Grooms: How to Choose Your Groomsmen

Ever played pick-up basketball or football with a number of your best friends? Remember how hard it was to pick some and not others for your squad? Welcome to picking your groomsmen, only here, you’re not judging them on their athletic prowess.

Instead of starting with a concrete number to shoot for, it’s a much better idea to make the quick and dirty list first. Chances are, that should be your final list. But when you tack on trying to match up with the number of bridesmaids on the other side of the aisle, plus the typical “if I ask him then I have to ask him” dilemmas inherent in friends that run in the same circles, it’s not that easy. This useful list of guidelines and suggestions for choosing your groomsmen is here to help...

7 Creative Valentine's Day Proposal Ideas

It's no wonder why Valentine's Day is one of the most popular days of the year to propose. It's a day already steeped in romance and reserved for spending together, so half of the work is done for you. But if you're not careful, your sweet Valentine's proposal could border on cliché. If you're one of the millions of guys (or gals!) planning a Valentine's Day proposal, skip the chocolate script on the dessert plate and check out these creative engagement proposal ideas for Valentines Day to ensure the moment is memorable and personal.

Let Grooms Get in on the Action Too!

Throughout history, the guys had pretty much been relegated to the sidelines of wedding planning. But as more couples get married at an older age and fund their own weddings, the guys are starting to take a more active role in wedding plans. But traditional planning resources like bridal mangazines still seem to be lagging behind the times, targeting the majority of their advice and tips to the brides. So where's a guy to turn when he wants some advice on executing his share of the wedding plans?

This groom's wedding planning guide is a good place for guys to start, answering questions on everything from buying the ring and popping the question, to choosing groomsmen and making his wedding toast.

Groom's Advice - Inviting ex to wedding?

Q: My fiancé wants to invite his ex to the wedding, and the idea makes me uncomfortable. I would never think of inviting one of my ex-boyfriends. Am I being unreasonable if I ask him not to ask her? - Barbara, Des Moines, IA

A: You’re marrying not only the parts of your guy that you like, you’re marrying all of him, which includes embracing all of the relationships he considers important. So, I think you are being unreasonable if you were to tell him she couldn’t or shouldn’t come. You can’t be the judge of which relationships are important enough for him to keep and which ones aren’t. If you did, that’s a one way ticket to the doghouse – and displaying some serious insecurities along the way, which no guy likes.

Using your relationship with your exes as a guide is a bit unfair too, because again, that’s not the relationship in question and there’s no way for you to know how close his friendship with his ex is today. You may think they’re just acquaintances, but he might have played down their friendship while you were dating so you wouldn’t get jealous. Now, he’s openly telling you she’s an important friend and trusting you to recognize she is just that, a friend. You really don’t have much of an argument as he’s obviously told you that you are the only woman in his life when he proposed. By asking him not to invite her, he might read that as you’re questioning his devotion to you. Plus, here’s your chance to prove to him that jealousy is not a part of your m.o. and earn a few bonus points for being so mature about the situation in the process.

Still, because you are uncomfortable, it can’t hurt to talk to him about it. Just explain how you feel. Chances are, what he says will put you at ease, or maybe he will realize it would make you uncomfortable – us guys are notoriously clueless so it’s definitely possible he never thought it would make you uncomfortable – and decide not to invite her.

If she does come, she’s certainly not going to be the first person you look forward to saying hi to, but remember that he’s marrying you and if he’s mature enough to have a friendship with an ex worthy of an invite, then you should be mature enough to accept that.

For more wedding planning advice geared towards the guys, check out this complete Planning for Grooms Guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple