Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off engagement season. For all of you men out there preparing to pop the big question soon, here are five wedding planning traditions to remember to be thankful for as you’re shoveling turkey and mashed potatoes down your throat tomorrow.
Rake in the loot at your Man Shower
Man Showers – The man (or groom) shower is a relatively new kid on the wedding block. The average bride has 2-3 bridal showers. Until recently, the average groom had, well, 0. What is this “man shower” all about? It’s not as disturbing as it sounds. If ‘Sex and the City’ is a bridal shower, then ‘Entourage’ is a man shower.’ Think a grill-out at the Best Man’s house followed up with a little backyard pigskin action or Call of Duty 6. Of course, it wouldn’t be a shower without the groom-to-be receiving some gifts from a manly wedding registry.
It wasn't a successful bachelor party unless the groom looks like this at the end of the night.
Bachelor Party – We all know about this one, so we’re not going to bore you with talk of steak, booze, limos, casinos wait… that’s not boring. Planning the bachelor party is generally a duty reserved for the Best Man. However, as the groom you should remember to suggest activities/destinations you are interested in. Whether it’s Vegas, strippers or an adventure bachelor party – be sure to get what you want!
The groom is fully responsible for selecting the theme of the groom's cake: make it count.
Groom’s Cake – This cake is all about the GROOM. Are you a hunter? golfer? Star Wars fanatic? Plan your groom’s cake accordingly. While commonly referred to as an “accessory” to the main wedding cake, groom’s cakes are often the more memorable of the two. Serve this baby at the wedding reception or as dessert at the rehearsal dinner. Lots of guys go for a sports-related grooms’ cake like I did.
That's right... own that garter!
Garter Removal – As close as you can come to having sex at your wedding reception. You’ll want to plan your garter removal carefully as it’s become a sort of a pissing contest for grooms. Just how sexual can it get? It’s also a great chance to show off your dancing moves (see above). Savor it because it’s probably the only time you’ll ever get to have your hands up your wife’s leg while her parents stand 10 feet away.
Last but not least...
Wedding Night Sex …and honeymoon sex for that matter. Something tells me that we didn’t’ have to remind you to be thankful for this. Who knows what kind of sexy lingerie your new wife will be waiting to showcase on the wedding night. Wedding night sex is extra important for those who waited for marriage to go the distance. If you fall into that category, might we suggest a very brief engagement?
We’ve heard of newlyweds not having sex on the wedding night due to fatigue. However, this story is a first:
Wedding night sex is supposed to produce fireworks, not a trip to the hospital
Julie and Mike Boyde had just become husband and wife and it was time to officially consummate the marriage. However, things didn’t go exactly as they had planned. Not long after the festivities got started, Julie started to feel intense pain. They went to a doctor and as it turns out, she suffers from seminal plasma hypersensitivity (allergic to his sperm).
I can’t imagine the feelings that this couple must be having. They’ll never be able to have unprotected sex and needless to say will now be adopting children rather than conceiving naturally.
Jennifer from OneWed.com is back with some tips on making that wedding night sex memorable.
For those Grooms out there who are far from virginal, how do you make your wedding night romp with your new wife feel like the first time?
Why not take a sex hiatus before the big night. As they say, absence makes the heart [and other things] grow fonder. And, the sex break can lead to very creative ways of reducing much needed wedding planning anxiety.
He couldn't do it. Can you?
Before starting off on your abstinence retreat, make sure you talk it over with your bride-to-be. I did hear of a groom who took a break pre-wedding without talking to his bride first..she FREAKED thinking he was reconsidering the nuptials. This scenario does not qualify for make-up sex.
Happy Willpower!
Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com is a guest contributor to the GroomsAdvice blog offering a little local flavor for The Man Registry’s Grooms. OneWed combines the largest online directory of wedding vendors, ideas & inspiration wedding blog, online wedding planning tools and, above all, honest answers for savvy brides. Stop by…we’d love to have ya!
