| Let's face it, the wedding planning process is geared | | | | 5. Narrow down his choices to two or three before |
| toward the female psyche. Why else would there be | | | | asking for his input. Present him with any more choices |
| so much emphasis on the elements of colors, flowers, | | | | of photographers and his eyes will glaze over looking |
| emotions, fashion and cake? (Okay, maybe the guys | | | | at all the samples. |
| can embrace the cake idea, but forget the rest!) | | | | 6. Whatever you do, ALWAYS give him say in his |
| If you're one of those lucky gals whose fiancé | | | | wedding day attire. No matter how reluctant he is to |
| wants to have input on everything from choosing linens | | | | participate in the other aspects of wedding planning, |
| to the height of the heel on your pump, then read no | | | | more than likely he's going to balk at you telling him |
| further. Give your honey his wedding to-do list and go | | | | what to wear. |
| get a manicure. If you'd like your Price Charming a little | | | | 7. If he tells you to simply delegate some vendors |
| more involved, however, then try the following. | | | | tasks to him, then do so willingly, but be sure you give |
| 1. Ask yourself why you want your fiancé | | | | him ones that align with his interests. If he's like most |
| involved. Is it because you feel it demonstrates how | | | | men, he'll be more invested in looking for the DJ, |
| much he loves you, or simply because the task | | | | wedding-day transportation, arranging the rehearsal |
| overwhelms you and you want help? The answer to | | | | dinner and tuxes than shopping for flower girl dresses. |
| this question will determine how you will ask your | | | | Most guys will want to have a say in their honeymoon |
| fiancé to be involved. Is it important to you that | | | | destination, so you might want to have him come up |
| he have input into which photographer you choose or | | | | with options for that too. |
| would you rather his assistance be in a more | | | | 8. Let him know you value his opinion. He just wants |
| detailed-oriented realm (like picking people up at the | | | | you to be happy, and he may think that the way to |
| airport or making sure all the vendors are paid on | | | | make that happen is to defer to you on all of the |
| time)? | | | | decisions. If you tell him that's not the blessing he |
| 2. Keep your wedding planning conversations with him | | | | imagines it to be and that you're excited to have his |
| brief. He probably wants to be involved, but an hour of | | | | input, then he'll be more prone to offer it. Caveat to this: |
| debating the merits of freesias or daisies in your | | | | you're going to need to listen to his input and honor his |
| bouquet will have his eyes glazing over. When his input | | | | suggestions from time to time! |
| is desired, keep the chat to 15 minutes. If nothing is | | | | 9. Make it easy for him to participate. Make sure you |
| resolved, bring the topic to the table the next day. If | | | | have a mutually-agreed upon system for organizing |
| nothing else, you'll wear him down from sheer tenacity. | | | | the wedding planning so he's not off doing one thing |
| 3. At the beginning of the planning process, ask him | | | | while you're doing something counterproductive to it. |
| which aspects of the planning he wants to be in | | | | 10. Remember to keep dating your fiancé |
| charge of. This will allow him to select areas that | | | | during the wedding planning process. Sure you're |
| interest him (saying selecting a DJ verses choosing | | | | excited and maybe the wedding day is all you think |
| cutsie wedding favors). | | | | about, but maybe you should relegate some of that |
| 4. Get him involved in the selection of food and | | | | chit chat to conversations with your mother and |
| alcoholic beverages. If you make a "date" out of | | | | bridesmaids. Set aside at least one evening a week |
| tastings, he'll be happy to go along. And the old adage | | | | for a "No Wedding Talk" date night. He'll be much more |
| is still true--the way to a man's heart (or at least | | | | interested if you don't flood him with wedding talk 24/7. |
| keeping his interest) is through his stomach. | | | | |