When political science senior Jason Lowrey decides to get married, his role in the wedding will be like most other men, he said.
"I just show up on the day (of the wedding) and don't do anything stupid," he said.
Like most men, Lowrey said he will take the traditional role of grooms in preparing for a wedding, planning the rehearsal dinner and staying away from the details.
When Paul Dillon, medical graduate student, tied the knot with his wife six years ago, he said the extent of his wedding plans were saying "Yes, dear" and smiling. Their wedding was in his wife's hometown of Tulsa --a place Dillon knew nothing about.
"I trusted her judgment on all of the details because of her knowledge of the area," Dillon said. "My wife had a definite picture of what the wedding was going to be."
Lowrey said the stress should not be in the groom's equation for the wedding. He said the groom should just try to stay out of the way.
"Being stressed is the bride's job," Lowrey said. "Let the bride enjoy the wedding ceremony and (you) look forward to the open bar at the reception."
Not all grooms have it lucky anymore, said Kathleen Beall Meyer, president of Cape Fear Images Inc. and publisher of Cape Fear Weddings in Wilmington, N.C.
"The days of the groom being responsible only for the rehearsal dinner and showing up on time for the wedding are long gone," Meyer said. "Today's groom is involved in almost every aspect of the wedding plans."
Meyer said the changes start with the announcements in newspapers. Most photos now picture the couple, instead of just the bride-to-be, she said.
The groom is also involved more in the financial aspects of the wedding, along with writing the thank-you notes to family and friends.
Dillon said that in his wedding, his wife asked about every detail, but there were no arguments over the plans.
"She and I agreed on who to invite and how the day should be," Dillon said.
Dillon's wife came to him asking about who to have cater, what chapel to have the ceremony in and other major issues, Dillon said.
"For the most part, I would just smile and agree with her," he said.
Dillon said making the bride happy is the best way to have a happy wedding day.
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