A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man who is about to be married or who is newlywed.
When marrying, the bridegroom's future spouse is usually referred to as the bride. A bridegroom is typically attended by a best man and Groomsman.
Etymology
The first mention of the term
bridegroom dates to 1572,
from the
Old English brȳdguma,
a compound of
brȳd (
bride) and
guma (man, human being, hero). It is related to the
Old Saxon brūdigomo, the Old High German
brūtigomo, the
German language Bräutigam, and the
Old Norse brúðgumi.
Attire
The style of the bridegroom's clothing can be influenced by many factors, including the time of day, the location of the ceremony, the ethnic backgrounds of the bride and bridegroom, the type of ceremony, and whether the bridegroom is a member of the
Armed Forces.
National or ethnic traditions
-
In the United States, the bridegroom usually wears a dark-colored suit for a daytime wedding or a tuxedo for an evening ceremony.
-
British people tradition for a formal wedding requires the bridegroom, male ushers, and close male family to wear ; unless a uniform is appropriate.
-
Bridegrooms of Scottish descent often wear Kilt, as do their groomsmen.
-
In Norway the bridegroom may wear a folk costume like a bunad, the gákti
Responsibilities during the ceremony
In Anglo-American weddings, the bridegroom will often give a short speech after the reception, thanking the guests for attending, complimenting the bride, thanking members of the wedding party, and possibly sharing a "roast toast", in which he makes jokes at the expense of himself or a member of his party. His speech will normally be followed by one from the
best man.
Religion
Christianity
In
Christianity,
Jesus Christ is called a bridegroom in relation to
Christian Church as his bride. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist speaks of Jesus Christ as the bridegroom and mentions the bride.
Also see Matthew 9:15; 25:1-13; ; Luke 5:34-35; John 2:9; 3:29.
