Bells N Whistles, the creators of amazing events with style, have dedicated this month to the groom… fondly renamed Groom June! Founder and director of Bells N Whistles, Jennifer Kennedy, shared  with Modern  Wedding  some  tips  to  help  grooms  get  more  involved  in  planning  their own wedding  and increase the pre-wedding day groom-volvement. They also took some cheeky snaps of a world where women act like groom & groomsmen.

Well,  lets  face  it,  without  the  groom,  there’s  only  half  a  wedding.  Yet  grooms  don’t  get  half  the attention.  Brides  can  dominate  the  wedding  planning  and  wedding  day.  Groom  June  is  all  about celebrating amazing men and encouraging them to be more involved in their BIG DAY.
Men  can  and  should  get  more  involved  in  their  wedding  planning.  They  are  50%  of  the couple, therefore  being  more  involved  in  the  planning  means  that  the  day  will  reflect  both the  bride  and groom’s personalities and interests.

Choosing flowers might not be a guys  most favourite way to spend a Saturday afternoon  –  however there are tons of ways to involve your groom.

1.  Photography:  Choosing  a  photographer  can  be  an  experience.  There  are  so  many wonderful photographers  out there  –  so encourage your groom to research photographers that suit your style, budget and personality and schedule consultations 12 months before the big day. Photographer Tony Potts recommends you meet with at least three photographers face to face before making a decision.

2.  Flowers:  Susan  Avery  says  that  it’s  important  for  a  groom  to  feel  100%  comfortable  with his appearance  .so  drag  him  along  to  floral  appointments  so  that  he  can  choose  his  own boutonnière!  Knowing how to put one on, properly, is also so important!

3. Suits: Whether you  are buying or hiring, “shopping” should happen as early as possible, trying on
suits to compare the cuts, colors and styles. Staff at Peppers Formal Wear are trained to help not only
with the fit, but the style as well, this is a trip that can be undertaken with the best man as well.

4.  Transport: Have  your  groom  take  care  of  the  wedding  day  transports,  this  is  his  chance  to test drive everything from a Porsche to a Vintage Rolls Royce.

5. Is he handy? Ask him to help design and create props and furnishings for the wedding that he will be truly proud of. Items like  signage, photo booths or props for the photbooth.

6. Catering: Task your groom with taking care of the food and beverage choices for the wedding, or have  him  arrange  an  outing  for  you  and  the  bridal  party  to  sample  the  menus.  Working  with  a bartender to create a signature cocktail is another way to stamp his style on the big day.

7. Budget: If he  never failed a math test, managing the wedding budget is the  perfect task for  him. Use a spreadsheet to manage, update and keep tabs on your costs and for  outstanding payments  – use an online calendar to remind you to pay your suppliers.

8.  Music: Encourage  your  groom  to  research  bands  and  DJs  and  send  you  samples  or  arrange viewings and have him create a playlist of all your must have dance floor tunes. There are so many other little hints and tips that we can offer and like to share with our clients, says Jennifer  Kennedy from  Bells N Whistles  Events.  The  key  is  to  ensure  that  our  grooms  are  actively involved in their weddings, rather than leaving it to their bride and turning up to their own wedding,
only to be surprised!