Wedding talk is often centered around the bride-her dress, her hair, her bridesmaids, her likes, her dislikes, and so on. Planning a wedding, or even participating in one, can be a daunting task, and the groom needs to do much more than just show up and get married! His duties may not be as extensive as the bride's, but our (often) silent participant might sometimes be able to provide invaluable inputs for the big day. So, let's take a look at how the groom can contribute to the D-Day effectively, without being a nag.

While it's quite easy for the groom to simply let the bride take the reins, it may create an impression of aloofness or indifference towards the wedding preparations, which may not be the case, and this may not be a great first impression for the in-laws. So, get involved! You may not be able to tell which centerpiece fits the wedding theme best, but a little enthusiasm and show of support will earn you a lot of brownie points!

Our wedding belle already has a lot going, what with having to select the venue, pick the theme, look like a princess, get her bridesmaids to look like princesses, etc. So don't take for granted or expect her to pick your wedding suit and those for your groomsmen too. Take her inputs, by all means, but the ultimate decision needs to be your responsibility. Some great quirks such as bowties, socks with crazy patterns, suspenders, mismatched styles, and vibrant pops of colour are currently trending down the aisle, so design your own quirky outfit and give your bride a fun surprise that will truly bowl her over. A word of caution though; it's quite easy to get carried away with the variety of choices around you, so choose wisely and keep it classy!

Your bride's probably on her way to bridezilla-land for a while, due to the overload of wedding responsibilities. This is a very important, and equally stressful, time for her. That subtle difference between lavender and lilac for the gift wrappers matters. It may seem silly, but while you're taking it easy, she's now shuffling between two jobs. So, if she needs to vent or throw tantrums about the mandap decorations-curb the sarcasm-be her own, personalized punching bag. Show her that planning these ridiculous details is worth the effort, because marrying you will be the end result.

And finally, say thank you! Wedding speeches are an integral part of weddings, sangeets, cocktail receptions etc. Be sure to thank the contributors to your wedding and those who make up your wedding party. Especially, thank your bride. That glow of satisfaction and contentedness on her face will be worth all the pre-wedding chaos.

Here's wishing all the grooms-to-be luck in implementing their pre-wedding game plan. Show your bride that you can be an active participant, and not just a bystander, in the biggest day of your lives! Game on!