
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
groomsmen.
Etymology
The first mention of the term ''bridegroom'' dates to 1572,
from the
Old English
Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...
''brȳdguma'',
a compound of ''brȳd'' (
bride
A bride is a woman who is about to be married or who is a newlywed.
When marrying, if the bride's future spouse is a man, he is usually referred to as the ''bridegroom'' or just ''groom''. In Western culture, a bride may be attended by a maid, ...
) and ''guma'' (man, human being, hero). It is related to the
Old Saxon
Old Saxon (), also known as Old Low German (), was a Germanic language and the earliest recorded form of Low German (spoken nowadays in Northern Germany, the northeastern Netherlands, southern Denmark, the Americas and parts of Eastern Eur ...
''brūdigomo'', the
Old High German
Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...
''brūtigomo'', the
German ''Bräutigam'', and the
Old Norse
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...
''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
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...
.
National or ethnic traditions
* In the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the bridegroom usually wears a dark-colored suit for a daytime wedding or a
tuxedo for an evening ceremony.
*
British tradition for a formal wedding requires the bridegroom, male ushers, and close male family to wear
morning suits; unless a uniform is appropriate.
* Bridegrooms of
Scottish descent often wear
full Highland dress, as do their groomsmen.
* In
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
the bridegroom may wear a folk costume like a
bunad, the
gákti among Northern Sami or a dark-colored suit or a
tuxedo.
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
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
,
Jesus Christ
Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
is called a bridegroom in relation to
the Church as
his bride. In the
Gospel of John,
John the Baptist
John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...
speaks of Jesus Christ as the bridegroom and mentions the bride.
Also see Matthew 9:15; 25:1-13;
Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; John 2:9; 3:29.
References
{{Authority control
Wedding ceremony participants