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 (if female) 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 1604, from the

Old English Old English (, ), 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 was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

''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 ''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 A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

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 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 The Scots ( sco, Scots Fowk; gd, Albannaich) are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland. Historically, they emerged in the early Middle Ages from an amalgamation of two Celtic-speaking peoples, the Picts and Gaels, who founded t ...

often wear full Highland dress, as do their groomsmen. * In Norway 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, Jesus Christ is called a bridegroom in relation to

the Church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * Chris ...

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; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; John 2:9; 3:29.

References

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