49 Articles

article-image
24th Nov 2021

Groomsmen Gifts Guide: The Cigar Crash Course

If you're getting married or are a member of a wedding party, chances are your future involves some significant opportunities for cigar smoking. At the bachelor party when you hand them out as groomsmen gifts, on the wedding day to celebrate, at the hospital a few weeks later when the baby is born... hey, it happens. Anyway, the point is, most men in the modern ages' cigar smoking experience is restricted to a few adolescent puffs with a buddy, trying not to inhale and feeling slightly queasy afterward. Well, you boys just don't know what you are missing. Cigars meet all the criteria of a man's definition of one of the finer things in life, making them perfect for groomsmen gifts. Cigars come in great variety, they invite oral indulgence, and they're interesting. Best of all, cigar smoking is something you can do while doing your other favorite things in life: watching TV, playing poker, sitting out on the front porch with a buddy... Cigars, when properly appreciated, offer the same satisfaction opportunities as a good steak or a fine whisky. They too are a delicious delicacy to be studied and savored. At any rate, even if you never plan to become a full-blown cigar aficionado, for weddings and any other special occasion involving women, and especially when it's time to give your groomsmen gifts, a little cigar knowledge is a must-have for the man's man in all of us. Cigars have a hallowed and fascinating history in America, fine distinctions of flavor and provenance, but for our purposes let's dumb the cigar down to a few basic 'cocktail party cigar facts' to go with your groomsmen gifts. These bits of cigar trivia will help you look knowledgeable in front of your fellow groomsmen and impress any single bridesmaids present at the wedding. First, and foremost, don't inhale! Now for some finer nuances of judging a cigar: How it's made: This is the defining factor in a good cigar. The construction of the cigar determines its taste and smell. The biggest flaw to be found in a cigar is too much tobacco. Overfilled cigars get plugged and are difficult to puff, which leads to less smoke, flavor, and scent. If a cigar is not filled enough however, the smoker will draw too much smoke and get a harsh puff and burnt hands. By its fire: The lit part of the cigar contains its own art form. It should burn evenly all way down. Uneven burning suggests poor rolling, a bad sign to any cigar aficionado. Also, the ash should be firm to the touch and extend in length with ease. How it feels: The cigar should feel solid and substantial in your mouth. It should feel smooth to the touch and have some resilience. You should be able to squeeze the cigar without denting it and it should spring back into shape when you let go. The cigar shouldn't feel too soft or too hard in your hand. Too much firmness in the assemblage shows it might have been rolled too tightly. The wrapper: This is a big one. The wrapper is what gives the cigar its smoking and flavor qualities. The wrapper shouldn't have too many flaws and should not be dry or peeling. Generally, cigars with lighter colored wrappers are milder in flavor and have less of a smoky aftertaste. Darker wrappers are typically fuller in flavor. How it smells: A good cigar sheds a scent even before it's lit that hints at what it will smell like when it is being smoked. A good cigar will have any number of scents -- musky, tropical, woodsy -- but it's important that the scent permeate the entire experience. Now you know a little about cigars. But if you're too lazy to remember any of this, another easy route is to just get some cool cigar accessories to make you look like an aficionado, even if you're not. Cigar pharaphanelia also makes good wedding or groomsmen gifts. Cigar or booze? Why choose? For two-in-one groomsmen gifts, how about a stainless steel cigar case flask combo? This genius invention holds both a cigar and 1.5 oz of your favorite liquor! Perfect for pre-funking or staying loose in long bar lines, this multi-tasker is compact enough to fit in your pocket to be enjoyed spontaneously throughout the wedding (reception, that is) and beyond when you give them as groomsmen gifts. For more personal groomsmen gifts, try a cigar keepsake box. Originally filled with five premium cigars, the idea is that, after commemorating your milestone moment- such as a wedding or bachelor party- with a group smoke, the groom will have a memento of the occasion with the remaining cigar keepsake box. This is cool for groomsmen gifts because guys aren't openly sentimental enough to have photo boxes or albums like girls do, and a keepsake box is a testosterone-appropriate way for a groom or groomsmen to cherish a manly memory or two. A final, more creative idea is to buy the groom or groomsmen gifts of a cigar journal. This cool gift could become a fun new hobby for you and fellow groomsmen. Cigar smoking is a hobby best appreciated with a fellow smoker, and a cigar journal is a classy way to share your thoughts about favorite smokes or best cigar smoking experiences. This is what gentlemen used to do in the old days, recording different flavors tried and different regions sampled. Get in touch with your old-fashioned gentleman by reviving this tradition with a couple pals. A good journal to buy is the No 9 Leather Journal, for yourself and as groomsmen gifts. This leather-bound tome made from American steer hide has the sturdy, intellectual appearance perfect for inspiring profound reflection. Best of all, for your particularly lofty observations, the paper inserts can be removed and filed away for posterity or sent out to friends. Who knows where your findings might show up? Fellas, I hope this has been an educational article on how to properly honor two of man's greatest joys with your groomsmen gifts: a good cigar and a good friend. Happy smoking! Cigar tips taken from http://www.altadisusa.com

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

Gifts Spotlight: Flasks, Flasks, Flasks

Who knew picking a flask meant so many different options? You felt pretty accomplished, having figured out the groomsmen gifts for your boys, but now you have to pick the perfect flask from all your different options. If picking the first search result on the page isn't enough for you, consult this handy guide for more information on the types of flasks you have to choose from. You can't go wrong with a personalized stainless steel flask. The textured steel offers that classic sleek look so your groomsman will always be proud to pull it out of a finely-cut suit pocket. With up to ten letters of personalization, you can easily fit most names there, or go simple with initials. If you're a man with a true appreciation for class, offer the Dalvey Classic Flask, an elegant round flask, accented with a gold badge in the front. Groomsmen gifts this stylish will never be unwelcome. Want a variation on a classic? A leather flask is just as fine for the more outdoorsy type of guy. If your groomsmen would rather climb a mountain than make executive decisions, offer them up leather flasks as groomsmen gifts. For an extra kick, offer them this personalized flask with removable shot glass and cover all their portable liquor-related needs. Want to give something a little bigger? Depending on your groomsmen's proclivities, you can find the set that meets their needs. For the cigar aficionado, there's the Leather Flask Cigar Case Combo. Perfect for a long night out, it has room for up to 4 oz. of their chosen beverage, and room for 2 cigars, making these sets ideal as groomsmen gifts for guys who appreciate a good night out at the club. For the guy on the go, try the Stainless Steel Cigar Case/Flask Combo, which has room for one cigar and 1.5 oz. of their drink of choice. Do your boys like to have a little stress relief on hand at all times? The seven-piece mini to-go bar means that they'll always have what they need on hand, whether it's Jim Beam or Benjamin Franklin. For something slightly more subtle than a flask, try a Personalized Telescopic Cup Keychain. An unobtrusive round silver keychain at first sight, this cleverest of groomsmen gifts expands to become a shot glass! Your boys will never be caught unprepared for impromptu parties. Swigging from the bottle went out once you graduated college, so give your groomsmen a step up and a reminder of the good times with this keychain cup!

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

Bachelor Party

by Brad Patterson Today's topic in Getting Married 101 is the bachelor party. I am certainly not the expert on bachelor parties, having had only participated in one myself as the groom-to-be, and I am not planning any others. Larry King is truly the world's foremost authority on bachelor parties, having been the guest of honor maybe a dozen times, but he was unable to write this article. Something came up, like another interview with that annoying Susan Carpenter-McMillian woman or something like that. So, here I am again, offering some (allegedly) sage advice for grooms-to-be and/or bachelor party planners. Please follow along in your manual. Hopefully I can keep you out of the kind of trouble that no amount of groomsmen gifts, bridesmaids, your bride and her parents can fix. BE CAREFUL! This is the first, most important and really the only advice you need to make your bachelor party - or the one you are throwing for your friend - a success. Success is a subjective definition. Success to a police officer is going home alive at the end of a shift; success in life to some guys means owning a boat; success to a writer is getting published. Success in terms of a bachelor party is that everyone survives and the husband-to-be did not do anything that will have long-term consequences, i.e. future paternity suits, positive HIV tests, embarrassing pictures ending up in the National Enquirer, etc. If you're lucky you might walk away with decent groomsmen gifts and a not-too-terrible hangover. Bachelor parties are what I refer to as a "forced good time." Similar to New Year's Eve, one's 21st birthday, and other occasions like that, a Bachelor Party pressures those involved to feel as though they must have an all-time experience or they are in violation of some guy rule. You do not have to get completely wild and crazy if you do not want to. It is not mandated by the "Guy Handbook." BE PREPARED! Now that you know you do not have to have an all-time blowout at your bachelor party, preparation is vital. If location, location and location are the three most important aspects of selling a house, preparation, preparation, preparation are the three keys to having a great bachelor party. For example, are you going to be at a lake or a river, or near a swimming pool? If so, please check with the groom to see if he can swim prior to the party. It is fairly popular for one's friends to throw the man of the hour into a body of water during the closing hours of a bachelor party, and having to give him mouth-to-mouth will probably not win you any points or better groomsmen gifts. It might be wise to check to see if any of the other members attending the party are unable to swim as well. Have a designated driver. I do not want to appear to be an old crank about this stuff, but knowing ahead of time who will be driving the groom home or back to the hotel aids in the enjoyment of the party. Renting a limo for the evening is not a bad idea, or at least a taxi. The cost of a limo for one evening is considerably less than a DUI. Plus, there is a much greater chance that the groom gets back safely. So, know ahead of time where you are going, how you are getting back and make one of the members of the party sort of responsible for the groom. You know, make sure someone keeps a relatively mature eye on him to avoid major problems. GET YOUR STORIES STRAIGHT A friend of mine was in charge of throwing a bachelor party for a guy. This friend comes from a devoutly religious household--his father was an Elder in the Christian church. Even though he was in college and out of the house, he was living in his parents' house for the summer and did not want to offend them with any unseemly behavior. He related coming home from his friend's bachelor party - reeking of breath mints - staggering into the house at about 2 a.m. only to see his mother still waiting up for him - as mothers will do for their little boys, even when their little boys are 22 years old. Anyway, the friend is carrying a projector with him into the house. Now, don't get ahead of me here....you and I both know what the projector was for, right? When his mom asked him why he had the projector, my friend mumbled drunkenly, ESPN Sports Bloopers. That answer seemed to satisfy his mom, who smiled and went on to bed. I have used that response in stories since then and everyone marvels at the genius and quick-thinking of that guy. What a great answer! However, don't count on being that quick-witted. If you rehearse your answers ahead of time, it will be easy to tell the right story and stick to that story. Years later, we debated whether or not his Mom believed that line or if she knew what that projector had really been used for that night. The point is, have answers as to where you went and what you did if you are unwilling (or unable) to divulge that information the next day to relatives. It might be a good idea to write them out ahead of time and pass out copies to all those in attendance at the party along with the beer bongs and groomsmen gifts. HAVE THE PARTY EARLY Think in terms of having the bachelor party at least two nights prior to the big event, not the night before. Your wedding day is no time to be worshipping the porcelain god and certainly no time to be suffering from a hangover that would have stopped Bret Favre. There are enough things to worry about that day. MAKE THE PARTY A LEARNING EXPERIENCE At my brother's bachelor party, I was 18 years old and the youngest guy in attendance. I learned to pour beer out of a tap and to smoke cigars that night. Thus, I learned two skills that have been put to good use in the years since then. Because of another bachelor party I attended, I can testify honestly - to the best of my recollection - that the strippers in Nashville, Tennessee are of a higher quality than those in Terre Haute, Indiana. See, a learning experience. Then again, maybe it was because I was wearing wraparound sunglasses at night during that Terre Haute party. I don't remember why I was doing that. However, that night I did learn-- quickly --that you do not ever, ever touch the stage while the strippers are doing their thing. One guy, perhaps even more naive than I even, started to get up on the stage until two beefy guys magically emerged from behind the curtain and told him in no uncertain terms that it would be a good idea if he sat down and did not ever touch the stage again. See, another learning experience. Who says these kinds of events are not educational? Bring home more than groomsmen gifts, this advice is invaluable. "The cost of a limo for one evening is considerably less than a DUI." ENJOY YOURSELF Look, it is a "party," after all. Many times, the bachelor party is more for the other guys there than for the groom. I spent my bachelor party in the company of four good friends, having a few beers in the Holiday Inn in Oak Lawn, Illinois. My friends were all in from other places and I was the only one who knew where we were. A trip to White Castle for hamburgers turned into a Not-So-Excellent Adventure with five of us crammed into my little Plymouth Champ (without air conditioning) with an absolute hellacious thunderstorm going on. The pouring rain made opening a window unthinkable and the steam from five guys in one little car made seeing out of the windshield virtually impossible. So, we headed back to the hotel, and made a nice evening out of handing out the groomsmen gifts, telling old stories and laughing a lot. And we all stayed out of trouble. NO STRIPPERS, PLEASE Okay, if you want to visit an adult entertainment parlor, then do so. Just don't make the groom do anything he might regret later. No pictures of the groom getting a lap dance or anything like that, either - although lap dances as groomsmen gifts are acceptable. And, don't bring a stripper to the hotel where the family is staying. That's tacky. The whole notion of having a stripper is sort of outdated in these politically correct times, but there are preferable ways to conduct the festivities if that is what is planned. THINK TOM HANKS Seeing the movie Bachelor Party should be required viewing for any potential groom or for the person responsible for the party. Things like animals in the hotel room and ex-girlfriends passed out on the bed with the groom are funny in movies - not in real life.

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

Viva Las Vegas Gifts

The way you see it, your groomsmen should be thanking you, really - with your Las Vegas destination wedding, you're basically giving them an easy excuse to hop a cheap flight to Vegas and gamble and drink all weekend. In some smaller suburbs, that qualifies for humanitarian status! Still, just because you're inviting them along for what's basically a weekend-long party, it doesn't mean you get to shortchange your boys on groomsmen gifts. Keep it in theme with this handy list of the best groomsmen gifts to go with your Las Vegas wedding. If your groomsmen are gamblers, you've pretty much just invited them to paradise. If you're worried you might have to pry them away from the poker tables with a crowbar just to get them to stand up with you at the ceremony, curtail any addiction with groomsmen gifts of the Professional Poker Set and promises that you'll get a guys' poker night going once the knot is tied and you're back home. You should probably pick up a set for yourself, too - after all, everyone has to take their turn hosting, and you can work it out with the new wife so she gets her girls' night out the same evening. Immortalize the winning hand with groomsmen gifts of this Personalized Poker Design Cigar Humidors as groomsmen gifts. Great for the gambler or for the cigar aficionado and downright perfect for the guy who's both, these humidors will keep his stogies in the finest condition, and if you combine it with the Professional Poker Set above you can save your future earnings and convince your guys to just bet cigars on poker night. Or just give them groomsmen gifts to keep them always reminded of the experience - this Personalized Las Vegas Sign to hang on their wall. This classic sign can be personalized with the names of your groomsmen and yourself, and even the date of your wedding or bachelor party. It'll look great on the wall at your groomsman's bachelor pad or even relegated to the den when your buddy ties the knot himself. Let's just hope he decides on Vegas himself so you can have the Sin City experience all over again without the wedding stress for you!

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

A Groom's Shower: Not Just a Prenuptial Bathing Ritual

In the age of increasing equality of the sexes, wedding traditions are also experiencing a healthy dose of affirmative action. These days, bride and groom often split the costs of the wedding equally, the bachelor party is a joint affair, and groom takes on increasing responsibility in the wedding planning. So it's only fair grooms get some of the added benefits as well! One positive trend lightening the groom's increased load of heightened invitation licking, flower sniffing, and choosing groomsmen gifts, is the fad of groom showers. Since grooms have a lot more responsibility these days than just skating down the aisle with a tux and smile, it is only just that they get their fair share of celebration, and groom's showers are designed to do just that. But since this is a relatively new trend, here is a brief guide to giving a groom's shower (hint: it's exactly like planning a bridal shower, but with guy stuff). To begin planning a groom shower, you may want to choose a theme. Bridesmaids bored with the traditional cookie-cutter bridal showers have been livening things up by picking a bridal shower theme-such as the honeymoon destination or bride's favorite pastimes-to freshen the fun. Groom's showers should do the same. Here are a few fun groom shower themes to consider: A Sports Theme: Okay, it's a no-brainer, but just as most bridal showers feature a lot of lingerie, a groom's shower will generally have a healthy share of sports. Like bra shopping for women, sports are a time-honored male bonding tradition. If the groom you're planning the shower for is a total sports nut, don't be afraid to go all out with a sports-themed groom's shower. One good way to honor a sports-themed groom's shower through the gifts. Perhaps when shopping for your groomsmen gifts, he saw a few things he might like for himself. Find out if any particular groom's gift caught his eye, then ask groomsmen, family, colleagues, or whomever you've invited to bring a sports-related gift to enhance the theme of the groom's shower. Hint: For practical purposes, it sometime helps to narrow the theme to the groom's all-time favorite sport. On this note, if the groom is a baseball fan, how about purchasing him an engraved hall of fame baseball bat or personalized baseball and holder? If he's a golf-lover, leather can caddies or a personalized putter make the perfect gift. Sports-related groom shower gifts are special because the groom will think of the giver every time he uses them. Another good way to incorporate the groom's shower theme is through the food. If you're having a SuperBowl-themed Shower, recreate the joy of this Blessed Event with bowls of potato chips, cold beer and nachos. If you're feeling ambitious, a backyard grill or roll-your-own tacos go great with a side of every man's favorite sport. Finally, just as with a bridal shower, the games and activities of the groom's shower should also reflect the theme. For a sports theme, put NFL Instant Replays or ESPN on the TV. Set up an indoor golf green, or hit the backyard for an informal game of tackle football. Whatever activities you choose, a sports-themed groom shower is bound to be a fun memory for everyone involved. An Executive Theme: If you're groom has a high-pressure job that consumes a lot of his time, an Executive-Themed Groom's Shower to show your support for your hardworking pal is a nice idea. For gifts, buy him a leather mouse pad, a desk clock, or a classic Bentley pen. Chances are it's lonely at the top, so buying your buddy gifts for his office will remind him every day at work that he does have a network of supportive friends in his personal life. Just as with groomsmen gifts, the idea is to remind the groom what a great buddy he's been over the years. For the food, serve liquor-laced Perrier and Cappuccinos, and serve yuppie foods like cold cuts and crackers, mini sandwiches, and chicken salad. A dessert tray or champagne also makes a festive touch for an executive-themed groom's shower. For activities, get creative. Sit the groomsmen around the table boardroom style while the best man acts as CEO, pacing the room and firing questions about the grooms weirdest habits, most embarrassing moments, and bizarre trivia at unsuspecting victims. Make a PowerPoint of pictures, quotes, and moments honoring the bride and the groom. This may seem cheesy, but showers are meant to honor the wedded couple, and the groom is sure to bloom from this affirmation just as much as a bride does. And, just in case things get too Lifetime Television for Women, throw in a few pictures of your pal from childhood, teenage years, or other awkward times, just to make sure the groom doesn't get off too easy. A Poker Night Theme:Take this timeless tradition to the next level by planning an ultra-classy Poker-themed groom's shower. Far from the playing cards around the gas lantern in the garage, a groom's shower is a chance to take poker night to Vegas-style proportions. For gifts, since cigars and poker go together like beer and potato chips, why not instruct the groomsmen to bring cigar- themed groom shower presents? A cherry wood humidor, a cigar/flask combo, or a Zippo lighter are all thoughtful gifts that take poker night to a new, elegant level appropriate for a groom's shower. For food, finger foods again take the cake.(What can we say? Men are simple creatures.) Chicken fingers, BBQ wings, and coconut shrimp help stimulate the strategy session going on behind each poker face. And, much like in Vegas, make sure to keep the booze free flowing all night long. For activities, here is another opportunity to up the ante by buying the groom a professional poker set. That's right, with real chips and high-quality cards, this groom's shower will feel like the real deal, and there is no better way to set the tone than with a deluxe poker kit. For ambience, put Celebrity Poker on in the background, and later in the night, bring in some showgirls that put Vegas to shame. Your groom will love this thoughtful and entertaining party. These are just a few ideas of how to chart the course where few men have gone before, but will begin rushing just as soon as they hear the tale of your own adventures. We call the groom's shower one small step for mankind, and one hell of a good time for guys everywhere.

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

Gifts Spotlight: Planning For The Best Bachelor Party

In celebration of the new GroomStand-approved tome Bachelor Party Confidential, here are some tips on the best groomsmen gifts to get for your guys to ensure that you'll have a bachelor party story for the record books yourself: If the bachelor party you're aiming for is less B.Y.O.B. and more B.Y.O.Scotch, make sure your guys are prepared by giving them personalized flasks as groomsmen gifts. Whether you're looking for refreshment on the way from the bar to the strip club, or just out of money for round six of Jell-O shots, you and your boys won't mind having the extra booze around and available. If you're really committed to a raucous good time, get the night started off right with a solid pre-game starring The Ultimate Bar Book. Wrangle a bartender buddy (or the one that's best at reading directions) and get creative with a few shots before you head out to the bar - just make sure the designated driver stays that way, or no one's going anywhere. Then show the unlucky D.D. some appreciation with an Ultimate Bar Book of his own in addition to the groomsmen gifts the other guys are getting. Make karaoke a unique experience for all attendants, whether they're in your wedding party or just unlucky bystanders, with groomsmen gifts of Personalized Steel Harmonicas. So what if no one can play? If you get kicked out of one bar, just move on to the next. Clear a path for your gang of groomsmen with Last Night of Freedom CREW t-shirts as groomsmen gifts. Don't forget one for yourself! One key to a great bachelor party experience is making it as easy as possible for the strippers to identify you. We're not saying you'll need to cut your way out of any inconvenient positions - but if it just so happens that someone in the party needs a pocket-sized knife, at least they'll be prepared with groomsmen gifts of personalized Yukon Lock Back knives.

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

7 Adventure Sports Bachelor Party Ideas

Bachelor parties are synonymous with alcohol. If you're lucky, those drinks will take you and your groomsmen stumbling to a strip club or casino. This is likely the way your father spent his last hours of freedom. It is undoubtedly the way your grandfather exhausted the final hours of his bachelorhood. But as enticing as a grimy strip club and an abundance of liquor can be, is it really all that different from your typical weekend affairs? For a thrilling "last night" without the traditional after-bachelor-party hangover, include some exciting adventurous sports activities into the mix. The 'extreme' bachelor party is gaining in popularity. Why? More bachelors want a party they can look back on with reverie. Bachelors want a party they can actually remember without having to look at the pictures of their limp body wrapped around a toilet. Adventure parties can be as involved as a weekend trip to an exotic locale or as simple as an afternoon of golf at the local municipal course. Whatever adventure bachelor party you choose, give yourself enough time to plan, budget and coordinate. This is the key to setting up a successful event. We've come up with a list of some adventure bachelor party ideas to take you away from the normal night of surly binge drinking: Adventure Sports to Spice up the Bachelor Party 1. Skydiving Skydiving is a great local event you can do in just an afternoon. Keep in mind that skydiving is not for everyone, and if you have a big group of guys attending, be sure to let them know in advance so your groomsmen can chicken out before you sign them up. While skydiving is fast and usually easy to find locally, it is also expensive. A tandem jump with a trained instructor can cost up to $500 per person. 2. Bungee Jumping If sky-diving isn't available because of location or other conflicts, bungee jumping might be a more realistic alternative. It's just as insane and costs are almost equivalent to skydiving. Be prepared and know for sure if you really want to jump off a cliff before you walk down the aisle. 3. Water Sports If you get weak in the knees at the thought of skydiving or bungee jumping, consider planning a day or weekend of water sports activities. A weekend at a nearby lake is perfect for summer or early fall bachelor festivities, and most of your groomsmen will partake in the waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing if you decide to rent a speed boat. Plus, those that aren't driving the boat can drink cocktails. That way, your groomsmen who can't stand the thought of an alcohol-free event will be satiated and so will you. 4. Mountain Climbing Probably not the best thing to plan if your groomsmen have no previous experience climbing. Still, for those who have the equipment and the wherewithal, mountain climbing is a fun and exhilarating option for a bachelor weekend. For city dwellers, a more accessible climbing excursion can be renting out a climbing facility for a Saturday or afternoon. 5. Ski Trip If you and your groomsmen are avid skiers, you'll agree that any excuse to get on the slopes is a good one. A winter wedding gives you just that chance to turn your bachelor party into a weekend ski trip. Don't have the budget for such a long getaway? Thanks to the boundless wilderness in the U.S., you can find ski resorts in most cities around the country. 6. Golf Trip If you're not a thrill-seeker or just love the game of golf, make the party into a weekend golf outing. Plan a trip to a stellar course somewhere around the world, and turn your bachelor party into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A weekend at Pebble Beach will be something you and your groomsmen won't forget any time soon. Those on a budget can simplify their plans by making a local trip, as most cities have outstanding courses. If golf is your game and theirs, give personalized putters as groomsmen gifts to all your golfing buddies. 7. Motor Sports The perfect event for the NASCAR lover. Options include renting out four-wheelers, go-karts, or even getting down and dirty on a real dirt Motocross track. Just don't forget to rent the helmets. And bring your NASCAR groomsmen gifts.

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

A Better Bachelor Party Guide

Want to ensure good groomsmen gifts this year? The key to gaining great groomsmen gifts' karma is to shine in the centerpiece of groomsman duty: the bachelor party. Indeed, when determining your overall groomsmen gifts grade, the bachelor party you put on to send your best friend off into married bliss will definitely be one of the most heavily weighted factors, so plan accordingly! To prepare a perfect bachelor party for your guest of honor, it pays to consider his personal preferences. While speed-dialing your favorite strippers and cashing in another pizza coupon may seem like the no-brainer route to bachelor party heaven, a little more thoughtful approach will actually score you more points with your engaged amigo. After all, you want more than the usual scratch tickets and six pack for groomsmen gifts, so set the tone by going all out and planning your friend a unique bash he'll be bragging about for years. Consider his favorite hobby. Whether it's fishing, golf, or stamp collecting, find a way to work his favorite pastime into the big event. An all-day fly-fishing lesson is a great elaborate gesture, but something as simple as having on-the-green dyed beer is a touch that brings something special to an otherwise stereotypical occasion. Who knows, he may return the favor with personalized putters as groomsmen gifts! Find an unconventional way to celebrate his "last day of freedom." Sure, a lap dance is the traditional send-off for a single man, but trust us, there are plenty of other things he won't be allowed to do once he's married. On that note, why not try celebrating the end of singlehood in a less contentious, and just as fulfilling route? Stay up all night, wear your shoes in the house, drink milk straight from the carton, howl like monkeys in the yard..you get the idea. You will still have a great rebellious time without worrying the bride is at home pouring kerosene on your groomsmen gifts. Location is everything. A bachelor party in a bar is so pedestrian, but setting up a grass shack on a golf course or creating a tiki bar in a childhood tree house just smacks of personal style and flavor. Nine times out of ten, location is what separates a history-making celebration from a tired clich, so choose wisely. You could end up receiving your groomsmen gifts on a beach in Hawaii rather than at the local dive bar. Skip the life-risking antics. Even more disturbing than the misogynistic use of women is the increasingly dangerous "hazing" activities a soon-to-be groom is forced to endure to prove his ready-for-marriage mettle. Jumping off bridges, drinking disgusting concoctions, being dragged out into the forest.it's all a bit harsh a price to pay for getting engaged, and we think it's time to reign it in. The fact is, activities like that aren't fun, and they don't honor the groom in the joyful, respectful spirit that makes for a good bachelor party. Remember, you want your groom around long enough to actually give you those groomsmen gifts and that heart-felt toast. Stock up on stories. Although we think life-threatening activities go too far, that doesn't mean we don't think a healthy amount of embarrassment on the Big Night is appropriate. A hearty roast (preferably accompanied by a gong) is a bachelor party staple, so be sure to summon all your most poignant, hilarious memories of the groom to share in mischievous fashion. After all, these motley anecdotes are what brought you close, and once he's married, he will savor the memories of such high-spirited single adventures. Writing them in a book and burying them to be dug up ten years from now is a special touch that guarantees a future reunion. Remember, no amount of groomsmen gifts compares to the promise of lasting post-marriage friendship!

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

Three Bachelor Parties on a Budget

The Best Groomsen Gifts? Cheap Bachelor Parties! Everyone is feeling the pinch from the dropping dow and miserable housing market. This doesn't mean you should wear potato sacks instead of tuxes or head to the dollar store for your groomsmen gifts. However, when it comes to your bachelor party, keep it simple and inexpensive. Here are three budget alternatives to the VIP bachelor party. Poker Night vs. Vegas Like a moth to a flame, grooms are lured to Sin City for their bachelor parties. There's nothing wrong with Vegas, but you won't miss out on anything by skipping it this year - except a ruthless hangover and empty pockets. Movies like Very Bad Things wrongly convinced men that nothing tops a Vegas bachelor party. Save your money (or win some more) by throwing a poker party at your best man's place. Lame, you say? Think again. Puff on stogies, put the World Poker Tour on TV, and get your game face on. Suggestion for groomsmen gifts: personalized poker sets. Movie to Watch: Rounders. Total savings by skipping Vegas: $500 on craps, $150 per night for a room on the strip, and don't forget to subtract the sum of what you intended to spend at the Vegas strip club. Wink, wink. Camp Out vs. Club When you were little, camping out was the ultimate activity - that is, until you learned about girls. If inclement weather forced you inside, you built forts out of bedsheets! Those were good times, weren't they? Wax nostalgia and take your guys on a camping trip. Pack the baked beans, s'mores, chili, and MoonShine. Groomsmen gifts: personalized hip flasks. Movie to Watch: It's a camp out, you know, in the wildness? If you must watch a movie, make it Stand By Me. Total savings by skipping the night club: $150 to rent out the VIP room, $20 per car for parking, and $9 per drink. BBQ on the Beach vs. South Beach Guys are heading to South Beach in droves to celebrate their last night of singledom. South Beach rivals Vegas as one of the hottest bachelor party destinations. Sure, Miami's white sandy beaches, swaying palms, and pulsing nightlife sound tempting, but when you come home, there's an angry fianc and zero account balance to deal with. Head to your local beach - it might not have white sand and turquoise waves, but so what? Grill up some burgers and brats or make your cookout competitive with a barbecue-sauce taste test. Groomsmen gifts: Grilling accessories. Movie to Watch: Weekend at Bernies. Total savings by skipping South Beach: $200 per night on an Ocean View Hotel Room, $100 for just about every South Beach meal, and $50 for an "I'm sorry," gift to your bride-to-be (many brides frown on South Beach bachelor parties). Now that we saved you a bundle, shop GroomStand for affordable groomsmen gifts and more.

Read more

read more
article-image
24th Nov 2021

The Groom's Guide to Bachelor Parties

Months before you find a tux, groomsmen gifts, or sometimes even before you crown the best man, your groomsmen will start bachelor party planning. Be honest: Does the thought of lap dances and body shots fill you with dread? Or have you been planning a salacious stag night since you turned thirteen? Here's how to get the bachelor party you really want. Guide your Groomsmen Despite popular belief, you're not at the complete mercy of your merciless groomsmen. Tell them your expectations and your fiance's code of conduct. Be direct and firm. Do you want a quiet poker night or a wild shindig where hopping a boat to Mexico is a definite possibility? If you want to break tradition, suggest thrilling alternatives to the sleazy bachelor parties of yore: paint balling, canoing, rock climbing or sky diving. Your gentlemen will be relieved that they don't have to engage in hazing acts better suited for college students. If you take the laissez-faire approach to bachelor party planning, your last hurrah could mean you get the heave-ho from your fiance. Who Invited that Guy? Give your guys some direction when it comes to the guest list. Make a list of undesirables: The guy most likely to pee his pants after drinking too much; your stern boss who, perhaps shouldn't see you make-out with a blow-up doll; your future father-in-law who won't be able to erase morally altered you from his memory....you get the idea. Limit invitations to trustworthy best buds. Avoid trouble makers and whistle blowers. Bachelor Party Dos and Don'ts: Do tell your bride-to-be about your bachelor party. This gives her license to unleash her wild inner child. Honesty is a great way to start off a marriage. A covert-ops bachelor party leads to Very Bad Things. Do celebrate. Even if it's just a small gathering with buddies and beer. As time passes it gets increasingly difficult to spend time with friends. Years later when you're sitting on the couch - paunch, receding hairline and all - you'll regret not celebrating your last night of singledom. Do break the code. You don't have to give your fiance a play-by-play account of everything that went down. But don't leave out the devilish details or her imagination will run wilder than a frat-boy at homecoming. Do survive the night. Get crazy. But not so crazy that you'll be jailed or end up on a milk carton. If you make it through stag night, give your guys our survival party badge tees as groomsmen gifts. Don't have it the night before. Sure, the night before your wedding is truly your last night as a single guy. But unless you want to stagger down the aisle hungover and reeking of booze, throw the party a week before your wedding. You'll need time for last-minute wedding duties, like shopping for groomsmen gifts. Do thank your best buds for the best bachelor party ever with groomsmen gifts from Groomstand.com!

Read more

read more
article-image
23th Nov 2021

Hey, I've Got Your Bachelor Party T-Shirt Right Here!

It's your big day, the day you've waited for your whole life! That's right, it's your bachelor party! What, you thought I was going to say it was your wedding day? C'mon, let's get our priorities straight. It's not like you aren't excited to get married, it's just that you are, at the moment, just a bit more excited about your bachelor party. It's your one day/night to live it up before you walk down the aisle, and it better be good with all the money you spent on groomsmen gifts. It's every man's right of passage, plain and simple. Now as you get ready for the big event, it's imperative that you have the right attire. You want to wear something that tells the whole world, that this is your last day of freedom. You want all the free drinks you can get and all the free lap dances that you can get - oops, did I say that out loud? With all this in mind, we've got the perfect thing - a t-shirt that says it all, the "Last Night of Freedom" bachelor party t-shirt. You won't find this t-shirt anywhere else, it's an exclusive at GroomStand.com! So if your boys don't step up and buy it for you, buy it for yourself, and while you're at it, get groomsmen gifts of these "Last Night of Freedom CREW" t-shirts for your guys. Consider it a gift from you to you and get ready for some serious attention. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Read more

read more
article-image
23th Nov 2021

Flask + Lighter = Las Vegas

Why is it that a flashy, Personalized Zippo Lighter and Flask gift set can bring a guy so much pleasure and excitement? Yet as far as groomsmen gifts go there's something about opening up this high-end, brushed finished dynamic duo that warms the cockles. If you really want to know why this happens, then I'll paint a picture for you. I remember my friend, Hasaan, from way back when. Hasaan had never touched a drink, didn't smoke, was a really good mama's boy that always took the high road. One day on a whim, a couple of buddies from work decided to do an overnighter in Vegas. Now good old Hasaan had never been to Vegas. He'd always been intrigued by the photos and the bright lights of the city and was really hoping he could tag along. Now I knew this was a bad idea. This sweet natured kid was going to get a 36 hour crash course in debauchery at its finest and I didn't want to be responsible. Hasaan assured me that his values and morals were impenetrable. Yeah...right...that was until he realized that if he sat down to gamble they didn't charge for drinks. So he sat down to experiment with the one-armed bandits and a beautiful girl wearing next to nothing sidled up to him and asked him if he'd like a drink. "How much is a scotch?" - "It's on the house, honey." Well, that was the beginning of what led to a photograph I took at five am that would have killed this kid's poor mother had she seen it. I wish you could have seen the photograph. In it you'd have seen Hasaan filling a Las Vegas flask (that he bought with his gambling earnings) with free booze from the casino bar, while a three quarter burned cigarette smoldered from between his lips. His eyes were half closed, bloodshot, but he had a strange and peaceful smile on his face. It was one that would warm the cockles...just like this excellent groomsmen gift. Technorati Tags: groomsmen gifts, guy gifts, zippo lighters

Read more

read more