Skip Navigation LinksHome » Wedding Roles » Groom » What to Expect on the Day

What to Expect on the Day

  • Leave the bride in peace to get ready on your big day.
  • Your best man will arrive a couple of hours before the wedding to make sure you’re up and to help settle those nerves.
  • The best man should get you to the venue at least 30 minutes before the wedding. Some grooms like to meet people as they arrive to settle the nerves, but you might want to wait by your seat inside the venue – it’s completely up to you.
  • The minister or registrar will meet with you before the wedding to confirm that the details to be entered on the marriage certificate are correct and answer any last minute questions you may have.
  • 5 minutes before the wedding you should be standing at the front of the venue ready for your bride to arrive
  • Expect your bride to be late – however long you wait, it will seem like eternity! Remember your bride wants to look perfect on your big day so the chances of her taking longer to get ready are very likely – don’t expect the worst!
  • The bride will walk down the aisle and stand on your left hand side. Her father will take her left hand and place it in your hands before he steps aside.
  • Once you have been pronounced ‘man and wife’ – you will be asked to sign the register with your bride on your left arm. Once this has been witnessed, guests will come and take pictures.
  • You will return to your previous position briefly to receive your marriage certificate. Traditionally this was given to the bride, but it’s more common for the groom to take it because you’ll have a pocket! Make sure you don’t lose it. If possible, put it somewhere safe as soon as you can. Ask a trusted member of your family to look after it or ask your best man to lock it away in the car or put it in your gift card box.
  • You will then walk down the aisle with your new wife on your left arm as the rest of the bridal party follow. At this point you may choose to have a receiving line to greet all your guests as they come out.
  • For the next hour or so you will need to keep smiling for all those photos – make sure that you & your bride get a glass of champagne to celebrate. If you think you might get hungry and you don’t have canapés, bring a couple of biscuits with you to munch on!
  • Being seated for the wedding breakfast is another opportunity for you to have a receiving line. Once your guests are seated at their tables, you and your bride will make your entrance as ‘Mr and Mrs ....’
  • When you have the wedding speeches is up to you. Traditionally they are at the end of the meal, but some people like to have them first to ‘get them out of the way’ or after one of the courses.
  • The best man will usually introduce all the speeches starting with the father of the bride, followed by the groom and finally the best man. If the bride wants to speak, she will usually speak after you – to have the last word as usual!
  • The ‘cutting of the cake’ is usually done after the speeches. See wedding cake considerations to find out how you should cut the cake.
  • When you and the bride leave, the guests will want to give you a big send off. Most guests form a tunnel for you to walk through before you are waved off.
  • The day goes so quickly – so make sure you enjoy every minute of it and try and set aside time with your bride every half hour or so for you to reflect on your day.

nofreetime tips

  • It is common for the bride to be very emotional in the week leading up to the wedding - she may still be emotional a few days after the wedding. Most brides are worn out by the time the big day comes which is released by a tearful display of emotions. Being emotional after the big day often happens because the big day she has been looking forward to for so long has come and gone so quickly. This is all natural and nothing to worry about – she is still very happy indeed!

Venue Search

County:


 
Wedding Dress for Groom

Connect with nofreetime

nofreetime favourites

Advertise with Nofreetime

wedding venues in