Grooms for improvement
Peter Karafotas, 26, has a premarital dilemma. He really likes the idea of a chocolate and strawberry wedding cake at his June 19 nuptials in Washington, D.C., but a new temptation has him doubting his commitment. A chocolate-raspberry combo, he declares, also seems appealing.
After several one-on-one visits with florists, Chris Coffman, 24, of Menlo Park, Calif., has settled on white bouquets and a modern, clean look for the centerpieces at his wedding reception, also this June. "We're doing heavy, square, clear-glass vases, some with glass beads, some with candles, and some with floating flowers," he says.
But when it comes to wedding involvement, Jason Fox Jackson, 27, takes the groom's cake. The Texan spent four hours sewing beads on his bride's wedding gown before they said "I do" in December. "She was doing it by hand," he says. "I wanted to help."
A generation ago, the stereotypically clueless groom had three main jobs: Buy the ring, rent a tux, and get to the church on time. These days, the to-do list is often much longer. According to 2003 surveys by Bridal Guide magazine, 89 percent of couples register together, and 42 percent do the majority of planning as a duo (up from 37 percent in '02). And when the new breed of groom isn't planning, he's sharing wedding tips on groom blogs--Web sites where helpful husbands-to-be tell how they did it all for love.
Part of grooms' piqued interest is the fact that the marriage ceremony is increasingly a financial commitment as well as an emotional one. Couples are older at the time of marriage (26.9 for men and 25.3 for women, up from 23.1 and 21.1 in 1974) and often shoulder more of the cost. Bridal Guide's 2003 survey found that 90.9 percent of couples paid for at least some of their wedding bills. When the money comes out of the couple's pockets, both of them want a say.
Ficus fetish. That's why Amanda McManus and James Ravitz, both 33, swung by a bridal show last month at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C. As they chatted with vendors to finalize plans for the nuptials they're paying for, Ravitz was thinking about the key to a successful party: "Of course we need a singer. I don't want people moping." Then he noticed ficus plants on display. "Are we going to get these?" he asked McManus. She wasn't sure. He was: There must be ficus in the reception area.
Guns and roses. The 21st-century groom is clearly unafraid to unveil his wedding vision. But just in case, the wedding biz is adding a masculine tint to the planning process. Registering for gifts has become much more testosterone-friendly, with places like REI and Home Depot on the list. And many stores give the couple a scanning gun, turning the process into something of a sport. Male music enthusiasts have embraced the job of selecting the perfect band, and foodies savor menu and wine duties. Photographers and videographers find themselves negotiating with tech-obsessed men who want to know every detail about pixels and resolution.
advertisement
