History of the Honeymoon

The post-wedding vacation that we have all come to know as the honeymoon was not always part of wedding tradition. Many sources report that the history of the honeymoon lies somewhere in northern Europe, where for a month’s time after a wedding, the newlyweds would drink a wine beverage called “mead.” Mead is made from fermented honey and this is where historians say that the “honey” portion of honeymoon is derived. The time period (a month) was also referred to in this culture as a “moon,” as typically that was the length of the moon phase cycle. Honeymoons were first related to travel during the bride-by-capture era. Grooms would abduct their brides for a period of one month and take them into hiding. Friends and family were assured of her safe return. However, it was important that no one should find them during this honeymoon period – although, often, the bride’s family would gout out searching. It was the goal of the groom to have her pregnant before the time they were discovered. In the 1500s and through the Victorian era (late 1800s), the honeymoon began to be seen as the romantic holiday that it is today. During the Victorian era, the bride and groom didn’t get to see each other much during the engagement and the honeymoon was the first time to be alone together. This is how they became known as romantic trips away from the hustle and bustle of life. During the end of the 19th century, “bridal tours” became popular and were generally given as a gift to the newlywed’s from the groom’s family. Thanks to this generosity, the newly married pair would travel on a trip that lasted from two weeks to several months. With the rise of the industrial era, more and more middle class newlyweds had the opportunity to go on excursions that were once only reserved for the elite. Upon the arrival of trains, planes and automobiles, newlyweds were able to expand the distance of their honeymoon and head out on more exotic trips. This is truly the start of the honeymoon as we know it today. Today, locations such as Las Vegas, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Disney World in Florida and many Caribbean islands are top honeymoon spots. More than 1.4 million US couples go on honeymoons each year; spending an average of $4,466 (luxury travelers spend nearly $10,000). The average honeymoon lasts 8 days, excluding travel time and is booked an average of 4 months before the wedding date. If you have a honeymoon in your future, GroomStand.com has some great gear that will make travel easier. From personalized luggage tags to make your black bag look different from the next to leather passport covers that keep all your travel documents in order, many of these travel accessories also make purposeful and appreciated groomsmen gifts. Other travel-related groomsmen gifts include toiletry cases and mini-bar to-go kits filled with everything needed to set up a good drink on a trip (you add the liquor!).

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How To Mediate Wedding Conflict

Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience. And, we’re not just talking about finding a venue, planning a reception and purchasing best man gifts and groomsmen gifts. Although these tasks can all add more stress to the occasion. Often, stress brings out the worst in people. If you find that an issue has escalated and there are members of your wedding party who are at odds with your spouse-to-be, an in-law, a parent, friend or even service provider, we have some tips to help you bring back order to the day. Even if you aren’t one of the people in conflict, these useful tips can help you mediate first-hand most any situation that has gone awry. Do your homework. Prior to attacking the problem, listen to both sides of the issue and find out if there is a history or back story to the argument. Is the dispute a ongoing, chronic problem between two people – like someone with an elephant mind who’s not going to let a little mishap from years ago be forgotten. If it’s not a long standing issue, the chances are just that stress has caused one person to get on the nerves of another. Before you approach the parties to negotiate, or if you are one of the people in conflict, think about what you want to say before you open your mouth. Write it out. Put a pen to paper and write a solution to the problem. By the way, we have a nice bamboo pen set that is perfect to give as groomsmen gifts. Your written solutions can be sent to both parties simultaneously so that you maintain an neutral, impartial position. Always try to be fair to both sides, especially where two different families are involved. Never criticize or insult. Think about how you would want to be treated if you were on the other side of the fence. Remember, you can’t take words back. Encourage compromises. Consider the big picture and figure out a solution that will appeal to all parties involved. Take yourself out of the problem. Maybe this isn’t your fish to fry. If the issue is too large or too stressful, perhaps you shouldn’t be taking it on right before your wedding. Another significant person in your life, like a parent, grandparent or minister, can talk with the person to help restore order. Play the bride card. If the arguing and disagreeing won’t stop to the point where it is going to ruin the day, ask the parties involved to put aside their differences for the sake of the bride. Suggest that their good behavior be a gift for the bride. Mention how much time and planning she has put into the day and how devastated she would be if it was ruined by their misbehavior. Stay calm. Having so many friends and family around can cause emotions to run high. Do your best to keep your emotions off your shirtsleeve and remain rational and logical about your decision-making. Solutions to any problems should be simple, practical and easy to implement. Call in experts. If you are unable to resolve a problem, you can always go online to see what wedding experts suggest. After finding online advice, you can share your findings with the disgruntled parties and see if this helps bring about a resolution. Last resort. You can always have the people in conflict draw straws or do “rock, paper scissors” to make a hard decision.

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Kids on Dating, Love and Marriage

Oh, kids say the funniest things, especially youngsters who are thinking about what love and marriage means because they’ve been asked to participate in a wedding as a flower girl, ring bearer, junior bridesmaid or in some other way. While you may be feeling fondly about the idea of spending the rest of your life with the person you love, kids seem to have a 180 degree perspective. Of course, as we all know, hormones eventually set in and the opposite sex starts to look a whole lot better. Before you finish up planning your wedding details and shopping around for the perfect groomsmen gifts, we hope you get a good chuckle out of these funny comments kids have made about love, dating and marriage. “No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.” Sam, age 6 “I’m never going to kiss my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out.” Theo, age 6 (editor’s note: if you don’t want to get all slobbery on your bride, you can always brand her with our “his” steak brand). “Tell your wife she looks pretty, even if she looks like a tuck.” Ricky, age 10 “You’ve got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports and she should keep the chips and dip coming.” – Alan, age 10 (editor’s note: and she should keep the cold beers coming in these really cool personalized beer pilsner mugs). “It’s better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.” Susie, age 8 (editor’s note: Well, maybe they can at least keep their shoes clean with this personalized shoe shine kit – great for groomsmen gifts). “Once I’m done with kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife.” – Christopher, age 5 “Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” – Brianna, age 5 “It gives me a headache to think about all this marriage stuff. I don’t need that kind of trouble.” Mark, age 8 “No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.” Carrie, age 10 “On the first date, they usually just tell each other lies. That usually gets them interest enough to go for a second date.” Danny, age 10 “You flip a nickel, and heads means to stay with him and tails means you try the next one.” Hanna, age 9 (editor’s note: Our leather wallet with coin pocket and key fob makes a handy place to store that nickel you’re going to flip). So, have you heard a kid, like a niece or nephew, say something about love, dating and getting married? Let us know in the comments below.

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Manly Tasks New Grooms Must Tackle

Grilling meat. You don’t necessarily need to know your way around the kitchen if you can grill. Grilling is an important skill for the newly married man because it shows your wife that you can share in the food preparation chores – in a way that lets you stay outside and drink a beer! Since the Stone Ages, men have been impressing their wives by stoking a fire and throwing on a carcass of meat. Rather than just gnawing the meat right off the bone, present your wife an actual plate of steak along with something green (and we mean a vegetable) next to it. Also, a glass of wine couldn’t hurt! Tools you might night for great grilling include a grilling implement set, a durable grilling apron and a personalized koozie in which to keep your beer cold!   Carving a turkey. This sort of goes along with cooking meat over a fire. A man worth respecting should be able to carve a turkey at the head of the holiday table. It’s a tradition that must be respected. We can’t exactly explain how to carve a turkey with words, it’s one of those interactive learning experiences that must be passed down from one man to another. Ask your dad, watch your dad, imitate your dad. We do know that while a personalized pocket knife is handy to have for so many reasons, it’s not going to get the job done on a plus-sized piece of poultry. https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand does carry a filet knife that will help get you started.   Killing spiders. If you are squeamish when it comes to squashing bugs, flying insects and spiders, you are just going to need to get over it! As a husband, you will be manning up every time a small critter crawls into the house. Find a way to deal with it. From the shoe stomping method to the more human catch-and-release methods, just make sure the offending six or eight-legged interloper is caught and that your bride screaming is stopped.   Fixing Flat Tires. Even if your wife-be-to isn’t a damsel in distress, it is always a good idea to know how to fix a flat tire and take care of any other roadside emergencies – even if it is just calling a tow truck. Whether you DIY on the car care or call in the experts, always take the credit for saving her from impending doom. That being said; keep calm, carry on and always have our personalized leather automobile utility kit in the glove box.   All of these products mentioned also make great groomsmen gifts for the fellows in your wedding party. We’re pretty sure that each also has to step up the man game every now and then to impress a wife, significant other, girlfriend or potential date.

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Wedding Celebrations Leading Up to the Big Day

The day the vows are exchanged is rarely the only celebration of a marriage. Most cultures have a variety of other traditional parties intended to honor the happy couple. Some require the planning of the bride and/or groom while other events are hosted by friends and family – all you need to do is show up. Here are some great reasons to party like you’re getting married – hey, wait, you are getting married! Engagement Party: This celebration lets everyone know that you have made it official and asked her to get married. Traditionally, this shindig is held by the bride’s family to formally announce the betrothal to society. However, today, anything goes! Have a party for yourself, invite all your friends and serve delicious food and drinks in custom barware monogrammed with your last name initial (which will soon be hers too)! Wedding Showers: These pre-wedding parties were often just hosted for the bride as a way for her be gifted with items she might need to set up house. Today, many wedding showers are co-ed, including both men and women in the fun. Couple showers can be a great time for friends and family to mingle and have fun, enjoy great fun and drink – all while celebrating the upcoming nuptials between the happy pair. Bachelor Parties: Many guy’s think of bachelor parties as being old-school, wild events that include lots of drinking, carousing and quite possibly even exotic dancers. Today, the bachelor party has evolved – it could be a day of golf followed by a good steak dinner, Or, it could be a guys’ trip to Las Vegas or a relaxing fly fishing trip. It really just depends on the groom’s temperament and desires. Our bachelor party t-shirts are a fun way to announce that your group is ready to get the party started! Also, some grooms find this to be a great time to present their buddies with groomsmen gifts. Also, just know that if you are having a bachelor party, it’s pretty certain your bride-to-be will be having a bachelorette party too! Rehearsal Dinner: Traditionally, the groom’s parents have hosted this dinner the night before the wedding. Usually, all the close family, bride and groom, and wedding attendants convene practice the “roles” of the wedding day and then just relax over good dinner and great company before the big day. There may be toasts, so you may want to prepare a few words – or have a professional toast written – just to be ready. Of course, the actual wedding ceremony and wedding reception are so common place, they don’t really need detailed explanation. However, there can be other pre-wedding (and post-wedding) events that you may want to consider – these could include sight-seeing tours for out of town guests, a post wedding brunch the next morning in the hotel where guests that spent the night, If the wedding takes place at the end of a weekend, schedule a golf tournament for the men and a museum or shopping trip for the ladies. For all you gift needs for a wedding, whether shopping for groomsmen gifts, best man gifts, gifts for the bride and groom or thank you gifts for the host of a wedding celebration, check out GroomStand.com for a unique selection of personalized gifts.

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Wedding Stories Behind the Whitehouse

Did you know that James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States, was a lifelong bachelor. I guess that got him off the hood for finding the perfect best man gifts and groomsmen gifts! All the other presidents were married at some point in their lives, although a number were actually widowers while they were in the White House. I have always though it was interesting to learn more about these love stories and am letting you in on the scoop between the three latest couple’s to rule the free world. Michelle and Barack Obama: She was working at a law firm as an advisor to a summer associate from Harvard Law; his name was Barack Obama. While Barack discovered he didn’t have a passion for corporate law, he did find that he was falling in love with Michelle. Other associates at the firm could tell that the two were smitten as they would spend long hours in the office in rapt discussion. On their first date in 1989, they both felt that they clicked immediately – although it was three years later until they said their “I do’s.” Of their vows, Michelle has said, “Barack didn’t pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he delivered.” This year the presidential pair celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Hillary and Bill Clinton: The two both attended the same Civil Liberties class at Yale Law School, but they didn’t actually speak until bumping into each other at the library later that year. Apparently Hillary, age 27 at the time, made the first move and struck up a conversation with Bill, then aged 29. Rumor has it that Bill was so flustered that he forgot his name! The two started dating, even going on a European vacation together. But, every time Bill proposed, Hillary turned him down. One day, she admired a house for sale in an off-the-cuff way. Without her knowing, Bill bought the house, asked her to marry again and this time she said “yes.” The wedding was small and informal, only 15 guests and she wore an off-the-rack dress. However, they did have a large reception in the backyard with several hundred of their friends and family. Despite always being in the news about some salacious scandal or another, the ex-President and Secretary of State have been married for 38 years. No word on if Clinton was a cigar aficionado back then. Laura and George W. Bush: George and Laura met at a back yard barbeque at the home of mutual friends, obviously hit it off, and were engaged 2 1/2 months later. The two were married just weeks after the engagement in a small ceremony in a Midland church where Laura was baptized. The story goes that George took Laura to a miniature golf course on their first date. I think they should get one of our popular groomsmen gifts, a personalized golf putter, as a sentimental reminder of the day. Both Laura and George were 31 when they tied the knot and have been married now for almost 37 years. So, imagine you were invited to one of these weddings, what would you have brought as a wedding gift? Better yet, if you were serving as an usher or groomsman in the wedding of a man who would one day become president, what would you expect to get as groomsmen gifts? Let us know in the comments below.

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Best Celebrity Weddings

Celebrities are just like us. They meet people. They fall in love. They get engaged. They get married. Of course, when celebrities tie the knot, they do so while dodging the paparazzi! 2014 has brought a number of celebrity nuptials. A few were super secretive surprise affairs while others were very public, and many of them were truly unforgettable. Here is a look at some of the weddings that stood out to us this year: George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin George Clooney married British-Lebanese attorney Amal Alamuddin on September 27. The couple chose Venice's Canal Grande as the venue. The event had many memorable moments from the couple exchanging their own vows under a beautiful white rose-covered arch to taking a jaunt around the canals in a private boat. Lauren Conrad and William Tell Lauren Conrad and William Tell said, "I do" on September 13. The wedding was held in southern California and reportedly featured fine food and even finer cocktails; however, what's been buzzed about the most was Lauren's gown. The fashion icon chose to wear a custom Badgley Mischka gown that was simply stunning. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt The world was shocked when Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt tied the knot in a secret ceremony held on Aug 23 in France. The ceremony was private with Brad wearing a suit right out of his closet and Angelina wowing everyone in a dress made by the master tailor at Atelier Versace. All six of the couple's children participated in the wedding, giving their mother away and acting as flower girls and ring bearers. Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross When the sister of Jessica Simpson marries the son of Diana Ross, you know you're in for an extravagant celebrity wedding, and the nuptials of Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross on August 31 didn't disappoint. Although the event was delayed by rain, the event was truly magical with the couple riding in a horse-drawn carriage and exchanging traditional vows in front of Diana, who is an ordained officiant. Jessica was the matron of honor, and her children were the flower girl and ring bearer. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West By far the most publicized wedding of the year was that of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West held on May 24, and it's no surprise since the couple is nearly always in front of the cameras. The couple was wed at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, and then held a star-studded reception. You can check out the entire wedding by streaming "Keeping up with the Kardashians," which had an entire episode devoted to the event. While you may not have a celebrity budget to pull off your big day, you can still make your wedding an unforgettable one with the right details. When it comes time to purchasing groomsmen gifts, make sure to shop our collection at GroomStand where you'll find items that would please even a celebrity bridal party!

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