How to Be a Great Groom

When a couple plans a wedding, the bride's behavior is under scrutiny. If she comes across as too demanding or picky, people call her a bridezilla. But how about the groom? People don't always pay much attention to him, so he can get away with some less than model behavior. Don't let the spotlight on the bride be an excuse for you to be a lackluster groom. Here's how to be a great groom who's so supportive and helpful that the bride's married friends will be jealous.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take responsibility for a fair share of the wedding planning. Who says the bride needs to get stuck with the brunt of the work? Even if she cares more about flower arrangements and cakes, it's still your mutual responsibility to pull off this complicated event together.

2. Come up with your own ideas. The myth is that the bride has been dreaming about this all of her life, and therefore she knows where and how she wants the wedding and reception. But even if she has been daydreaming about her wedding, there are an awful lot of decisions to make when you're planning a big event like this. Come up with ideas for the food, invitations, seating arrangement, and some of the other many details.

3. Participate in all (or almost all) wedding-related errands, such as meeting with the caterer and visiting potential reception sites. Exceptions to this include bridal showers and wedding gown shopping.

4. Be a sweetheart to your soon-to-be wife. Calm her nerves if she freaks out about the planning. Give her some leeway to be a little demanding (as long as she doesn't overdo it). Avoid petty bickering, and remember to be romantic.

5. Be a sweetheart to your soon-to-be in-laws, both before and during the wedding. This is an important chance to make a first impression. Compliment the bride's mother, grandmother, sister, and so forth about how lovely they look in their wedding attire.

6. Surprise your soon-to-be wife with a gift on the morning of your wedding. Something small and meaningful will do (although jewelry is always a winner). Arrange for one of the bridesmaids to deliver the gift that morning.

7. Tear up as she walks down the aisle, and express an abundance of love and affection for her throughout the day.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be the "veto groom." He's the guy who lets the bride make all the plans, and offers no ideas except to veto the plans he doesn't like.
• Avoid procrastination. If you're supposed to have the tuxes chosen by a specific day, do it.
• Don't go nuts with the bachelor party. She won't appreciate it if you come to the rehearsal with a hangover and a hickey.