We know how excited brides can get about their wedding day, but we also know how the menfolk can sometimes feel a bit left out in the preparation stage.  Here’s a few tricks to help get him involved…

Most importantly, you have to let him be involved with the things which matter to him – namely, clothing and food!  The sooner you face the fact that he doesn’t give a monkeys about your carefully picked save the date magnets the better!  Even though save the date magnets are a little bit more ‘gadgety’ that the card versions, he probably won’t whoop and cheer over them.

Food.  No sane man is going to turn down the chance of free food in a tasting session.  Men like to eat – fact.  They like stuff that doesn’t cost them any money – fact.  Combine the two and you are onto a winner (just ask for the quote separately a little later on when he’s out of earshot!)

Music.  Another good choice for the man in your life as, inside every man, there’s a wannabe-DJ/Rockstar just dying to get out.  Give them the task of auditioning bands or DJ’s with their mates.  Just make sure you have the final say!

Clothes.  We would never suggest letting him have a say over your dress.  But, suits?  Sure.  Let him know the colour scheme and send him on his way.  He really can’t go too wrong with this one.

Honeymoon.  This is where everyone’s a winner.  He’ll want to go somewhere nice, so will you, so let him surprise you.  Set down the rules that a plane must feature in there somewhere and you will not be travelling to anywhere that ‘happens’ to be hosting a major sporting event.

Lastly, never ever give him a deadline as men hate this.  If you need him to do anything, tell him a month before you would normally do it yourself.  Have the final say in everything and contonuously thank him for his ‘help’ (even if he’s been anything but!)

There are many times that your girlfriends will be of assistance to you in the run-up to your big day.  They will be there at the very start to give your future groom the once-over and make sure he’s good enough for you.  They will help you decide between your two favourite designs of wedding guest books, and they will help you get ready on the day itself.  Yes, your girlfriends are there for you every step of the way but think carefully before you go to try on dresses.

As wonderful as an army of girls may be in deciding which one of those wedding guest books you eventually plumped for (based on a majority vote!), there is nothing worse than twenty girls sitting outside of a brodal fitting room, waiting to give twenty different opinions of what you think might be ‘The One’ in the dress stakes.

Be choosy who you decide to take with you for your wedding dressing fitting, and certainly limit it a few very close friends or family.  Choose those whose opinions you really trust, who think along the same lines as you, and who understand what you want from your wedding day.  The worse thing would be for you to feel hurt by the comments of another at such an important stage in your wedding day preparations.

So, choose your dress companions, have a glass or two of bubbly and enjoy your wedding dress fitting!

If you are a newly-engaged woman, it can be difficult to know where to begin with your wedding plans.  here’s our little guide to planning for your wedding day:

Start with a budget.  It is important at the outset to decide on what you can afford and what you are willing to spend on your wedding day.  Take everything into account such as venue, rings, dress, flowers, accessories, food, music, and all of your stationery from invitations through to wedding photo albums – even the honeymoon if you are paying for it yourself.

Next, you should list your priorities from your budget list, deciding what is more important to you.  Everyone is different – for some, the venue has to be grand and luxurious (which comes at a price) and for others they are quite happy to settle for a smaller venue but their stationery has the be just right.  Don’t underestimate the little details such as wedding favours, wedding photo albums and accessories.

Once you have worked out how much you want to spend and what you want to spend it on, you can juggle the figures about as you go along – some things might be cheaper than you anticipate, whilst others may be a little pricier.  Keep an open mind but really try to stick to your budget – it will serve you well!