Photo: Cappy Hotchkiss
Every week, we give our readers a glimpse inside the mindset of a guy's brain on weddings with the help of the hilarious and smart editors at The Plunge. For their latest installment, they're sharing tips on how your fiancé can impress his in-laws.
We may be for guys by guys, but when it comes to navigating the crazy world of getting married, we want to help everybody. At least that's how we're going to spin this one, since impressing the in-laws isn't generally something your guy is going to still be trying to do by the time you're subscribed to Brides. On the off chance he hasn't cracked the code, you can have him follow the steps to success below. If you're all ready to form one big happy family, consider this your inside look at how he pulled one over on your mom and dad. See? The Plunge helps everyone again!
Make 'em laugh.
Our jokes might not necessarily impress, but it can't hurt to cut the tension. Stay away from politics and religion and any laughter is good laughter. The more self-deprecating the better — shows humility. Bonus points if we show them how much we make you laugh, because all girls want a guy with a sense of humor after all. Double bonus points if we make your dad laugh, because damn that guy is scary.
See More: A Guide to Navigating Your Future In-Laws
Show you care.
Yes, we care about your parents' season tickets and that friend of theirs who works at that company we love, but we care about you more than any of that. Nothing wrong with trying to share in their interests, of course, but our goal should always be to prove to them how much we love you — taking your side, supporting your goals, and the like. We want your folks to trust we'll unconditionally treat you with respect and give everything we have to provide for you.
Be sweet.
To you, of course, but also to them. Maybe this should have been number one, but in typical guy style we often have to be reminded of what should be the simplest things. Showing up with a bottle of wine or flowers, minding our manners, pitching in around the house, offering compliments, and asking for advice all fall under this category. And as long as we're not being all gooey or in any way sexual about it, being super sweet to you doesn't hurt their opinion of us either.
Embrace tradition.
Specifically, traditions that might not be exactly the same as ours. We want to eventually create a family with you, which means blending our two different family cultures. That doesn't even have to mean big things like religion. It can be accepting that weird thing you guys say to each other before you head to bed, or not speaking up against the fact that your family's favorite team/TV show/vacation destination is, umm... unique. This shows we're open minded, and let's face it — we're asking your parents to be just as accepting of us, if not more.
See More: 10 Things Every Groom Must Do Before the Wedding
Embrace it all.
This might get us in trouble but it has to be said: girls are much scarier to raise than boys. So many hormones, so many emotions, so many tears. Nobody knows what makes you tick (and what sparks a nervous tic) like your parents. The more we show we can patiently handle your "idiosyncrasies," the more we prove our commitment to helping you be the best version of you, and the happier your parents are that you're someone else's problem now. KIDDING.
Even if they don't seem super involved in the wedding-planning process, grooms are going through the same life-changing experience as their brides-to-be. Enter: The Plunge. The site helps the engaged guy navigate his wedding from a man's point of view.