I did my first wedding cake this weekend and they also wanted a "simple" chocolate groom's cake. I did a 12x18 sheet cake - devil's food cake frosted in chocolate with a dark chocolate border. I considered this to be too plain and wanted to add more. Stop while you are ahead! I got a recipe for ganache and wanted just to top the cake with a layer of it. I thought it to be too thin and called someone who worked with it more (this was my first time with ganache). She assured me it was fine and instructed me to put in the freezer briefly. I did and as I knew it would it ran all over the sides of the cake. Yes, indeed, it was too thin. This happened less than two hours before planned to leave to set up wedding cake, which was estimated to take 2-3 hours (attached 2000+ small pearls). I baked a new cake, frosted it, drizzled chocolate on top, still warm arriving on site 35-40 minutes away and bordered it there. All worked out but put me behind. Sorry story so long.
End result attached.
I think that the grooms cake looks really simple and pretty. About the setup time, if you don't mind me asking what were you attaching the pearls to? I do a cake that has a fondant band around the bottom and it has a pearl design on it. The smallest bead maker Ck makes is the largest pearl, they go down in size from there. We use the one from the smallest bead maker and two different drages(I know I just killed the spelling), anyway we always attach them before hand somethimes even the day before with a little tylose and they never fall off in the transport. Just an idea, saves us lots of time. Like the cake!! 
I think it looks just great! Not to mention delicious! Makes me want to grab a fork and a glass of cold milk!
I must confess, I don't do a lot of groom's cakes (probably too close to the Mason-Dixon Line, not a lotta folks round these parts follow the tradition), but one of the major things I like about them is they strike such a nice contrast to the typically fancy and sophisticated bride's cake. It makes the groom's cake seem...more attainable, more approchable. Like something you just can't WAIT to sink your fork into. You know - kinda like comfort food! I know I know, lots of groom's cakes are super fancy too...but many aren't, and that's what I like about them!
I think you did a terrific job and I would never have guessed it was done under pressure!
By the way - don't know what recipe you were using for the ganache, but you probably should have had more chocolate in the ratio and a little less cream. That would have produced a slightly thicker coating.
Thanks for the nice comments. It was a family wedding and it did taste good. Love chocolate!
CulinaryCreations - do you have a picture of your fondant/pearl design? I would love to see an example for future reference. A picture of the wedding cake is in my photos if you care to take a look to see what I was talking about.
Oh my goodness I would have freaked out!! Good thing you had enough time to do another one. Ugh!
Oh well, live and learn right. I just did my first wedding cake too, was so NOT fun!! Not ready to do another one quite yet!
Your cake looks awesome, I am ready for a piece!!
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