Engaging Your Groom

By Christa Leupen

Have you found that your groom doesn’t give a hoot about which shade of lilac you choose for the bridesmaid dresses, stammers with uncertainty when you ask him if he prefers calla lilies or lily of the valley or glazes over when you discuss place settings?

If so, it sounds like you are facing the same challenge many brides face — getting your groom involved in the wedding planning process.

Here are some ideas about how you can motivate your man to lend a hand:

• Make beautiful music – Songs for the important dances should be decided by both of you, but if you trust your groom’s taste in music, let him scout out DJs and put together your playlist. He might surprise you with some of the special songs he’ll select.

• Rev Him Up – Men love cars, right? Put him in charge of picking the wedding day transportation. You’ll be sure to leave the reception in style!

• Hey, Bartender! – He probably knows more about specialty brews and wines than you could ever hope to. Let him pick the reception beverage list and you’ll be guaranteed to have a good party on your hands.

• Handy Man – If he’s good with his hands, let him take charge and build something for the ceremony. Maybe you need a stunning hand-carved altar a la Meet the Parents, or maybe you just need a decorative box for guests to drop notes of well wishes. Either way, let him explore his handy side.

• The Romantic Adventurer – If your man likes to surprise you with extravagant plans, put him in charge of the honeymoon. No doubt he’ll pick the most romantic and creative place you can imagine!

• The Dreaded Registry – Few guys enjoy staring at a wall of china patterns, but put him in front of a wall of electronics and he’s like a kid in a candy store. No one says you have to register for frilly decorations and kitchen gadgets he doesn’t even know the name of. Registries should reflect your personalities and needs. If you’re an adventurous couple, head to an outdoors store for camping equipment. If you have all the china you could ever want, but are still watching the news on rabbit ears, register at an electronics store.