How to Choose a Gem of a Jeweler

If you're looking for an engagement ring, don't stroll into the first jewelery store you see. Do your research and pick a competent jeweler. But how do you know if the jeweler has the credentials? Our guest blogger from the Gemological Institute of America provides valuable insight into the dazzling world of diamond buying.Carlsbad, Calif. - Purchasing a piece of jewelry requires important decisions. Just as you consult with other professionals for important advice, such as a family doctor or lawyer, you should turn to a professional jeweler to make a jewelry purchase a pleasurable event.How do you select a professional jeweler? The non-profit Gemological Institute of America (GIA) - considered the world's foremost authority on gemology - offers these valuable guidelines.Guidelines for Selecting a Qualified Jeweler First, a professional jeweler should have the knowledge and training to help you make an informed purchase. Look for credentials that indicate professional experience. For example, the initials G.G. (Graduate Gemologist) or A.J.P. (Accredited Jewelry Professional) after a jeweler's name indicate that the jeweler has had a high level of gemological training.In addition to product knowledge, a jeweler's reputation is one of his or her most valuable assets. Ask friends to recommend a jeweler, or ask a jeweler to provide references. Find out how long the jeweler has been in business, check for affiliations with industry associations and ask whether he or she is a member of the GIA Alumni Association.A Diamond or Gemstone Grading Report Adds Peace of Mind to Your Purchase If you are buying a diamond or colored gemstone, consider getting a report from an independent laboratory with your purchase. For example, professional jewelers worldwide provide independent diamond grading reports with their fine diamonds. The most widely used and respected are those issued by the GIA , the inventor of the 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System. A jeweler can even arrange to have a diamond's unique GIA Diamond Grading Report number, or even a personal message, laser inscribed onto the diamond's girdle (outside edge) for easy identification. Learn more about how to get a diamond report at the special GIA diamond buying guide.Be sure to ask jewelers about the types of services they provide - such as repairs, appraisals, and inscriptions - the range of products offered and the store's return policy and credit terms.For a list of professional jewelers who have undergone training through the Gemological Institute of America, visit the Institute's web site at www.gia.edu. Check the GIA Alumni Association searchable database for a list of members nearby.For more information or for images, please contact us.

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Good Valentine's Day Proposal Ideas

For many, Valentine's Day, the national holiday of love, seems like the perfect time to propose. The day's already reserved, the anticipation is already building... Then again, there is an implicit pressure in trying to combine to momentous romantic occasions into one. The key is to let the natural romantic ambiance of Valentine's day work in your favor, while adding some unique touches to create a personal proposal. The first thing to do, since you've already selected a traditional date to propose, is to avoid any traditional sweet-but-cheesy proposals. So, no chocolate script on the restaurant dessert plate, no skywriters, and no fortune cookies! Groomstand's unbeatable Valentine's Day Proposal Guide will get you from bended knee to "will you marry me?" with superb creativity and aplomb. Simply take one of our suggestions, wait for the ecstatic "Yes!" and then come back later to pick out groomsmen gifts! THE PROPOSAL: QUIZ 'O' LOVE Secretly type up a Valentine's Day Trivia Quiz. Start with general questions (i.e. "Is Valentine's Day a pagan or religious holiday") but make sure they are all yes or no questions. Have the last question be, "Will you marry me?" HOW TO PULL IT OFF: Tell your lady you're exhausted from work and you just want to have a low-key night in. If she's a worth it woman, she'll be dissapointed, but agree. Get her to sit down next to you on the couch, then casually pull out a Valentine's Day trivia quiz you've typed up in advance. Pull it out of the newspaper and pretend it was an ad. Say, "Hey honey, I know you're bummed about spending Valentine's day in. I'm just going to jump in the shower, but why don't you take this Valentine's Day quiz to get in the spirit of things?" While she's taking a quiz, rush into the other room, where you will have stored the ring, flowers, and wine (bonus points for presenting it in our romantic personalized wine box - hey, it works for more than just groomsmen gifts). When you hear the tell-tale scream, rush back in the room, get on one knee, and propose. THE PROPOSAL: YOU PUT THE STARS IN MY SKY Okay, I know we said no skywriters, but that's because we have a better idea. Have a star named after your intended, only with her first name and your last name (or your last names hyphenated, if you prefer.) HOW TO PULL IT OFF: Take her to a scenic vista with plenty of star-gazing spots. Give her the document to open, then say "I want to spend the rest of my life star-gazing with you. Will you marry me?" Spend the rest of the night picking out "your" star. (For liquid courage along the way, just pack our travelin' flask) THE PROPOSAL: GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FEMININE SIDE We know it's not macho, but women do stuff like this all the time. Drop in on your local craft circle and get some knitting tips. Embroider "Will You Marry Me?" on a table cloth. Bonus points for multiple languages. HOW TO PULL IT OFF: Invite her to an intimate dinner for two at home. When she gets up to go to the bathroom, switch your old everyday table cloth for your handcrafted masterpiece. Wait and see how long it takes her to notice. When she does, pull off dinner plate cover to reveal ring box. Say, "Honey, now you know that when I said I'd do anything for you, I really meant anything. Will you marry me?" If this feels too out of character, begin by using our men's manicure set to slowly get in touch with your metrosexual side. You'll be swapping crochet tips in no time, and you might even like the feeling enough to pass those out as groomsmen gifts! THE PROPOSAL: SAIL AWAY WITH ME, HONEY If you two are sailing sweethearts, a romantic moonlight sail is your perfect Valentine's Day proposal. HOW TO PULL IT OFF: Wait until the moonlight is just right, then tell her you have a Valentine's Day present for her. Give her this beautiful silver compass and tell her "With you, I can never lose my way. Will you marry me?" Have the compass engraved with a special message for a perfect proposal memento. Bonus points if she wears it on the wedding day. NOTE: If you don't sail, another idea is to take her on a drive and pretend to get really lost. At the last moment, pull into a romantic spot, give her the compass and say, "I'm never lost as long as I'm with you. Will you marry me?" THE PROPOSAL: BUTTERFLIES IN FLIGHT Make the location of your Valentine's Day Proposal a huge surprise! Take her to a tropical butterfly museum for an exotic proposal she'll love re-telling. HOW TO PULL IT OFF: Get on one knee and say "Honey, you've given me butterflies since the moment I met you. This is my chance to give some butterflies back to you. Will you marry me?" THE PROPOSAL: YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG... Especially if you have been high school sweethearts or together for a long time, this Valentine's Day proposal is a sweet gesture. Plan a kid-themed day of amusement, ending with a timeless proposal. Spend a day swinging on swings, picking apples at an orchard, wading in a creek, and flying kites. At the end of the day, surprise her with either a grade-school style valentine that says "Will you Marry Me?" or even more classic, a simple folded "Will you Marry me? Check Yes or No" note.

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Best Man Guide

If you were living in the dark ages, you would be asked to defend your best friend's honor with a sword, and groomsmen gifts would consist of gruel and chickenbones. Today, being a best man still has its share of responsibilities--being the ring bearer, getting singles at the strip club, etc. Play it smart. After all, you are being counted on to put together a clutch performance as the right hand man! Here is a general outline to help you get organized: The Bachelor Party Organize bachelor party. If you want something beyond the average groomsmen gifts, this is the place to score points. The party can include dinner, cigars, sport outing (e.g., golf or tickets to sports events), hotel party, strip clubs, groomsmen gifts, etc. Talk to the groom first and find out what he wants to do. Of course you can plan some surprises, just use your head-- the one with the brain in it! Give yourself time. Organizing the party in one week will not work and cause you un-needed stress. Bribe the boys with the promise of better groomsmen gifts to help you. Go over the list of invitees with the groom. You'll want to ditch father-in-laws and any loose-lipped relatives who might sing like a canary when it's time to get "X-rated." Talk to all invitees before the party about costs, the agenda, etc. Nobody wants any surprises the day of the bachelor party-unless those surprises are first-class groomsmen gifts. Coordinate a designated driver or hire a limousine service. Make sure the groom to be does not come home with itching and/or burning sensations in his weenie, or else be prepared to do lots of explaining to the bride-to-be! Rehearsal Dinner Because this typically happens a day before the wedding, your pal will have much on his mind and doesn't need to worry about the details. Contact all the groomsmen and make sure they are attending the dinner, on time, have directions to the site and are sober. Remind them that their groomsmen gifts hang in the balance. The Wedding Day Keep the groom on schedule. The schedule is typically organized by the bride who will distribute copies ahead of time. Go off her schedule and prepare to die! Drive the groom to the ceremony site one hour before the wedding photographs. You should be in your tux for photos as well. Autograph and mail as funny gag groomsmen gifts. Offer to take the check envelopes to pay the clergyman, musicians, photographers and other service providers. Non traditionally speaking, this responsibility also can be given to a wedding consultant, father of the bride, or even one of the bridesmaids. Witness the signing of the marriage license. Keep the groom's hand steady--he probably will be shaking like a farm animal preparing to be slaughtered. When you're backstage with the groom, help him prepare for the final call - Yes, you might see your buddy cry for the first time. Just make sure his tie is strait and assure him there's still time to get outta here if he says the word. Hold the bride's ring for the groom (if there is no ring bearer) until needed by the officiant. Check for any holes in your pockets first, and don't fumble the hand-off! Drive the newlyweds to the reception if there is no hired driver. Resist urge to pilfer the groomsmen gifts propped in the passenger seat. Be prepared to dance with bridesmaids and relatives of the bride and groom. Watch Spanish networks ahead of time if you don't already know how to do the Macarena. Drive the newlyweds to the airport for their honeymoon if there is no hired driver. You're probably catching on by now that you should be prepared to do some driving, so fill up the tank and check the oil ahead of time. Speeches & Toasting Offer first toast at the reception. This usually occurs before the dinner. Thank him for the honor, the groomsmen gifts and for no longer providing competition with girls. Find out if you will be speaking from a podium, platform or table. Most importantly, use good taste when you speak. No need to bring up the time you both banged Mrs. Robinson in 12th grade after class no matter how poignant. Consider having wedding toasts written for you. Out of Town Guests Offer to pick them up at the airport. Be prepared to do some entertaining with guests before the wedding day. (Hey, maybe you'll get lucky with one of the groom's cousins.) Formal Wear Your last major task as best man is to return all tuxedos to the shop. Make sure all groomsmen and ushers give you tuxedos in good condition and on time. This is crucial-you don't want to have your groomsmen gifts garnished. Congratulations! Like Angelo Dundee was to Mohammed Ali, so is the best man to the groom.

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Top Five Things Never to Do When Proposing

Don't count your groomsmen gifts before they've hatched. Assumption is the mother of all screw-ups, and nothing undermines a sweetly earnest, clumsy proposal like a pre-planned engagement party jumping out clown-car style the second she says yes. As always, when it comes to women, even if you know it's a sure thing, respect her dignity and act like you don't. Once she says yes, then start shopping for groomsmen gifts. Don't choose a romantic dinner for your proposal site. Don't hide the ring in shrimp cocktail, don't have the waiter write "will you marry me?" in the dessert frosting, and don't have your groomsmen circle the table and sing a serenade on a bribe of good groomsmen gifts. Food proposals are clichd and corny, and it is very important she has a proposal story that is different and better than all her friends. Don't combine business with proposals. Work is where you sweat and toil forty hours a week so you have the money for a nice wedding and groomsmen gifts. It is where you got a painful paper cut and where your boss chewed you out for not replacing the printer paper. No matter how magical the proposal, it is impossible to get in a romantic mindset amidst the smell of scotch tape and coffee dregs. What's next, three ring binders as groomsmen gifts? Even if you met at work, leave your daily grind out of the special moment with a sweet, escapist proposal. Don't buy the ring in advance. Engagement rings are a lot more complicated than your garden variety groomsmen gifts. Cut, color, clarity-it's just too confusing for the average man to contemplate. Make yourself and your future wife happy by proposing with something creative and vaguely circular-a dollar folded into the shape of a ring, a tab from her favorite soda, a family heirloom ring. A mushy placeholder is the perfect prelude to the more permanent ring you let her choose herself! Don't look to your friends for advice on how to propose. Get advice when it comes time to buy groomsmen gifts, not when it's time to pop the question. Instead, plan your proposal based on something personal to you two. Propose at the place where your car broke down on your first date, or in "your" video aisle where you first discovered your mutual passion for Monty Python movies.

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The Art of Organization

Let's face it, guys are pretty easy to keep organized: we've got our wallets and keys in our pockets, our watches on our wrists, and our schedules on the PDA. We don't exactly need big purses to carry everything, right? Still, we could take a lesson or two from our fiances when it comes to keeping all the little things together, like the cufflinks that end up scattered across the dresser and the business cards that get lost forever in random suit pockets. Here's a quick guide to keeping yourself organized - along with suggestions for groomsmen gifts to keep your guys from losing important things before the big day. Use a checkbook holder. Man, at some point you have to get rid of your battered leather wallet that's coming apart at the seams and only has enough room for your driver's license. When you do, upgrade to a nice Personalized Leather Checkbook Holder and Secretary. Trust us, it's way easier to just carry a checkbook and use it, rather than trying to keep track of all your receipts for when you finally sit down at home and balance your checkbook. This has space for cash and cards, too, if you'd rather just withdraw a bunch of cash at the time and keep your bank account at a nice round number. Get these as groomsmen gifts for your groomsmen who always manage to get their accounts overdrawn. They might be resistant at first, but once they enter a world free of bounced check fees, they'll thank you. Put stuff in a tray. We know, it doesn't make a lot of sense on the surface - take your clutter and put it in something else? Isn't that just transferring the clutter? But think of it this way, if all the stuff you need goes in a handy tray on your dresser like this Personalized Leather Valet Tray, you're much less likely to misplace your keys because you put them somewhere, or lose your watch because it fell off your dresser and landed in the space behind it. This is especially perfect for groomsmen gifts for your friends that are married or engaged - women just like seeing a guy that looks like he always knows where everything is, and has quick access to cufflinks for a fancy night out. Get a toiletry bag. In a perfect world, you wouldn't need a whole bag for toiletries, because you'd be the Marlboro Man, right? Well, you're not. You have a comb, you have a shaving kit, you have hair gel, you probably even have a pair of tiny scissors for when the unibrow gets out of control. Ladies like a well-groomed guy, and you like the ladies, enough to marry one! When you go on trips, you can't just throw all your stuff into the side compartment of your ancient duffle bag, or you risk losing things, getting your toothbrush into unspeakable mysterious substances, or the dreaded open hair product disaster scene that'll ensure you never trust pop-top containers again. So keep all your manly grooming products together with the Personalized Deluxe Toiletry Bag. You won't have to go hunting for the stuff you need before you leave in the morning, and you'll keep the inside of your luggage out of danger. Get them as groomsmen gifts, too, especially if you're having a destination wedding.

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Instead of Wrapping Your Gifts in the Comics Page, Try Thisƒ

Yes, having Garfield and company wrapped clumsily around Christmas gifts has gotten you points for charm in the past. Unfortunately, the past was when you were twelve, and your poor excuses for gift wrap aren't quite going to cut it anymore. These days your fianc expects things either creatively cloistered in fancy bags or specially wrapped at the department store, but your boys don't care, right? You can give them their groomsmen gifts in any old way. Stop right there. Look, just because you can get away with giving your friends things in plastic bags, or pulled "ta-da!" style from out behind your back (hey, at least it beats making them choose which hand the gift's contained in), it doesn't mean you should be that lazy, especially when it comes to giving something as important as groomsmen gifts. Even if you're not in it for style points, less-than-shoddy presentation at least shows that you thought about them beyond remembering how to spell their names for personalized groomsmen gifts. All this doesn't mean you have to go Martha Stewart full throttle into hand-scrapbooked wrapping paper and scissor-curled ribbons, but at least do one better than grabbing last Sunday's funnies and getting newsprint all over the clumsily-placed Scotch tape. Take a look at a few of these tips for giving out presents that look as good on the outside as you know they are on the inside. When in doubt, a cheap and entertaining option is novelty gift wrap. After all, nothing says, "I value your friendship," like gift wrap printed with strips of bacon or Super Mario Bros. This is best for the less serious groomsmen gifts - think golf ball cufflinks rather than an engraved picture frame containing a picture of your most meaningful moment as friends. Boxes: gifts come prepackaged in them for a reason. Since it's not like you're giving hair dryers as groomsmen gifts, you can probably preserve some of the mystery of the gifts come in a nice box. This works the best with smaller groomsmen gifts, obviously, and it can make presentation tricky - if you're giving a guy something in a small jewelry-sized box (a nice pen, maybe), it's probably best to go for a friendly toss rather than pushing it across the table as you're out to dinner with your friends. If your idea of wrapping involves rolling the paper around the gift and twisting the ends together like a piece of butterscotch candy, just bribe your fiancée with a nice dinner out and see if she'll wrap the gifts for you. Bemoan your big clumsy fingers and praise her delicate hands (important: don't imply they're well-suited to doing other menial work, this will backfire horribly) while giving her your best beseeching look. Explain how important it is to you that your groomsmen gifts look presentable, and she might be swayed by the charm of true manly friendship. The above tip may fail; if it does, the likely outcome will be that she suggests you just get your groomsmen gifts professionally wrapped like you always get hers done. At some point you just have to bite the bullet, man - get it done. Just make sure they stick with a good solid color like navy or forest green, especially if it's around the holiday season. Groomsmen gifts are just not a good time for snowflakes or silver glittery accents.

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How To Make Shopping As Easy As Possible

We know - shopping can be a painful process for everybody. It's not until you go to pick out a gift for someone that you suddenly forget every hobby they've ever had, leaving your mind completely blank as to what they might like. You end up coming up with gifts that are either lame or way too expensive, but it doesn't always have to be that way! If you're panicking about what to get for groomsmen gifts, calm yourself and consult this simple guide on how to easily shop for groomsmen gifts. Look at each groomsman. How does he look? If he's the clean-shaven, briefcase-toting, cufflinks-wearing type, then he probably doesn't need much help in that area. But if he looks like he rolled out of bed and grabbed the nearest pair of crumpled jeans from the floor and made only a half-hearted effort to find a clean t-shirt, then you may need to get your groomsman..well, groomed. Drop hints that he better look good for your wedding day with groomsmen gifts of the Personalized Leather Travel and Grooming Kit. Look around his house. Or apartment. Or hovel. What is it missing? If he's still using mismatched plates from the thrift shop, at least get him some matching glasses - no, not like juice glasses, we mean groomsmen gifts of a nice Set of Four Personalized Pilsner Glasses. If his apartment is so creepily free of personality that you fear he might be in the Witness Protection Program, give groomsmen gifts of a nice Rustic Picture Frame with a buddy shot of the two of you. Is his place practically perfect? We doubt it. No house is a home with a Personalized Pub Sign. Consult the lady in his life. Next time you go out on one of those couples nights the future Mrs. loves so much, pull his girl aside for advice on the best groomsmen gifts to give him. Women are great at this, and if you think he might stick with her for years, it's in your best interests to stay on her good side. Sure, she'll probably request you skip the Personalized Cigar Humidor in favor of groomsmen gifts that support his less smelly habits, but he'll thank you when you give him groomsmen gifts that don't start the umpteenth argument about whether a man can smoke in his own house or not. (Verdict: no, he can't.) Get him a wallet. Out of ideas for groomsmen gifts? Can't be bothered to think of any ideas in the first place? Get him a wallet. If he's more of a money clip guy, get him a money clip. Or just combine the best of both worlds with groomsmen gifts of the Personalized Leather Magnetic Money Clip Wallet. Sure, it's not the cleverest of groomsmen gifts, but you can get it personalized with his name, which makes these impressive groomsmen gifts even if you're giving the same groomsmen gifts to everyone. Just make sure you at least spell their names right, okay?

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How to Give Amazing Gifts to Your Groomsmen

Do you have a history of giving pretty weak presents? If your idea of a fine gift is one you purchased at the drugstore on the way to the birthday bash, you may need a little assistance in the gift-giving department. Even if it hasn't gotten you into trouble in the past (and we bet it has), if there was ever a time to get good at gifting, it's now. Make sure your boys know you care by giving them the best groomsmen gifts you can. Depending on how well and how long you've known your groomsmen, narrowing down a list of potential gifts could be easy or difficult. Since you probably know them pretty well, though, it shouldn't be so tough. You've spent enough time with these guys to have a decent idea of what they do in their time off, so simply think about how they spend their weekends and go from there. Try a putter for the golfer, a humidor for the cigar aficionado, or a pair of cufflinks for the high roller. If all he does is work, you can do something with that, too, just take your pick from this selection of executive gifts. For the guys you don't know too well - your future wife's relatives, maybe, or your younger male relatives that you want to have in the wedding - just ask around, or offer to hang out with him doing the activity of his choice. This could make your shopping easy, especially if he decides on a trip out fishing or golfing. Even if it's something typical and unrevealing, though, all is still not lost. If he wants to go out drinking, for example, there's your answer right there - offer up a set of pilsner glasses as groomsmen gifts and you're good to go. Still stumped? Think harder! If your guys are frustratingly free of all hobbies, you'll have to get more creative for their groomsmen gifts. In this case, you can go for the basics, the things that every guy needs. Sure, he probably already has a wallet, but how about an engraved money clip? Could he use a little more life in his bachelor pad? Throw a favorite picture of the two of you into a nice personalized frame. If the walls of his place are still bare even after he got rid of the unpacked boxes, offer up a personalized pub sign for a little decoration. Finding decent groomsmen gifts is easier than you think. And hey, it could be worse - you could be stuck trying to find decent groomsmen in the first place.

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How The Toast Works at The Wedding

Often times after the groomsmen gifts have been passed out, the first dance has come and gone and the evening meal is in the process of being served the protocol or lack-thereof of the best man speech can become an issue. Who is supposed to speak? Is it just the best man or the maid of honor? Do the parents speak after that? Is it all 4 parents or just the fathers? Where do the bride and groom draw the line so it doesn't become a night at the improv during the most important night of their lives? The answer to these questions is that there is no hard and fast rule here 'S even bribing friends with excellent groomsmen gifts can't guarantee a great toast. The bride and groom will need to sort out how important it is to them as to whom should speak, and roughly how much of their evening they're willing to give up to hand the stage and the attention over to others. One big recommendation we would make would be, how well do you know your speakers? Are they literate, coherent, likely to be intoxicated? If you answered no, no and yes, than we would strongly recommend a toast writing service. Leave the writing to the professionals. All the speakers need to do is simply fill out a form giving the professionals pertinent information, and then bride and groom are assured of a beautiful, smart and classy speech that likely will not go on and on (unless they improvise), a truly beautiful tribute to make those groomsmen gifts worth it. Good night and Good luck! Technorati Tags: groomsmen gifts, wedding toasts, bride and groom

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Groomsmen Gifts with a Twist: How to Make a Dirty Martini

If you are old enough to say "I do", keg stands and blurry beer pong games are most likely a thing of the past. Leave them there. Don't try to recreate your college years by forming a frat with your groomsmen a la the movie Old School. With a few groomsmen gifts, some engraved bar accessories, and a mixology lesson, your boys can go from sloppy to suave. Ah, the martini. What could be said about this classic cocktail that hasn't been said before? E.B. White called it "the elixir of quietude." James Bond preferred his martinis "shaken, not stirred." A martini instantly makes a man seem sexy and mysterious. What secret ingredient makes a martini "dirty"? The olive juice! Some guys prefer shaken and some prefer stirred. Options for both are listed below. Before you shake or stir anything, start with the ingredients. You'll need: 2 1/2 oz. gin 1/2 oz. dry vermouth 3/4 oz. Olive Juice (or to taste) Olive for garnish Stirred: Pour the gin and dry vermouth into a mixing glass. Slowly add the olive juice. Stir, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the olive. Shaken: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the olive. After you perfect the dirty martini, find groomsmen gifts and create a martini lounge. Start with this personalized martini glass set or this personalized martini after hours sign. For more groomsmen gifts and engraved bar accessories, shop Groomstand.

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4 Must-Follow Rules for Female Attedants or Groomswomen

Forget everything you think you know about groomsmen. They don't have to wear a black-and-white James Bond-style penguin suit. They don't have to be your brothers. They don't even have to be men!. That's right, these days you can pick your sister, your cousin, or your girl best friend from grade school. From groomsmen ...er...groomswoman gifts to bachelor party planning, here are four must-follow rules for female attendants: Thou Shall Not Make the Bride Jealous . Even if your bride and your ex-girlfriend are best buds (in what world?), or you dated your ex 10 years ago, you cannot ask her to stand up on your side as a groomswoman. When your "best woman" starts weeping at the ceremony, people will wonder if those tears are falling because she's still in love with you. Stick to your sister, cousin, or longtime, non-threatening friend (non-threatening means not as pretty as the bride). Thou Shall Not Make the Groomswoman Wear a Tux She's just one of the guys, but she doesn't have to look like one of the guys. A simple black dress will differentiate her from the bridesmaids and she'll still blend with your boys. Thou Shall Not Give her Gendered Groomsmen Gifts This is the hard part of adding a groomswoman into your gang: you have to find her a groomsman gift. You probably shouldn't give all your attendants old-fashioned shaving kits as groomsmen gifts -- unless your groomswoman is part of a traveling freak show. Personalized poker sets and flasks make great groomsmen gifts and groomswomen gifts. Still can't find anything? Peruse bridesmaid gifts for girly gifts she'll love. Thou Shall Not Make her Plan your Bachelor Party Even if she's your best woman, don't let her plan your bachelor party. Hiring the talent or adorning the hotel suite with blow-up dolls might make her uncomfortable - especially if she's your relative. Talk to her about all the best man duties before she signs on. Assure her that you delegated bachelor party planning to one of the guys, but that she's in charge of everything else. Groomswomen are automatically invited to bachelor parties, so don't leave her out. The only rule when it comes to your wedding party is to invite your supporters - those people who are happy you're tying the knot. Nowadays, you can have a dog, your grandpa, or your goldfish - it doesn't matter. Just make sure you thank all your attendants with well-appointed groomsmen gifts or groomswoman gifts!

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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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