'Tis soon the time for weddings, and men worldwide are getting ready to take the final step at the end of relationship road and get married. While some are doing it for the umpteenth time, most are rookies at this procedure.

The following guidelines and tips will come in handy for those who need to hold someone's hand while walking down the aisle (well maybe not literally). From preparing your wedding vows to picking out your tuxedo for the big day and planning the honeymoon, you should take notes. Considering the groom, bride, best man, maid of honor, and the family all have their part to contribute in this special day (how cheesy does that sound?), you don't want to screw up your part.
The Groom Guide
Aside from getting married and waking up next to the same woman every day for the rest of your life (and I mean that in a good way), the groom actually has some things to plan. It's not like you must only show up at the altar, smile and agree to the question.

Here is a quick checklist of things the groom has to look into before the big day:

The Ring
If you think you have to spend two months' salary for this piece of metal... then you're probably right. Needless to say, your woman shouldn't expect it (unless she's a gold digger), but you still want to awe her with it.

Without becoming an expert on minerals, you should at least know your left from your right when it comes to picking out the ring. You're going to be paying it off for a while, so take the time to shop around.

Get familiar with the 4C's: Carat (weight), Clarity (purity), Color (whiteness), and Cut (brillian
ce). Act like you know what you're talking about, and you probably won't get ripped off.

The Tuxedo
Whether you're looking at a 6-button, double-breasted jacket with pleated slacks, or a cutaway jacket with a wing shirt, you have to look slick. You can consider renting your gear for the day, but do you really want to wear a suit that hundreds, if not thousands of other guys wore before you on your special day? Isn't that somewhat of a bad omen? Exactly.

Wedding Vows
Making you own wedding vows is the kind of gesture that will make your woman melt and get her all worked up for the honeymoon. The traditional speech (below) is a classic one, but you should add some spice and creative vocabulary to personalize and fill it with meaning. Throw in some inside comments to really make it your own.

But if you want to stick to traditional, here it is (in case you want to practice it):

I, (your name), take (woman's name), to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; for as long as we both shall live.

Rings, songs, and everyone's favorite, the honeymoon...


Exchange Of Rings
The actual ring exchange involves the traditional or more modern monologue:

Traditional:
I give you this ring that you may wear, as a symbol of the vows we have made this day.

Modern:
I give you this ring, as a symbol of our marriage, for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come. Wear it as a sign of what we have promised and done this day.

Just make sure the ring bearer (usually a little cousin or nephew) doesn't fall asleep or get distracted by the organ player or the old out-of-town relative snoring in the confessional.

The First Dance Song
A moment of truth at any reception, the chosen song for the official first slow dance requires much thought. If you think that "Unchained Melody" has been overused (you're probably right), then go for something that feels personal for both of you.

"Everything I Do, I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams might be the first song you kissed your future wife to, while "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx can very well signify how you felt after popping the question -- right before the coveted "yes." As long as the song is not cheesy to you, it's all good.

And if you really want to make it special, why not warm up your pipes and serenade her into your arms? Little things like these will make you score a lot of love points (if you know what I mean -- and I'm sure you do).

Honeymoon
The long awaited honeymoon night serves as the time when couples consummate their marriage. Needless to say that many have probably given in to their pleasures way before that.

Setting the romantic mood with candles, flowers, music, and the right ambiance are all memories that your wife will cherish forever. Pick out an exotic and inviting locale to take your better half to, preferably walking distance from a crystal clear beach.

You can always opt for Niagara Falls, Canada, if you lack originality, but why not try the islands of Belize or Hawaii? There's nothing like the fresh morning breeze to kick start a lifetime together, after a hot and heavy night.

The groom's best man holds an important role in the whole wedding scenario. But what if you're going to be one soon -- what's your responsibility?

The Best Man


The groom's right hand man is a very important part of the whole ordeal. He's there to make sure that the bar doesn't run out of alcohol, and that the guests remain entertained. But aside from being the life of the party, he's still responsible for the bachelor party and the famous speech at the wedding reception.

Bachelor Party
First off, forget Tom Hanks' movie by the same title, as well as the film Very Bad Things . Put aside the traditional strip clubs and the "getting drunk until you spew" ritual; the whole point of the event is for the groom to spend time with his buddies and get a final look at what he has to cross off his "to do" list for the rest of his life.

A well-orchestrated stag usually takes place the night or week before the wedding day. It starts off with a big meal (to prepare the stomach for all the booze), and continues into a respectable strip club where professional dancers will bring the art of lap dancing to another level.

Since money is not an issue when one of your buddies says goodbye to bachelorhood, why not rent a hotel room where all of you will be kept away from incriminating eyeballs that could be waiting to put you between a rock and hard place (no pun intended)?

Prepare a night of poker, action movies, T&A flicks, and the like. And while you're at it, why not invite the sexy, but classy Amber to pay the crew a visit with her "Tickle Me Elmo" stick friend. A night that will go down in the books... guaranteed.

Speech & Toast
This speech's main goal is to wish the bride and groom all the luck in the world with their upcoming life together. And for secondary purpose, to slightly embarrass the groom with uneasy high school stories from the time he mistook the class hamster for a Chia Pet. Ah... good times.

The speech is usually concluded with a wedding toast, in which everyone rejoices the moment and gets the party started. The speech is often made towards the end of the meal, when all the men are usually well into their third bottle of red wine, and the women are simply embarrassed about what idiocies their men are involved in for the rest of the night.

Traditionally, wedding toasts are for honoring the couple, and should be suited for all relatives. So no locker room jokes. Well, not as long as the kids are still running around.

Here is a sample wedding toast sent in by Mark from Denver:

May all your troubles be less
And all your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
Merry meet, and merry part,
I drink to thee with all my heart

Some more duties the best man is responsible for:

Before The Wedding
Confirm honeymoon and travel arrangements
Keep the rings until the ceremony
Take care of transportation for the groom to arrive on time


Ceremony & Reception
Escort groom to his position during ceremony
Act as a witness and sign the marriage license
Pay any wedding vendors that need payment
Ensure that gifts are safely loaded


Don't forget to make a simple checklist...

Wedding Checklist
Aside from the responsibilities of the groom and the best man, here's a checklist of important things to remember for a wedding.

Church
A seemingly unimportant thing to do, but keep in mind that many couples like to get married come spring and early summer. So don't procrastinate on this matter and book one early on.

The Band
Ever see The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler? Well then, you probably don't want to wait until the last minute to book the entertainment. Whether you want a live band or a lively DJ, ask around for references because you don't want to be listening to Lionel Richie all night long .

Wedding Favors
You know the little gift all the guests get on their way out? Although it's not a big task in itself, you should still put some thought into it. To make your life easier, here are a couple of ideas to shoot at your future wife:

Baskets filled with candy
Personalized ornaments with names and date
Frames, which double as place cards
Wine glasses engraved with names and date
Votive candles, wrapped in tulle and decorated with a ribbon
Wrapped boxes, with a treat inside


Food
Do you want hot or cold? A full-course meal or buffet style? Generally, when typical weddings consist of a sit-down 5-course meal with all the wine you can handle, guests are very happy.

Open Bar
This may seem like a mundane decision, but it can make or break the reception. Imagine your Uncle Morty (aka the family drunk) licking the bottom of every cocktail glass, desperately looking for another drop of Scotch. Not a pretty picture.

Open bar is a must. Give everyone the refreshments they expect and you'll have yourself a merry little party.

Limo Ride
Before the wedding kicks into gear, arriving to the church in style is every guy's dream. The woman might want to wear the snazziest dress to show off to her girlfriends, but the man wants to show up in a classic Rolls Royce convertible. Now that's a day you'll never forget!

Wedding Consultant
If you're not ready to put in the time and effort (and if your future wife has a rich dad), you might want to look into getting some help. These professionals will take care of everything from the making and sending of the invitations, to making sure the band never stops playing and everyone has gulped down enough food to keep them full for an entire week.

So now that you're a little more educated on the matter, you can actually have some ideas in mind when the discussion comes up with your lady. I'll see you down the aisle!