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BROTHERHOOD IN ACTION
How groomsmen can reduce stress
For modern weddings, the role of the groomsman has evolved far beyond showing up in a suit and standing beside the groom during the ceremony. Today, groomsmen are increasingly recognized as vital allies in the lead‑up to the wedding, tasked with ensuring that the groom navigates the planning process with confidence, clarity, and reduced stress. Weddings are complex events that involve multiple moving parts such as venues, catering, guest lists, and timelines, and the groom often finds himself managing responsibilities alongside work and personal commitments. In this environment, a supportive groomsman is someone who recognizes the pressures and steps in proactively to provide guidance, companionship, and practical assistance.
Grooms face a variety of stressors throughout wedding planning. Budgeting and financial decisions can create tension, particularly when trying to balance expectations from family and the couple’s own vision. Coordinating vendor meetings, handling logistics, and ensuring that the timeline is realistic for both rehearsal and wedding day activities adds another layer of responsibility. Even seemingly minor tasks, such as approving seating charts, selecting transportation, or tracking RSVPs, can accumulate and weigh heavily on the groom. For many men, the pressure to appear composed, organized, and decisive can amplify anxiety, making it challenging to fully enjoy the engagement period. This is where the groomsmen step in.
GROOM AND GROOMSMEN STYLE 2025
Trending looks and fabrics shaping
wedding day fashion.
Men’s wedding attire in 2025 is stepping forward with bold statements, refined tailoring, and a fresh embrace of modern fabrics and silhouettes. Grooms are finding that their look can reflect not only tradition but also the influence of global fashion houses, seasonal palettes, and the wider move towards individuality in men’s formalwear. The role of the groomsmen is equally shifting, as coordinated yet less rigid ensembles gain popularity, creating a balanced dynamic between formality and comfort. What defines this year’s styles is a balance between heritage and innovation, with fabrics that catch the light, cuts that sharpen the profile, and palettes that broaden the horizon of what formalwear can be.
Velvet is leading many of the conversations in men’s formalwear, particularly for evening weddings. Designers such as Tom Ford and Saint Laurent are reintroducing velvet jackets in jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and amethyst, often paired with tailored trousers in black or charcoal wool. The groomsmen are echoing this trend with velvet accents, such as waistcoats or bow ties, ensuring the groom remains distinct while his party still reflects the theme. Velvet works particularly well for autumn and winter weddings, its texture catching candlelight and photography beautifully.
EXPLORING GROOM TRADITIONS
Cultural customs and rituals for
grooms locally and globally.
Marriage has always been more than the joining of two people. It carries with it layers of heritage, symbolism, and cultural expression that reach across centuries. For grooms, traditions vary widely depending on culture and region, each one reflecting values, beliefs, and the importance of the groom’s role in the marriage ceremony. In South Africa and across the world, the customs that surround grooms are striking in their diversity, ranging from acts of respect to elaborate rituals that celebrate family and community.
In South Africa, the groom’s role in a traditional Zulu wedding ceremony includes significant displays of respect for his bride’s family. A central custom is lobola, the bride price, where the groom negotiates with the bride’s family and offers cattle or money as a gesture of appreciation. This is not only a transaction but a recognition of the value of the union and the joining of families. It highlights the responsibility of the groom to show readiness for marriage and to honor the new bond. On the day itself, grooms often dress in traditional attire such as ibheshu, made from cowhide, along with beadwork and a shield, symbolizing strength and protection.