and relaxation. Contrary to popular belief, women aren’t the only species who loves these things.
Primping—The main reason of a Groom’s Room is to provide a space for the groom and his boys to get dressed and ready for the wedding. Many times, I’ve seen the men get ready at home or in the coat closet at the ceremony site while the bride and her girls get a full suite with all the fixings. Give your man a suite, too! If you’re worried about seeing each other before the ceremony, you can be on different floors of the same hotel or a different hotel altogether. If the bridal suite is at the ceremony venue, be sure to ask for a room for the groom when booking the site. Bring in professionals to give mini-facials, manicures (otherwise known as “hand detailing”) or shoulder massages before the ceremony, if there’s enough time.
Food—You cannot have an adequate Groom’s Room without food and beverage. Make sure the room is well stocked with deli sandwiches, chips and pretzels, fresh fruit, cheeses and crackers, water, fresh juices and soda. I would also include beer and champagne in
my Groom’s Room, but I would limit the amount of alcohol because you don’t want a bunch of drunken groomsmen on your hands. Alcohol
does not apply if your Groom’s Room is inside of the church or synagogue! I bake white macadamia nut cookies for my honey all the time because he loves them and I love to make him smile. I would include fresh baked goods (fiancée-made is even better) or his favorite foods in the room as well.
Relaxation—What’s relaxation for us ladies is not the same for what’s relaxing for the fellas. Number One: make sure there is a large and late-model television in the Groom’s Room—the larger the better. You should provide a well stocked DVD collection. Great titles
would include ESPN Classic DVDs, American Idol—The Worst of Seasons 1-4 and anything with Vince Vaughn in it (yes, including
Wedding Crashers). Program a mix of his favorite songs onto an iPod and leave it in the room hooked up to some iHome speakers. You might also consider having a Wii in the room, but that may be too much fun and it may put them behind schedule.
A note to wedding planners: while we are always with the bride in her suite before the ceremony, we should be sure to provide the same attention and coverage to the groom in his Groom’s Room by providing an assistant to help them get ready and stay on track.
What amenities have I overlooked that you would include in your Groom’s Room? I’d love to know what you think about this great idea.
This week will give us an extra day in February. Yup—2008 is a Leap Year. As legend has it, February 29th is the only acceptable day that women can pop to question to men.
