Advice for the groom

REVIEWS BY JAMES NEAL WEBB

How-to books read by folks who already know "how-to" can't help but elicit rueful chuckles; imagine how a mechanic feels reading Car Repair for Dummies. Speaking as someone who's been married twice, once three decades ago, once last year (and who was ignorant both times), I found Peter Scott's Well Groomed and Doug Gordon's The Engaged Groom to be full of laughs, some intentional, some not. Well Groomed—subtitled "A Wedding Planner for What's-His-Name (And His Bride)"—is deliberately tongue-in-cheek humorous. When Scott draws comparisons between Bride Magazine and Penthouse, the married groom (known as the husband), laughs and shakes his head, because he knows the truth behind the laughs. Scott also brings his wry insight to bear on such exotic subjects (to the male, anyway) as The Guest List, The Reception Menu and That Pesky Wedding Day Nausea.


Gordon is a bit more serious with The Engaged Groom (subtitled "You're Getting Married—Read This Book"), but he has his moments of humor as well, though he doesn't enjoy the typical groom's panic quite as much as Scott does. Gordon is more intent on quelling that rising gorge in your throat with savvy advice on subjects ranging from picking a date to surviving a bachelor party, and even has a handy diagram showing the proper bow-tying technique.

The best thing I can say is that I'm glad I don't have to go through it again (though I wouldn't trade the experience, or my wife, for anything). I can now enjoy these books, then pass them on to my recently engaged son. That might be a good idea for you, too, if you've got a male relative or friend preparing for the big step.


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