Tipping Point - Gratuity Advice for Grooms

The time-honored tradition of tipping can often raise a lot of questions and debates. Although tipping service providers is typically regarded as a distinctively American practice, the act was actually an Old World tradition starting back in the 1700s (or even earlier) where tavern workers were given ñdrink moneyî by patrons so that they may also have a tankard of beer at nightÍs end. Tipping in America did not actually take hold until after the Civil War when opinions about gifting to ñinferiorsî were less controversial. Today it seems everyone has an opinion about how large or little of a gratuity to leave. While it is widely accepted that 15 to 20% is the norm when tipping the waiter or waitress at a sit-down restaurant, it seems that the specific percentage left on a tip isnÍt necessarily correlated to the serverÍs performance. Research has shown that customers tip more out of a fear of social disapproval than for actual good service. As a customer in the wedding industry, you are in a position to be tipping all sorts of service providers. At least for the sake of your wallet, letÍs just hope itÍs a limited, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Budget ahead for tipping on your wedding services, that way youÍre not surprised that you spent up to 20% or more than expected. IÍve compiled a list of suggestions on how much to tip when settling the bill. Remember, for many service providers, the tip is often considered by his or her employer as part of overall compensation _ even though it is really just the ñpotentialî for compensation. If you know what youÍre getting into and tip wisely, yet fairly, youÍll certainly have enough cash left over for awesome groomsmen gifts and best man gifts. Barber and Manscaper: Even if youÍre a low-maintenance guy, you may be getting a few extra services for your wedding day. The expected tip at the end of your appointment is 15 _ 25 percent, depending on the quality of service. Wedding Delivery and Set-up Staff: Tip $5 to $10 per person for those workers who are delivering important items to the location of your wedding. This can include delivery persons for the wedding cake, flowers, chair and table rental, etc. Wedding Ceremony Officiant: Make a significant donation to your church or synagogue if your officiant is part of that organization. That money will be considered a donation to the church and not a tip to the person. Nondenominational officiants, not related to a church, do not require a donation because you are being charged for their time _ however a $50 t $100 tip is common. Wedding Ceremony and/or Reception Musicians: If you think your musicians did a great job during your wedding, tip them about $20 _ 25 dollars per person in addition to their set fees. Also, if you have hired a DJ to play tunes all night, he will also be pleased with a tip for good service. Usually this will be more than for the ceremony site; heÍll be working more hours. Wedding Photographer/Videographer: Although it is not required, many couples tip their wedding photographer (and assistants) as a thank you and, perhaps, way to ensure the photos turn out great. Wedding Reception Staff: Employees who are working your wedding event, such as the banquet manager, servers, bartenders and such, will require tips, so pull out your money clip. However, look at your contract with the facility to see if the gratuity is already included and, if not, tip 15 to 20 percent on the total bill. Limo Driver: Standard tips are 10 to 15% of the fair, go up to 20% if the driver helps with extra, heavy or unwieldy bags. Tattoo Artists: If you head straight to the tattoo shop to get a ñMr. & Mrs.î tat, tip least 10% to 20% of the bill, depending on the difficulty and amount of work performed.

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How to Pick Your Groomsmen and Best Man

“How to pick your groomsmen,” we’ve talked about this sometimes touchy issues before on https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand But, in the scheme of wedding planning for a guy, it’s a pretty big deal, maybe one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll be charged with (along with selecting groomsmen gifts for them), so it’s well worth rehashing and elaborating upon. Long before the wedding day, it’s time to start mulling over who you’d like to be your best man, groomsmen and ushers. Identifying the family members and buddies you want to support on your big day is an important decision for many reasons. The first is you’ll be creating memories that will be shared with everyone in the wedding party until the proverbial “until death do you part.” Before you start making your list, check with your fiancée and follow her lead on numbers of people you’ll need and when on the calendar to ask them. Traditionally, the number of groomsmen matches the number of bridesmaids. So, for a small and intimate wedding you may just have one or two while for a mega-event, the numbers of bridesmaids and groomsmen sometimes reach into the dozens. According to various statistics on the internet, the average number of groomsmen is four and the world record for the largest number of groomsmen is 47. Whether “too many” or “too few,” it is rare that a groom agrees with the bride that the proposed number is “just right.” Some men find it intimidating to request a favor of such magnitude from so many men while other guys have trouble narrowing down the field of friends. Unlike the bride, a man also has to consider that for larger weddings, a number of ushers are also par for the course. The standard ration for this job role is one usher per 50 guests. Before impulsively asking every guy you’ve ever grabbed a beer to join your wedding day roster, take time to consider who is meaningful in your life, who will be meaningful in your life and who will take the responsibilities seriously. Here are some good places to start your recruiting: Brothers: Brothers are typically very close; this is why the marrying brother almost always asks the other brother – the alleged role model -- to be his best man. It’s also okay to have more than one brother be your best man; we would want anyone to be in the awkward position of leaving a brother out of this experience. Stepbrothers, especially if you’ve grown up together, will be another natural choice for your lineup of groomsmen. Sometimes in a group of brothers, there is no jockeying for position (rare, I know). In this event, have them flip a coin to determine who is best man – and if they still can’t decide, let them know their groomsmen gift will be better! Brothers of Fiancé: In terms of proper etiquette, including your bride-to-be’s brothers in your wedding is a thoughtful gesture. Not only is it a good way to get your marriage off on a good start from your bride’s point of view, it gives you the chance to build a stronger relationship with your new, legally-sanctioned sibling and welcome him into your family. Friends: For those guys with just few close confidants, it’s obvious that these should be your groomsmen. However, especially in situations where the bride has a huge entourage of bridesmaids, it can be more difficult to pick and choose among other “layers” of male relationships. Whether you know the buddy from pre-school or university or have connected more recently on the job, the biggest checkmark for the guys you select is the bond you share. Other Family: Cousins, nephews and other family members, even distant ones, can also make fine picks for your groomsmen, ushers and other wedding party members. Younger male family members can be made to feel “grown up” by being charged with special roles such as ring bearer, junior groomsmen or helpers at the reception. Remember to thank these men for supporting you through the years and on your big day with a special choice in groomsmen gifts. Your best man, groomsmen, ushers and ring bearer will especially appreciate personalized gifts for groomsmen – these groomsmen gifts show that you’ve though specifically of them. At https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand, there are many best man gift ideas that will convey your thanks for years to come.

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Limo Renting Tips for Grooms

If the bride has tasked you with hiring a limousine for your wedding, you can’t let her down. Nothing would be worse than pulling up to the chapel in some dilapidated jalopy of a limo. Well, actually, it could be worse; you could get stood up with no transportation at all if you choose an unreliable provider. Don’t let the bride down, get this job done – consider it a gift to the bride from the groom (but don’t cheap out, you’ll still need to get her a real gift) Before you start stressing out, we have some great tips that will keep the wheels from falling off the wonderfulness of your wedding day. Get referrals. This is one time to pay extra care to what other people think. Inquire among friends, family and co-workers; get the scoop on what limo services are well worth the expense and which ones to avoid. If you are not able to get a personal recommendation, at least check with the Better Business bureau before you book a reservation to ensure that the company doesn’t have a large number of complaints. Book early. Line up your ride well before the event – definitely not the day before, guys! If your big day is planned in the spring, you’ll want to get a contract signed on your limo service at least several months in advance. With so many weddings, proms and other formal affairs this time of year, it can sometimes be hard to track down and reserve the vehicle you want, especially if you live in a smaller market. Consider limo size. When choosing a limo, you’ll want to take into consideration the numbers of people who will be getting a lift. Bigger is better here. Limo capacity doesn’t take into account all the other intrusive factors of a wedding – large, poofy dresses, mountains of flowers, wedding gifts, groomsmen gifts, best man gifts and other space-hogging gear. So, in reality a 10 person limo might only hold six or seven. Get a contract. As previously hinted to, it is important to get a contract between you and the service provider. Not only will this outline the price and hours of service, it should also describe exactly what car will be providing your service and how emergencies, breakdowns and other contingencies will be handled. Other legal issues. Ask to see documentation that the limo service is insured in the event of personal or property damage while you are being transported. Also check to see what the company’s cancellation policy is in the event that you have to back out at the last minute due to an emergency or (heaven forbid) cold feet. For a small fee, some providers will offer cancellation insurance. Pre-drive the route. Before the wedding, drive the route from your home to the church to the reception (along with any other places you may need to go in the limo). If possible, try to make this dry-run happen at the same time of day so you can properly gage traffic and determine how much time to allot. Stock the limo: Make sure your limo has all the “must-haves” for your group including snacks, disposable cameras, a great play list and other practical things like engraved flasks and portable personalized coolers (both of which make great groomsmen gifts, by the way). So, you probably didn’t realize all the little nuisances of booking a limo. Hopefully, my list of tips will help future grooms make the best choice when planning for their big day. Have you ever run into any problems renting a car for hire or a limo? Share your tips for making the process smoother in the comment section below.

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Worried About Mixing & Mingling at Your Wedding?

Looking forward to marrying your fiancée, but not so excited about the public nature of the wedding festivities. Perhaps you’re a bit of a hermit or get nervous around crowds of people; this can be a problematic during the many social events leading up to and during the wedding. Good manners for the groom don’t just involve the traditional tasks like buying personalized flask filled with and make a fool of yourself, relax and worry less – we have some good tips to help alleviate your pre-wedding anxiety. Pre-wedding events: Holding a get-together before the big day allows you to get to know your guests better. For weekend weddings, planning events to fill some of the time between the rehearsal dinner and actual wedding is a good idea. You can host a golf tournament, a picnic style brunch or a sight-seeing tour so that out-of-town guests can see more of the city. Because you’ve now made some memories with these people, you’ll have a guaranteed topic of conversation at the reception. Hello my name is: The use of name tags give you one less thing to worry about, now you instantly can recall everyone’s name! It can also be a good idea to have guests write an extra nugget of information under their name, such as “cousin of groom” or “college friend of bride”. If room is available, the name tags can also have a fun triva fact such as “marathon runner,” “single,” or “just got back from a ski trip.” While these facts will help you start a conversation, you can pass off it off as an icebreaker for everyone. Have a task in mind: If idle chit-chat makes you sweat and feel sick to your stomach, consider incorporating a “task” into the conversation. For example, you could have them sign a guest book or pose for a photo. This strategy brings a purpose to your mingling and gives you a valid excuse to move on to the next table if you begin to get nervous. Team up: If your new bride is the outgoing one in the relationship, team up and let her take the lead in socializing. She can make the introductions and keep the conversation rolling along; you can jump in whenever you feel comfortable. Hopefully the reassurance of having her there will make you more relaxed and you’ll have plenty to say. Take a break: If your anxiety level gets too high during the reception, allow yourself to take a five minute break. Slip away to the restroom or take a walk out into the lobby for a quieter change of pace and chance to press your reset button. At GroomStand.com we have one less thing for you to worry about – and that is finding awesome groomsmen gifts. With a wide array of classic gifts like engraved cufflinks and personalized beer mugs – plus unique gifts for groomsmen like personalized man cave signs – you don’t have to fret about finding a conversation piece to give the guys who are standing by your side on the wedding day. Have you ever been at a loss for words in a social setting or totally stuck your foot in your mouth? Let us know your stories and how you overcame the situation in the comments below!

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Big Bucks for Big Name Bands at Wedding

About this time last year, I read about a groom who thought he was hiring a music superstar to perform at his wedding and ended up falling prey to a scam. Apparently Brian Valentine, a hot shot executive at Amazon, thought he had booked Tom Petty, the artist behind songs like “Refugee” and “Free Fallin,” to rock out at his wedding reception. The performance was going to be a gift to his fiancée, a major fan of the band that rose to fame in the 1980s. After finding a website that books these types of music transactions, the groom negotiated a price of $330,000 for the performance and wired over half of the funds as a down payment. When the details started to get fuzzy and bogus emails started showing up, the groom contacted Petty’s management company directly only to find out that he had been defrauded. In the end, the FBI was involved and the bad guys were busted – and, if you can believe it, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers showed up as a surprise anyway to play at the wedding reception! Happily ever after ending! So, have you ever thought about hiring a famous band for your wedding reception? It would be a dream come true to have the latest chart-topping artist or a long-time favorite perform for you and your guests. It would be a personal concert without any of the hassles of waiting in line, sitting back too far from the stage or dealing with smoky venues and other nuisances. However, you’re going to need a big wallet and plenty of advance notice! There are many things to consider and it's actually pretty unlikely you'll get a "famous" band to play at your party, even paying their customary fee. Unless you are a celebrity yourself. For example, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day played at Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg’s wedding and Usher played at Michael Jordan’s no-expense-sparred wedding a few months ago. When hiring a big-name band, you’ll be responsible for all of the “riders” in the contract. This includes thousands of dollars for a "hospitality" rider – those rock stars need their flask full of whisky, energy drinks and finger foods. Lighting, sound equipment, stagehands, first class travel and professional drivers to haul them to and fro are also factored into the fee – as is, lodging (and we don’t think a La Quinta is going to cut it). After surfing around the web, I started to understand just how expensive it would be to hire a hit making band. Cheap Trick goes for about $75,000 while the Foo Fighters are estimated to be in the $400,000 plus range. If this isn’t famous enough for you, Metallica can be had for an estimated $1 million show. Plus expenses. Plus production. Have an endless money clip? The Rolling Stones goes for $2 million minimum. Not only would hiring a famous band be an awesome surprise for your bride (as long as she likes the music), a thrill for the guests, and a gift for the groomsmen and yourself! Hire the band you and your buddies loved to listen to in the glory days! Too bad the original Van Halen wouldn’t get back together for my wedding. Of course, you’ll want pass out great wedding favors (and groomsmen gifts) if having a “concert” at your wedding reception. Our sterling-silver guitar picks make awesome best man gifts and groomsmen gifts and can be personalized to your exact specifications. Another idea for cool groomsmen gifts are personalized beer mugs to commemorate the occasion. Unlike big public venues, your cozy concert can serve up drinks in glass beer mugs – really the only way to drink beer! So, if you had all the money in the world, who would you hire to play at your wedding reception? Let us know in the comments below.

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You Can't Dodge the Bullet Forever - Wild West Weddings

Have a hankerin’ to get hitched in the Wild West? Today, in several venues around the country you can plan a wedding with the rustic vibe of life in the untamed 19th century. And, there is no threat highwaymen dropping in to steal the wedding gifts or the bride’s Pa breaking up the ceremony with his sawed off shotgun. A guy really had to have true grit and be in true love to tie the knot back during this time; most men where perfectly happy to be footloose and traveling the trails in search of found fortune. But, when a man was ready to settle down on his own piece of land, he’d need a good woman to cook up good grub, keep his shirts starched and listen to his grand plans of raising (or rustling) up a herd of cattle and a family before one day riding off into the sunset. So where’s a fitting location to get hitched? Well, Boothill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas is happy to host weddings and will transport you back to the untamed times of the 1800s. A large stagecoach makes the perfect backdrop for your vows and the bride can even rent a prairie-style wedding dress. Old Trail Town in Cody, Wyoming is another popular spot for couples who want to add some centuries-past style to their ceremony. This spot looks like a ghost town but is actually a collection of historic buildings that were lovingly transported from the abandoned nearby hills. The 1890 River Saloon, a nice spot to say “I do,” is decked out with the original flooring and bullet holes. Folks in California can head over to Knott’s Berry Farm to seal the deal with a Wild West theme; pick from a menu of era-specific options including stagecoaches rides and faux robberies. So, what should you give as groomsmen gifts if planning a Wild West wedding? One of our favorite gifts for groomsmen is a steak branding iron, especially if you’re serving up some ribeyes or T-bones for guests to enjoy at the reception. At GroomStand.com, you can find steak irons in a wide assortment of styles including single initial, multiple letter and pictorial designs. Another fine choice in best man gifts and groomsmen gifts is a personalized poker set. It’s nearly impossible to envision after-hours entertainment during this era without thinking of a bunch of rowdy men sitting around a saloon table playing poker. This idea is definitely worth recreating for your bachelor party! Don’t forget to give the bride’s parents a small token of your appreciation to be included into the family. It’s a well-known fact that in-laws don’t like outlaws, so a thank you gift that shows your domesticated side will be a winner. Try a nice personalized photo frame featuring you and the bride or a set of our photo coasters. Also, in addition to procuring groomsmen gifts, you’ll want to rustle up something respectable enough to wear on the Big Day. A western-themed wedding does not require a tuxedo; in fact you probably shouldn’t wear one! Try a pair of cowboy boots, a long duster coat or frock-style coat and a string tie – and don’t forget the hat! For the groom, a pair of personalized cufflinks will dress up the casual style without looking too fussy. GroomStand.com has a huge selection of engraved cufflinks and novelty cufflinks that will fit with whatever wedding day attire you select. What are your ideas for a Wild West or modern-day western wedding? Please share in the comments below.

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30 Tips for Crashing Weddings

Crashing weddings has become a sport with some guys. If you havenÍt heard the term or seen the movie, Wedding Crashers, the phrase means attending the wedding reception of a total stranger without an invitation. Crashing weddings is reasonably easy; all you have to do is get out of your sweat pants and put on a sports jacket, grab a few friends, and cruise the ballrooms of swanky hotels or well-known wedding venues on a Saturday night looking for wedding crasher heaven _ an open bar, endless buffet and a bevy of bridesmaids and female guests without dates. You donÍt even have to bring a wedding gift; but, of course, it would be thoughtful if you did! Technically it is not illegal to crash a wedding; however, if it is on private property, you would be trespassing and may be asked to leave if discovered. And, making a nuisance of yourself anywhere could be considered disorderly conduct. Read our rules below on crashing weddings, and, if you dare, try it out. But, really weÍre just having some fun here. Never leave a fellow crasher behind. Never use your real name. Never confess. Blend in by standing out. If anyone asks, youÍre a distant relative of a dead cousin. Offer a toast, with a wine glass in hand, to the bride and groom. If you get outed, leave calmly. DonÍt run. If anyone asks what you gave as a wedding gift, say it is a big surprise being delivered when they get back from the honeymoon. Bring your own emergency rations in a flask, but donÍt over imbibe. A drunken crasher gets caught. Create a buzz word for an emergency situation that your fellow crashers will know. Never overtly flirt with the bride. Always ñbe thereî for the bridesmaids. At the ceremony, sit in the 5th row. ItÍs close enough that youÍll look like an invited guest. If anyone asks, you forgot your invitation in a rush to get to the wedding on time. Make sure all the women there know youÍve just suffered a terrible breakup. Get choked up during the service, youÍll appear sensitive. Always juggle the bride with the groom, do not speak to them while they are together. Dance with the brideÍs grandmother, but not her mother. Work into conversation, ñI made a mint in real estate, but can money really buy happiness?î Keep interactions with parents of the bride to a minimum. Hungry? Tables farthest from the kitchen always get served first. Stay clear of the wedding planner who might recognize you from another wedding. If asked, youÍre from out of town. Large weddings are easier to crash than small weddings. Dress for the occasion, with cufflinks, a tie and the works _ and always use your best manners. Never sit in the back row; youÍll appear to be up to no good. Always let your fellow wedding crashers introduce themselves. Carry an assortment of place cards and make one for the table, if needed. Know when to abandon ship if the crash starts to fail. And, to repeat, never EVER use your real name!

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You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Regardless of whether you love ïem or hate ïem, we have another bride and groom dancing video gone viral on Youtube.com. Since the video sharing site was created in 2005, people have uploaded every kind of clip imaginable, from laughing babies to firework fails. One type of video that always seems to go viral is choreographed dances at a wedding, either by the bride and groom or by the groom and all his groomsmen or the bride and all her bridesmaid. WeÍve yet to see a video of a preacher moonwalking yet. Post to the comments if you find one! This video features a cute bride and groom in very causal wedding attire, heÍs wearing khaki shorts and an untucked button-down and sheÍs wearing a white sundress and bare feet! With guests looking on the newlyweds start off their ñfirst danceî to a traditional slow song. Everything seems normal; the pair is making ga-ga eyes at each other and seem to be whispering sweet nothings. But, then it happens. The music changes to a medley of shoes, ñEverybody Dance Nowî by C+C Music Factory, the seemingly mandatory wedding dance song ñThrillerî by Michael Jackson, ñItÍs Not Unusualî by Tom Jones, ñFootlooseî by Kenny Loggins and more. It was a crowd please and the dancing duo seems to be having a really great time. In the video notes, the bride and groom mention what a fun experience it was to choreograph and practice the dance before the big day; it really took some of the stress out of all the wedding planning. So, there you go. Another day, another viral wedding video. I think some couples seem to find it mandatory to come up with something they can video and upload to Youtube or Vine. If you are more of a private person and putting yourself out there on social media isnÍt your thing, no worries! You can still have a great wedding experience without trying to get as many hits on your YouTube channel as possible. If you do want to make a video, make it memorable! DonÍt try to make a carbon copy of someone elseÍs idea, be creative and let it reflect your personality as a couple. Grooms, if you have all the groomsmen doing a dance for the ladies, hook them up with some dashing groomsmen gives like engraved cufflinks, funky argyle socks or fedora hats. Great dance routines need great accessories! Even one of our very distinguished groomsmen gifts, an extra-long brass and mahogany shoe horn, could be used like a baton! After showing off your moves, youÍre probably going to be thirsty. First, rehydrate with cold water waiting in one of our personalized canteens. Then feel free to take some sips of the hard stuff out of an engraved flask, you deserve it! Both of these items also make welcomed gifts for groomsmen. Long after you wedding reception these best man and groomsmen gifts will be used at many events, from tailgating and camping to keeping thirst quenched at the gym. So, what do you think of choreographic a dance to perform at your wedding. ñYes,î ñMaybe,î or ñNo Way.î Let us know in the comments below.

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Why Knot Ask Her Dad & Buy a Ring

Have you been dating for months, years or (gasp) even a decade? If you think you have finally found “the one” and are ready to settle down, getting married is the next normal step in most cultures. However, getting hitched, tying the knot, acquiring a ball and chain can be an unnerving, if not downright scary, endeavor. But, one that if undertaken with cool, calm collectedness and a bit of preparation can lead to years and years of happiness with your girlfriend; just ask a long-time married couple that you know. Guys, planning a proposal and ultimately getting married starts with one thing; and no, that’s not a couple shots from your personalized flask of whiskey. The first think you’ll want to do, if you want to get off to a good start with the future in-laws is to ask permission from your sweetheart’s father. I know, I know; this sounds hopelessly old-fashioned and I’m sure you’re a bit worried that he’ll not receive the request with a big smile on his face and a joyful slap your back. Even though the tradition of asking the father for a bride’s hand in marriage started hundreds of years ago, is still relevant today – especially if you hope to have a great relationship with her dad (perhaps enjoy years of golfing, fishing, and taking on fix-it-up projects around the house). Even if your bride-to-be’s parents aren’t expecting such a modern guy as yourself to kowtow to old rituals, they will be touched by the gesture of respect! Earn brownie points and maybe even receive better wedding gifts from her folks! Another detail of planning the proposal is selecting an engagement ring. Guys, please note that the engagement ring and wedding ring are two different animals. The engagement right is the “big bling,” traditionally with a large diamond, that you present as a gift for the bride upon asking a girl to marry. The wedding band is exchanged during the vows on the wedding day and can be as simple as a plain gold band or one that is encrusted with precious stones. Looking for an engagement ring isn’t as straightforward as buying groomsmen gifts; there are several important things to remember. First, before you hit the jewelry store, learn what diamond ratings mean so that you are making the most educated purchase possible. That being said, the rating doesn’t necessarily indicate beauty or the “wow” factor, so make sure that you see the ring in person before purchasing. If purchasing the ring as a surprise, there are several ways to find out what style your sweetie might like the best. Keep your ears and eyes open to capture any favorable comments she might make about friends rings; those casual remarks make great hints. You can also window shop for rings with the hint of maybe “someday” popping the question. You can also ask her mother, sister or close friend to accompany you on the shopping trip. Whatever you do, make sure that the store has a return or exchange policy that you are comfortable with just in case the bride doesn’t long the ring as much as you hoped. Are you planning to ask your girlfriend’s father for her hand in marriage? What would you do if he said “no”? Let us know in the comments below

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Pros and Cons of Eloping

Have you ever thought about running away in the middle of the night, with only a small suitcase and your beautiful bride in tow? Not having an over-the-top wedding does sound like the perfect gift for the groom! TodayÍs culture has been drifting toward huge mega-weddings, with months and months (if not well over a year) of planning, hundreds of guests in attendance and thousands and thousands of dollars spent. ItÍs enough to make a guy guzzle an entire engraved flask! If you feel overwhelmed by the expectations of a modern big wedding, eloping is still a viable option. However, youÍll want to weigh the pros and cons of eloping as well as familiarize yourself with the destinations requirements for marriage before you hit the road to tie the knot. Pros: Save money: The average cost of a traditional wedding is upwards of $28,000 dollars and many weddings cost exponentially more. Really there is no limit to the amount of money you can spend on getting married. There are quite a few alternatives to consider that will save you big bucks that range from just getting married down at the Justice of the Peace for the just the cost of a marriage license and witness to flying off to a resort destination that can offer a wedding package for a fraction of the price youÍd spend at home on a big wedding. Plus, there are always the drive-thru chapels in Las Vegas. Save Time and Headaches: Traditional weddings can take a year or more to plan; venues have to be secured, photographers booked, entertainment and caterers interviewed. Elopements donÍt need all of these ñextrasî and can be arranged in a matter of days. For busy couples that can't afford to put in the manpower for a big wedding, an elopement can save the day while saving their sanity. Avoid Awkward Situations: Eloping works especially well for a second marriage because many awkward situations can be avoided. Problems like inviting ex-spouses, blending families who may not be supportive and other sensitive issues (like should we accept wedding gifts) can be sidestepped with a private elopement. Later, after the fact, a post-wedding reception can always be held if you change your mind about including family. Cons: Excluding Family: No matter how diplomatic you try to be, there will probably be backlash from family and friends who what to be involved in your Big Day. While these folks may not approve of an elopement, it is best to explain your reasons for doing so rather than just dashing off and leaving them in the dark. Wedding Regret: While other friends may be looking fondly over their wedding albums on landmark anniversaries, youÍll not have the same sort of traditional memories filled with dozens of bridesmaids and groomsmen. You certainly donÍt need the formal wedding mementos to have a long and happy marriage, just communicate with each other before you elope to makes sure neither one of you is feeling pressured to ñrun awayî and ditch the big wedding experience. Feeling Rushed: The flipside to spending multiple months planning a conventional ceremony, throwing together an elopement can make you feel rushed. What will you wear (guys, we suggest dressing up with engraved cufflinks), where will you find an officiant, how will you manage to slip away from work. Even with an elopement, there are still many details that can make you feel frenzied if youÍre trying to pull it off the union in a jiffy.

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Millions of Wedding Guests Who Love Football

Guys, do you think more people attend weddings or professional football games? It’s the trivia question of the day! Let’s look at weddings first. According to various sources including the Bridal Association of America’s Wedding Report and the Wedding Market Database the wedding industry continues to grow at a fast rate. Data obtained from these sources show that there are 2.4 million weddings per year in the United States and the average number of guests per wedding is 173. If you do the math, this is an incredibly large number of annual wedding guests – more than 400 million! And, with only around 316 million US citizens currently alive according to the US Census Bureau’s population clock, it means some of us are going to more than one wedding a year. I feel sort of left out because I didn’t get invited to a single wedding during the last 12 months! So with hundreds of millions of friends, family and co-workers are getting dressed up, buying wedding gifts and watching some couple say their respective “I do’s,” you can see how the “guest” part of the wedding industry is huge; so huge it’s ginormous. To put it into perspective for you sports-loving guys, the annual in-stadium attendance for all 32 NFL football teams is only just a bit above 16 million. There is really no comparison between 400 million wedding guests to 16 million paying NFL football fans, but we do know that many of those wedding guests just have to be football fans. And, no doubt in your own wedding, a nice percentage of the guests is going to be NFL fans themselves. Groomstand.com has some great ways to score big with the gridiron fans in your wedding party. Football Bachelor Parties: If your bachelor party is happening during football season, drop the hint to organizers that you’d love it to involve your favorite sport. Score tickets to the big game and hold a tailgate party out in the parking lot complete with grilling, beer drinking and classic parking lot game playing like bean bags and horse shoe. Hook up the guys with personalized football shaped tumblers for super-cool groomsmen gifts. Football Groomsmen Cakes: While the bride gets her traditional tiered cake, it has become customary for the groom to get his own cake that reflects his personality. Search the internet for “football groomsmen cakes” and you’ll uncover loads of sugary wonders that resemble everything from football stadiums and gridirons to signature jerseys and helmets in the team colors. Football Team Wedding Colors: If your bride is a football fan herself, she may be on board for this ultimate gesture and gift for the groom—to officially name the wedding colors to match a favorite franchise’s colors – or to wear jerseys instead of formal wedding wear! Silver and black, purple and gold, black and orange – so many options for bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen bow ties, flower arrangements, balloons and other decorations. Football Groomsmen Gifts: If your friends love football as much as you, football themed groomsmen gifts are a winning choice. From personalized football stadium signs to kick up the spirit in a media room or office space to our manly NFL fan favorite bracelets that let him show off his affiliation 24/7, GroomStand.com has a wide range of football sports gifts for groomsmen. So, are you planning to incorporate your love of football into the Big Day? Let us in on your sure-to-score-big ideas in the comments below. Thanks!

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No-Fail Foil Way to Wrap Groomsmen Gifts

During the months leading up to the wedding, there are plenty of ñhoney-doî tasks that the bride may ask you to step up and take over. Better get used to it. Some of these chores may be items on her to-do list, while others may be responsibilities that were yours to start with _ only you were oblivious. For example, did you know that YOU, the groom, are supposed to shop for the best man gift and all of the groomsmen gifts. Yes, thatÍs right. Even though the bride is most likely the super shopper in the relationship, able to run faster than your speeding heart and leap tall turnstiles in order to be first in line at a sale, hunting out and buying groomsmen gifts is your job. There is an obvious reason why the groom is put in charge of this check off box on the wedding to-do list. ItÍs not a punishment or even a preview that you have to take over all household shopping in the future. Instead, itÍs just that you know the best man and groomsmen better than her, plain and simple. I mean, would you really want to select the bridesmaid gifts? And, if you were part of the groomÍs wedding party, would you really get a warm fuzzy from some random groomsmen gift your buddyÍs fianc_ picked out? We think the answer to both question is a resounding ñnoî! We also have other news you may not like to hear and that is you should probably also take charge of wrapping the groomsmen gifts. However, never fear. If you are present-wrapping challenged guy, you love this news. A man named Martin Grix recently invented a fool-proof paper that is so easy to use that even a... well, a man like you, could use it. DonÍt take offense at this dumbed-down version of present wrapping, simply take it for what it is _ a genius, super-fast way to wrap gifts for any occasion without the need of scissors, tapes, or a Ph.d. in bows and embellishments. The wrap is actually colorfully printed foil with red or blue stars that is rolled up on a handled dispenser that is ready to accommodate your clumsy man paws. Even if you have an odd-shaped gift like one of our personalized baseball bats, the Man Wrap will come to the rescue. All you do is roll out a length of the foil and plop your groomsmen gift down in the center; wrap the foil around the gift and smash in the sides to secure. Voila, your gift is wrapped and ready to impress the recipient with both your sentiments and your skills. Check out this short video that demonstrates how Man Wrap can solve all your pre-wedding, gift-wrapping problems. The guy is able to wrap up five items in a mere 60 seconds. It takes longer to get up from the lazy boy to go retrieve a cold beer out of the fridge. Now if youÍre sold on the Man Wrap, the bad news is that we donÍt sell it (yet). It looks like itÍs primarily a UK product. But, hey, you can always raid the kitchen drawer for the ReynoldÍs Wrap. If you still donÍt know what youÍll wrap up for groomsmen gifts, donÍt worry. GroomStand.com has loads of best man gifts, groomsmen gifts, ring bearer gifts, gifts for fathers and gifts for virtually everyone on your list. The cool thing is that you can shop from the comfort and convenience of your own home, whenever you like. We ship the loot straight to your door. You wrap in foil. You pop open a beer to celebrate having the job done.

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