Q&A: Real Groom Talks Pre-Wedding Jitters, Tears & the Moment She Walked In

🧍🏽‍♂️ Real Groom Feature: Michael Thomas
👰 Bride: Emily-Rose
📍 Location: Franschhoek Wine Estate, South Africa
🎩 Theme: Classic Romance meets Mountain Magic
💒 Guest Count: 120

Weddings can feel like a blur, especially for grooms. But for Michael Thomas, a UK-born engineer who tied the knot with his South African sweetheart Emily-Rose, every moment was crystal clear—from the panic over his missing tie pin to the life-changing moment she walked down the aisle. We sat down with Michael a few weeks after the wedding for a raw, honest Q&A about what it really feels like to be the groom on the biggest day of your life.

🎤 Q&A With the Groom

Q: Let’s start from the top. What were you feeling the morning of the wedding?

Michael:
Pure nerves. I’m not a nervous person, but I woke up at 4am wide awake like I’d drunk six espressos. My groomsmen were still asleep, so I went outside with a cup of Rooibos and watched the sun rise over the mountains. I kept thinking: “This is actually happening. I’m marrying her today.”

I was mostly excited. But there was definitely a bit of “What if something goes wrong?” panic simmering underneath.

Q: Did anything actually go wrong?

Michael:
Oh yeah. My tie pin—Emily gifted it to me during our engagement—was missing. Cue full search party with my best man and the lodge staff. We found it tucked inside my shoe (don’t ask). That was my one meltdown moment, I think.

Also, the DJ’s mic cut out right before the speeches. But honestly? Those things fade. It becomes part of the story.

Q: Did you cry? Tell us the truth.

Michael:
I tried not to. I really did. But the second I saw her…

She walked in barefoot, hair down, veil blowing slightly in the breeze. She was smiling and crying at the same time. My chest just broke open. I started crying, the best man started crying, and so did my dad. I didn’t even see anyone else after that. Just her.

Q: What was your favourite moment of the whole day?

Michael:
Honestly? It was the ten seconds of silence before she reached me at the altar. We locked eyes, everything went quiet in my head, and I felt this strange calm—like every part of my life made sense in that moment.

Runner-up? Our private vows under the olive tree just after the ceremony. No cameras. Just us.

Q: Any advice for grooms reading this who are about to get married?

Michael:
Yeah—feel your feelings. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel nervous. But don’t let the little things distract you from the big thing: you’re marrying the love of your life. So pause. Take it in.

And carry a backup tie pin.

🧠 Groom Takeaways:

You’ll cry. And that’s okay.

Start your day slow—it helps regulate the nerves.

Make space for private moments.

Bring a calm best man with a sense of humour.

Keep perspective: it’s about you two, not perfection.