Six Tips for a Groom to Survive His Wedding

You found the girl of your dreams, you swooned her, you got down on one knee (you better have!) and popped the big question.

Then she said yes and you really started to get to know her. You got to know her stress, her hopes, her dreams, her fears and most of all, you got to know her insane wedding madness.

You survived the planning and now, here you are: the morning of your wedding day.

Today you are the least important person (I know, even though it's your wedding too) but you also have the greatest ability to screw everything up.

Here's six tips on how to survive your wedding when you're the groom.

Tip #1 - NEVER have your bachelor party the night before - Forget the movies where the guy goes out with his buddies, gets drunk out of his mind and then has to race to the church the next day. That's why it's a movie. It's absolutely make-believe. Even if you make it on time, the day will be so hectic and nerve-wracking that having the bubble-guts from a dozen Tequila shots will not help. When I got married, I partied with my co-workers on Wednesday. My wedding was Saturday.

Tip #2 - Preparation is the key - Your tux, your Best Man's tux, your shined shoes, your haircut, the gas in your car, everything should be ready the day before at the latest. Leave nothing to do that day but get up, relax, eat a little and then head to the church, hall, wherever you're jumping the broom and tying the knot. A wedding is a cosmic phenomenon that creates chaos. If it can go wrong on a wedding day, it will go wrong. So, leave nothing to chance. Have your stuff straight.

Tip #3 - Thicken your skin - Yes, you love her. Yes, she is all that you wanted in a woman. However, today is the absolutely most stressful day of her life. It's her wedding but you really have nothing to do with it (I know, that sucks but at least I told you.) Prepare for that last breath of fire from Groomzilla about anything - wrong colored napkins, too much mash potatoes, talkative DJ, whatever. Be ready.

Also, thicken your skin for your guests. Yes, they are guests but they believe that are all kings and queens, princes and princesses. On my own wedding day, someone in my family told my wife she was being rude. Whether it was a joke or not, it was bad either way. You will hear all complaints but take it. Because you've manned up, it's better on you than on your nervous-wrecking bride.

Tip #4 - Be flexible and be rigid - Weird I know but you have to be both. There will be situations that will require you to go with the flow and even take your newly-crowned missus with you. If it's rearranging the announcements at the reception or having four flower girls instead of five, be ready to shift, change and morph. All your planning will still be subject to last minute occurrences.

Be rigid in the sense that nothing is to interfere with the purpose of the day. My wife kept leaving our table of two to handle situations until I asked her to stay put. I wanted my bride at our table for us. That required rigidity but she understood.

Tip#5 - Do not get drunk - Yes, yes, you paid for the Open Bar. I'm sorry but that is not a license to get blasted into next week. Besides, drunk at your wedding opens you up to all kinds of bad situations (e.g. all those things you wanted to say during the endless wedding planning? Bad idea, right?)

Tip #6 - most importantly - Remember why you're there. You love this woman. She loves you. A room of the people most important to both of you have gathered to witness your union. Soak it up and relish it. With these tips, you'll not only be the Groom but you'll look like you do this everyday and never break a sweat.

The next day, it's off to your honeymoon.

I don't think you'll need a survival guide for that.