Wedding Day. All the hard work you and your bride have done culminating into the fabled 'Big Day'. The wait is over, and though you may have attended other weddings, how closely did you pay attention? GroomGroove.com has a step-by-step breakdown of how the day of your wedding could unfold.   We've compiled the chronological list with some commentary - and of course, your wedding could be completely different.

The day before - Relax, Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

Relax - All Day

Shorts, flip flops, summertime. It's a beautiful summer day, and your family and friends are all arriving in town for your wedding. You can bet that you won't have much time to take it all in or to have quality conversations with everyone, but you should try hard. Because your bachelor party will not be held tonight (and don't think otherwise!), take this day to relax as much as possible. You'll find that wedding day itself will be a whirlwind of activity.

The Wedding Rehearsal - About one hour

In the early afternoon or evening, you are likely to have a rehearsal of the wedding ceremony itself with the officiant at the site of your wedding. This will significantly calm your nerves (or give you a case of the nerves if you didn't already have them) and the nerves of anyone that is called upon to read (or sing) during a religious ceremony. "When exactly do I sit down?" you will ask. The rehearsal will answer all of that. And if you have any doubts about any part of the ceremony, now is the time to ask.

The Rehearsal Dinner - About two hours

After the rehearsal, you will likely proceed to a rehearsal dinner. This can be as informal as Subway sandwiches, a backyard barbecue or as formal as a sit-down meal at a nice restaurant. Typically, your parents, your fiancée's parents, and the wedding party are invited. Some couples will also include close friends, additional family and out-of-town guests, but who ultimately attends is up to you. One of the great things about the rehearsal dinner is that is gives you the time to hang out with friends and family that you might not see that often. And by the way - it's typically the groom and his family that are tasked with planning wedding day.

Last Minute Jitters

- About 5 minutes at some point, probably at least once. It's ok. It's not a sign that you don't know what you're getting yourself into, but a sign that this is an infinitely more important contract than, say, signing up for a cell phone, and you're taking the commitment seriously. Your bride may be having last minute jitters as well. Take a big deep breath, and practice your wedding speech instead of worrying!

Wedding Speech Prep

- About 20 minutes at some point, hopefully at least twice. Read this article by clicking the link to learn more about your wedding speech .

Restless sleep - About 4.5 hours of it

Count on it.

The Day Of

Prep Time - About 2 hours in the morning

Your day will start with a rotten sleep the night before, because you'll be very nervous and possibly excited about what the day will bring. Start your day with breakfast and invite the groomsmen, best man and your dad to join you with room service at your hotel or at a breakfast joint. Now is the time to relax before things really get rolling. Don't throw on the tuxedo, then have breakfast. Maximize your time in jeans and flip flops. article continues...
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