Re-Tying the Knot - Vow Renewal Ceremonies

Looking to say “I do” again with the same woman? The trend for vow renewal ceremonies is has been on the rise in the last 10 years with some wedding vendors reporting that these recommitment ceremonies represent between five and 10 percent of their total business. A vow renewal is a great way to honor a landmark anniversary (such as 5, 10, 25 or 50), as a reaffirmation after a rocky road, or just a good excuse to celebrate your spouse and a healthy relationship. Celebrities have also popularized vow renewal ceremonies, remarrying each other in spectacular, over-the-top style. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon renewed their vows after four years of wedding bliss, in Paris atop the Eiffel Tower nonetheless. Reality star Khloe Kardashian and her basketball playing husband Lamar Odom said “I do” again on their one year anniversary and hip-hops royal couple, Beyonce and Jay-Z kept the beat going with a wedding redo. Supermodel Heidi Klum and husband, singer Seal, were famous for their multiple vow renewal ceremonies. Each year they would have a themed party; one year it was a white trash wedding and another it was a beach wedding. But, alas, despite the high number of nuptials, the couple called it quits in 2012. The world record for the largest number of vow renewals (with the same person) is held by Lauren Lubeck Blair and David E. Hough Blair who have married each other 101 times. The lovebirds originally got married in 1984 and have been getting renewed in different locations around the world, breaking the original Guinness World Record Book of 65 in 2001. Now each time the get re-married, they are resetting the old record they previously set. If you are planning a vow renewal, the ceremony and party can be whatever you want it to be. It can be just the two of you of at favorite destination, a small casual gathering, or a large fancy affair. Some couples like to go all out on the vow renewal, especially if they now have plenty of money to celebrate in a grand fashion. You know, break out the fancy champagne, caviar and golden groomsmen gifts. Luxury cigar humidors and executive leather goods (like our Napa leather business card case) are two of our favorite gifts for groomsmen. Other couples will find it more fitting to have a laid-back event where their children or grandkids will feel comfortable. Other couples will parlay a recommitment ceremony into a vacation, check out Las Vegas, cruise ships and island resorts for easy-breezy package deals. Vow renewal ceremonies are a great way to incorporate your family into the special day. Seeing their parents reaffirm their love in a public way will set a firm foundation for their future marriage union. If still in touch, it is meaningful to include as many as the “old” wedding attendants as possible including your best man and groomsmen. How fun it might be to invite the original ring bearer and flower girl and effuse about how they are now all grown up. You may now have gained new friendships that you’d like to include in the big day. Now grown into adults or older children, your sons may ever serve in the capacity of groomsmen. Don’t forget to thank all of your attendants with groomsmen gifts to show them how special they have been all these years. GroomStand.com has an impressive selection of gifts for groomsmen that will make wonderful keepsakes of this important day. Are you considering “re-tying the knot,” how many years has it been since the original wedding day? Let us know in the comments below.

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Say "Yes" to Proposal Day

If you are reading this, you may be thinking about popping the question to your girlfriend. Or, perhaps you are newly engaged and just chomping at the bits to find the perfect groomsmen gifts and gear for your bachelor party. Asking for a woman’s hand in marriage is a big deal on any day of the year. But, according to some, there is an “official” time when it is best. Apparently a guy named John Michael O'Loughlin came up with this designated day to “seal the deal” after his cousin's boyfriend repeatedly failed to ask that life-changing question for more than a decade of dating. If you check out a calendar, you’ll notice that Proposal Day falls on the Vernal Equinox, the day when both day and night are equal in length. O'Loughlin says that this equinox is a great day to propose on because it symbolizes the equal effort required by the bride and groom to have a good marriage; one can’t outshine or darken the other. There are also all those hormones that start to fly as the weather warms; with a spring awakening, love is noticeably in the air. Now, if you get cold feet and don’t end up proposing on March 20th, the Autumn Equinox on September offers another equally symbolic chance. So, if you decide to honor this holiday, March 20th could be a very significant day in your personal life plan. It’s obviously a life-altering decision to get married and one that should not be taken lightly. So, is you are not ready to tie the knot, by all means do not get pressured into doing so because of a random holiday or the hopes of raking in really cool wedding gifts. In fact, if not ready, you may want to lay low for the day so that your girlfriend can’t find you. Or, you can use the day to just talk about the idea of spending the rest of your lives together, but actually save the big question for a less-expected time. But, on the other hand, if you have been entertaining the idea of marriage for a while but seem to be “stuck” in your ability to make it happen, this novel holiday may just be the kick in the pants you need to take a chance and ask “will you marry me?” Some interesting facts about proposals came out of a survey administered by wedding style-finder Tailored. No rush: Today’s generation is waiting longer than ever before getting hitched. Around 27 percent of couples reported that they had dated between three and five years before making the decision to become engaged. Tradition: According to the women polled, 78-percent reported that their boyfriend got down on a bending knee to as this life-changing question. However, fewer men are asking for “permission” to take the brides hand in marriage from her father. Pressure: Guys can sigh a little relief about getting hen-pecked about getting engaged before ready. This survey said that only 21 percent of the women reported “pushing” their partners into the commitment, the remaining said that it was a two-way discussion and decision. So, if you are thinking about giving up your bachelorhood on Proposal Day or any other day of the year, GroomStand.com has all the supplies needed to help make the moment even more memorable. You may want to drop the engagement ring into the bottom of a champagne glass, and watch her eyes widen as she sees the bling at the bottom of her bubbly. Or, an alternative is to present (on bended knee, of course) the diamond ring nestled inside a beautiful little heart-shaped box. She’ll love to display this personalized keepsake on her dresser or vanity for the many happy years to come. Or, a luxurious leather jewelry case that can be carried along on the honeymoon is equally as nice. Whatever the manner you decide to pop the question, your enduring love is the gift from the groom to the bride. Did you get engaged on a “special” day like Valentine’s Day, Proposal Day, Christmas or a birthday? Let us know below.

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What To Do: You DonÍt Want Kids at your Wedding

Allow kids to come to your wedding, or not. That is a sensitive topic for many grooms and brides planning the most special day of their lives. It’s your wedding and your party, you have the right to have it play out anyway you see fit – even if that playing is in a kid-free zone. Think of it as a wedding present to yourself. While many children can be quite well-behaved, it seems that at a wedding all bets are off. Often this is because the pint-sized partiers actually do have a reason to fuss, if you think about it. They are constrained in uncomfortable and fussy clothing, they are up way past their bedtimes (missing naps, too) and they are not being served the chicken nuggets and peanut butter they are accustomed to munching on. But, if you have pressure from the bride or friends and siblings who all want to bring their kids, don’t worry, there are tactful ways to say “no” and also creative alternatives to allow a few rugrats in. Drop the hint in the invitation. If you do not want children to attend your reception, specifically indicate that on the included RSVP card. Spell it out in plain English so that your guests aren’t confused – this is no time for detail-sparing diplomacy. The RSVP card could read something like this, “Two seats are reserved in your honor” instead of the traditional “_____ guests will be attending.” Yikes, the later implies that an infinite number of people could come! Also, instead of addressing the envelope to “The Smith Family,” specifically use the Mr. and Mrs. salutations without any reference to a “family.” Write the message and addresses with one of our favorite groomsmen gifts, a fancy silver pen that adds significance to every message. Drop the hint in person: When speaking to your friends, family and guests; reiterate the plans you and your bride have for a “fancy adult evening.” Of course, if pushed, you could say that children are welcomed at the ceremony, but the reception is adult-only. Blame it on the venue, appear apologetic! Typically, if parents are going to get a babysitter for the reception, they will hire that sitter to come early for the ceremony too. It’s just convenience. Exceptions: Of course, there will be exceptions. Even if people have been clobbered over the head with the “kid-free” communication, they still may bring their children. Plus, some of your guests have to travel from afar, and of course will have their progeny in tow. We know you’re not going to turn them away at the door, so have a contingency plan in place. Teenagers that you’ve invited to the wedding can be paid a nominal fee to watch the youngsters in an adjoining room. A room where the rascals will be free to run around, create mayhem and eat animal crackers and raisins to their hearts’ delight. This is where the flower girl and ring bearer can hang out after they’ve finished their respective jobs, posed for photographs, and charmed everyone with their cuteness. Don’t forget to treat these two little wedding helpers with ring bearer and flower gifts as a show of your appreciation and affection. Also, prepare wedding favors for the children in the babysitting room that will keep them productively busy. Good choices are crayons, activity books, personalized yo-yos, small toys, a pocket knife and whatnot. Err; perhaps the bride will be better suited to execute this task. So, as you can see, there is some tact involved with children and the wedding reception. I mean, it’s pretty callous to turn away a nursing newborn, but at the same time, you don’t want to hear screaming in the background of your wedding video. Plus, it can be expensive to have a lot of children in a wedding, often the “per-head” cost is the same as an adult and we all know that the tykes aren’t going to appreciate the harp player and caviar bar. But, on the other hand, relax. Weddings are family affairs and there are always children in some branch of the family tree. You may have once been that obnoxious brat that screamed out in the middle of the vows that “I want candy!” Oh wait, that was me. So, do you have any suggestions for our readers on how to handle this “childish” situation? If so, let us know in the comments below.

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Weddings and Office Politics Tips for the Groom

Most guys would prefer not to invite the boss and random co-workers to his wedding. While a few guys from the salt mine might actually have become close friends, the majority of the cubicles and hallways are populated with people you’d rather not see when the whistle finally blows. Sure, Dave from the Graphic Design department is really cool, but Howard from Accounting is as far from hip and happening as one could get. So, what’s a guy to do? You could try not inviting co-workers and just sneaking off to a destination wedding in order to avoid the awkward inter-office politics. However, this plan has the potential to backfire, and usually does. Remember the episode of The Office where Pam Beasley and Jim Halpert announced to co-workers they were just having a small destination wedding? But of course, the completely inept and oblivious-to-dropped-hints branch manager, Michael Scott, solved the dilemma. Without permission from the bride and groom, the boss simply gave the entire staff two full days off and had everyone drive up to Niagara Falls for the big day. So, how do you handle inviting or not inviting the office to your wedding? Feel free to tell us your ideas in the comments below. One option is to invite those in your department, or if the department is large, just your circle of colleagues that you work with on a day-to-day basis. This also includes your immediate boss. You can’t invite the department and not the boss. Another option is to just invite that small handful of employees that you’ve really connected with; the guys that you hang out with after hours. However, in order to prevent hurt feelings, make sure that wedding invitations are not distributed at the office, but sent directly to home addresses. If you are planning to have men from the office serve as your groomsmen, more power to you. Either you work in a family-owned business where your boss is a brother or you’ve really bonded with these guys over the trials and tribulations inherent to your workplace. Don’t forget to give these men groomsmen gifts as a gesture of your thanks and appreciation. Groomstand.com has a wide selection of groomsmen gifts that will appeal to co-workers such as business card cases that can be personalized with their initials. Other great gifts for groomsmen that hail from the office include engraved flasks (for impromptu 5 o’clock happy hours) or fine leather goods such as leather portfolio for taking notes (or doodling) at all those Monday-morning marathon meetings. If the guys are sporty, there are plenty of other groomsmen gift options that will score big! Our personalized putter will be a hit with your best man, he can close the door to his office and brush up on his skills in order to finally beat you the next time you hit the links. Don’t forget your new father-in-law; he would love to have one of these personalized golf gifts that can be personalized with all sorts of text, such as a name and date, favorite verse or other special sentiment. Now, taking another point of view, if you are a wedding guest from the workplace, you’ll need to bring a thoughtful gift for the groom. You can’t show up empty-handed and expect to chow down on the buffet and drain the open bar. You’ll need to arrive with an appropriate gift that represents your level of familiarity with the groom. If you are buddy-buddy, you’ll probably know exactly what wedding gift to bring. But, if the groom is more of a friendly acquaintance (and you just got invited by default), a useful executive gift he could use in the office is a great choice. So, how are YOU going to handle either inviting or not inviting offices acquaintances to your wedding?

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Man-centric Spending Strategy for a Wedding

The average wedding budget in 2011, according to a recent survey conducted by The Knot, costs a whopping $27,021 _ and this excludes the honeymoon. Do you know how many beers this would buy? According to our calculations, you could buy 18,000 cases of Budweiser¬ (at $15 dollars a pop) which equates to 43,300 cans of icy, cold goodness. If you consider 55 years to be the maximum beer-drinking lifespan of a man (from age 21 to age 76), that comes out to be 785 beers a year _ or a little more than two beers a day! Would you rather have an ñaverageî wedding or be guaranteed two beers a day until you kick the bucket? Gee, thatÍs not a hard decision for us guys, but trying selling that on the bride. Here are some other interesting wedding budget comparisons that may make you want to evaluate how you are spending your hard-earned money. Wedding Planner: Sure, a wedding planner may help reduce a little stress in setting up the perfect soiree, but at an average cost of $1,753 per wedding, is it really all that necessary to strive for perfection? After all, we think itÍs some of the little unanticipated events that pop up that make the wedding even more memorable. We say, make some computer spreadsheets for the bride to check her way through and then use the extra savings on some really cool groomsmen gifts. Fine cigar humidors or top-grain leather wallets will really make a great impression when given as groomsmen gifts to those friends who would never, ever notice the fact that some wedding planner had matched the exact shade of the periwinkle flowers in the reception centerpieces to the color of the brideÍs eyes. Reception Band: Plan on spending an average of $3,122 to hire a band to entertain your guests. Even just a DJ to play songs comes in at $923. Why not just make an awesome playlist and hook it up to the speaker system and save enough money to put a down payment on that Harley youÍve been eyeballing. If the bride says no, you can at least hang onto the ñwhat could have beenî memory with a personalized sign for your man cave _ we love this man cave sign with a biker bar design. Reception Venue: Where you party down after the ceremony is probably the most expensive line item in the wedding budget, coming in at a heart-palpitating $12,116 for the average wedding in 2011. Of course, food and drinks are included, but this is still big bucks if you consider that the average wedding has 141 guests. This comes out to be about $86 bucks per guest. I guess thatÍs not as bad as the total sounded, but when you consider you can get a McWedding in Hong Kong for $400 for 100 guests, it makes you think that maybe pizza delivery or a few buckets of chicken might be the better way to go. Another idea that is totally on trend right now is to hire food trucks to come out and serve at your wedding, a much more cost-effective way to serve guests. Hey, food is food right? If you save even half of the 12 grand, you could be looking at a really nice vacation to celebrate your first anniversary. So, are you planning to have a no-expenses sparred wedding or are you planning a more frugal festivity? Either way, you never want to forget to be generous with the friends who have supported you through the process, namely the best man, groomsmen and ushers. Check out our large selection of groomsmen gifts that will fit any budget and may be personalized for that one-of-a-kind gesture money canÍt buy.* Budweiser is a trademark of In-Bev.

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Raise the Bar at Your Reception

Grooms, you can leave all the frilly, girly decision for the bride. Really, who cares about the exact meaning certain flowers connote, if the canap_s should be served with a cocktail fork, or what style of bridesmaid dress would best suit a wide range of body types? Most grooms we know primarily concerned with what beverage is going to be served at the reception (as well as at the bachelor party, rehearsal dinner and groomÍs waiting room). If your lovely bride-to-be has appointed herself the decision-maker of every wedding detail, make sure you speak up and let her know what you think about the drinks _ or forever hold your peace. The drinks, just like every other aspect of the wedding, reflects to your guests a personal style that youÍll want to have a say in. Otherwise, you may end up with skinny margaritas, sangria, hibiscus iced tea or some other ladylike libation. Beer: As one of the oldest beverages humans have ever produced (dating back to the 5th century), beer is also one of them most consumed drinks in the world coming in third behind water and tea. Adding beer to your reception bar is a no-frills and accommodating way to speak to the other men folk there. The groomsmen, fraternity brothers, and those good-ole-boys you met at that summer job for a housing contractor will all appreciate having an icy cold beer to enjoy after suffering _ er, sitting, through the wedding ceremony. If the bride wants to put a fancier spin on the suds, you call always offer premium imported beers in the bottle along with that no-fail keg of Pabst Blue Ribbon. At GroomStand.com, we stock a fine assortment of beer-related groomsmen gifts including personalized beer mugs that will be used with your good taste in mind for years to come. Champagne and Wine: Even if itÍs not being served at an open bar, many wedding receptions served each guest a glass of champagne when itÍs time for the wedding toasts to commence. If youÍre looking for wedding gift ideas for the bride and groom, a pair of champagne toasting glasses that can be personalized with an initial makes a thoughtful gesture. They can even be brought out every year to share a bottle of bubbly on the wedding anniversary. If you are serving champagne for the toasting portion of your wedding, consider offering sparkling water or sparkling fruit juices to children and those guests who choose not to drink alcohol. Wine is popular libation served at wedding receptions; the history of letting the vino flow in marriage celebrations is literally biblical. You may choose to serve either red wine or white wine based on the type of entr_e you are serving for dinner, or you could even make an ñeventî by offering a wine-tasting bar that serves small portions for guests to taste. This idea actually can help reduce your wine tab as people will often stop after several different small servings and tend not to leave unconsumed glasses behind. Cocktails and Signature Drinks: Some grooms like to offer a full open bar for their guests. This is an option, but often an expensive undertaking stocking all the different libations or hiring a professional service. However, serving one ñsignature cocktailî can reflect your style and theme for the wedding while cutting down on expense by limiting the shopping list. For example, for a sophisticated, retro, Mad Men kind of wedding, you could serve martinis in the classic martini glass. Or, for a morning wedding you might choose to offer Bloody Marys or grapefruit and vodka. At Groomstand.com, we have all the appropriate barware to serve different drinks in. ThatÍs good news for your wedding style and for giving as gifts for groomsmen. IÍm sure the guys would love to go home from your shindig with a set of personalized shooter glasses, beer mugs, or even groomsmen flasks. Have you started thinking about what youÍll serve drink-wise at your wedding reception? Do tell, do tell! Let us know how youÍll drink and make merry in the comment section below.

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Where-Oh-Where to Wed

Choosing a wedding venue can be a stressful decision, maybe not as life-altering as actually popping the question, but a decision of significance for the groom nonetheless. If youÍve followed convention when it came to asking her to be your wife, youÍve most likely already made challenging decisions about the perfect engagement ring and the ideal wedding date. Since itÍs typically the brideÍs thing to spend countless hours picking out the dress, flowers and other fussy touches, thereÍs not too much else for the guys do than pick out the perfect groomsmen gifts for their buddies and plan a respectable rehearsal dinner to bring the two families together. However, there is another important decision that the groom should be involved in, and that is helping to decide ñwhere to wed.î When deciding on a wedding venue, it would be nice to have the bank account of a movie star. You could get hitched anywhere in the world and not have to worry about sparing any expense or detail For example, when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner got married in 2005, they were able to seclude themselves in luxury at the Parrot Cay Resort in Turks and Caicos. It was an idyllic island wedding with a ñno flyî zone to keep the paparazzi helicopters away. But, since most of us guys donÍt have those kind of deep pockets and wonÍt be hiding out from a throng of crazed fans (unless you have some past girlfriend stalkers), weÍre just typically looking for a nice, respectable place to host family and friends for a special event. There are plenty of places to hold a ceremony and reception, and with a little advance-planning, youÍll be able to book a venue that will impress all the future in-laws. Wedding ceremony and reception locations fall into a few categories, each with their own pluses and minuses. Religious Venues:Many couples having a traditional wedding opt for securing a house of worship for their ceremony (with a reception often held elsewhere). Allow plenty of time to book a church or temple, because this can often be an ordeal if you are not already a member. I was fairly new to my city when I got married and hadnÍt yet established myself as part of a religious congregation, although I had been a member of a church elsewhere before I moved. While I was not required to become an official member of the church where I married, I was required to have a long-standing member vouch for me and also undergo a 6-week marriage class. While the financial expense was minor, the commitment was just greater than just booking a hotel ball room. Outdoor Venues:Nature-centric couples always jump at the chance to have an outdoor wedding. If this sounds like itÍs for you, make sure you understand all the variables at play. As beautiful as it is, any outdoor space will require set-up and tear-down of chairs, tables, dance-floors, tents and the like. Serving food will be harder for the caterers without an indoor kitchen (although food trucks are becoming a trendy option). Also, donÍt forget about the biggest factor at play in an outdoor wedding, the weather! YouÍll need to be monitoring the forecast and have a back-up plan for any weather situations that go awry. Hotels and Event Locations:The great thing about booking space at a hotel or event location is that they are extremely familiar with hosting wedding receptions; they will even allow you to have the ceremony on-site as well. This means that choices in d_cor, food, and music may all fall under the umbrella provided by the location rather than the bride and groom having to seek out each vendor individually. Many of these venues even have a designated employee to serve as the wedding planner, making the whole experience easier. Even ñpublicî places like museums, libraries and historic buildings are all often used as ceremony and reception spots. Make sure to scout out and secure your location early, many of the popular spots can be booked a year or more in advance. Destination Locations:Do you dream of an exotic beach wedding or a snow-capped soiree? Destination weddings are becoming more popular as couples choose to combine the wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon all into one spot. The drawbacks to this type of location can be the hassle of getting the guests there. Will you be footing the travel and hotel bills, or will they? You could consider the wedding attendantsÍ expenses part of a generous gesture in bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts. Yes, the tab can quickly add up, but if you are loaded like a Hollywood A-lister, why not enjoy this (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you could choose to get married anywhere and expense and logistics were of no consequence, what spot would you pick? From the swanky Plaza Hotel in New York City to your own backyard, we want to hear what you think in the comment section below.

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Can I Have More Than One Best Man?

A question that comes up more frequently than you’d think is whether it is “okay” to have more than one best man in your wedding. Most guys are too embarrassed to come right out and say they are having trouble picking between their buddies, assuming that having multiple best friends is kind of girly in a “like OMG you’re one of my BFFs” sort of way. So, before you down your which-guy-to-pick stress with the help of a flask, we’ll set the record straight. While it is “traditional” to have one best man, there is no reason why you can’t have multiple best men in this day and age. Heck, some guys even have women as “best men.” Just remember, that if you really do have more than one best man, you’ll need to give them all the duties and honors that go along with it (including presenting nice groomsmen gifts), otherwise, they’re really just still be groomsmen. There are reasons why you might want to have more than one main wingman buttoning up his best man cufflinks in your wedding. For example, imagine that you became friends with a group of two or three guys at the same time (such as grade school, college or wherever) and each has provided the same level of friendship to you over the years. It would be too awkward to delegate one to become a mere groomsmen; pick them all. Or, imagine that you are super tight with your best friend, but you also have a brother. He could be a pesky little brother or a controlling older brother. While you may not have the same friendship with your brother, family ties last forever. So it’s a good idea to put him in the spotlight alongside your friend. This leads to another question. If you have multiple best men (and this even pertains to the groomsmen), how do you line them up? You could choose the coveted spot right at your side by a coin toss, or in terms of “seniority.” This means, the first person standing next to you should be the person you’ve known the longest; this is undoubtedly going to be a brother, if you have one. If you have more than one older brother, you’ve known them both the same amount of time – since birth! Give the oldest of the older sibling seniority. Next, younger brothers and then friends in the order of how long you’ve known them can be lined up. Another twist is when the bride wants her own brother to be one of your groomsmen. If you’re not buddy-buddy, stick him at the end, but make him feel important by carrying your note cards or something. Don’t forget to give each an important role and responsibility in the wedding and thank them with a token of your appreciation, such as with personalized best man gifts suited to the personality of each.

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Grooms, Make the Rehearsal Dinner Yours

ItÍs pretty obvious the wedding is about the bride; that is, if you listen to most people. Phrases like ñitÍs the brideÍs dayî and ñall eyes on the brideî make it seem like the groom is quite expendable and should take a backseat in the decision-making process. It seems like all guys get to do are order the tuxedos and pick out the groomsmen gifts. Women get bridal showers (although couple and groom showers are catching on), get to wear something out of the ordinary, and basically get treated like queens through the whole wedding process. If you are a guy getting married stand up and make a statement that your opinions count to, and that it is ñthe groomÍs dayî too. The rehearsal dinner is one event that you can plan and execute how you see fit. Especially considering that itÍs the groomÍs parents and/or the groom who pays for and hosts the event. The rehearsal dinner is traditionally held the night before the wedding and is a good way to give the two families a chance to get to know each other. Also, itÍs a place where the groomsmen and bridesmaids can mix and mingle and meet the families too. What a great opportunity to celebrate with your family in friends in the way that you see fit! If that means at a sports bar over burgers and beer or on the beach with a blazing bonfire, youÍll feel great knowing youÍve shown your genuine personality and style through the festivities. Of course, if your bride likes to take control over everything (sheÍs a planner, and thatÍs a good thing), discuss with her about backing off this one evening. However, donÍt take over planning the rehearsal dinner without talking to her first. Two-way communication is always the best way to start off and continue a marriage. Assure her that the affair will be a relaxed, fun event where the ice will be broken and stress will be relieved. And, even better for her, she doesnÍt have to worry about anything or lift a single finger. YouÍve got it covered! Here are some things youÍll want to consider when planning your rehearsal dinner. Book the venue about 4 months from the wedding. DonÍt assume that the bowling alley party room is going to be available for you on a momentÍs notice. Decide on the menu (based on your budget) and decide if you will be hosting a sit-down dinner, just appetizers and drinks, or having foods catered to your location (like barbeque in a barn). Notify the people you would like to give toasts at the rehearsal dinner such as your parents, the best man, the groomsmen or whomever! Give them enough time to get their thoughts together and practice if needed. Put together a little audio-visual material. Although this is optional, guests always love seeing pictures of the happy couple when they were very young. You could make a slide show, movie or even just a poster board display. Mail invitations about a month ahead of time. If it is a very small or casual rehearsal dinner, you could get away with emails, phone calls or online invitation services. Other unique ideas including sending an edible cookie card or scrolling up your invitation and sticking in a beer mug! Order flowers, props, personalized napkins or take-home favors for your guests about one month ahead of time. Purchase groomsmen gifts and decide if you would like to present them at the rehearsal dinner, before the wedding ceremony while all of you are waiting together, or later that night at the reception part. Please tell us any unique ideas you have for rehearsal dinners _ from venues and food to favors and ice-breaker games. Use the comment section below.

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GroomÍs Checklist for a Winter Holiday Wedding

While everyone else is decking the halls, holiday shopping, and fa-la-la-la-la-ling, a guy who is getting married in the months of December or January has much more on his to-do list. Many couples choose to get married at this time of year, not because the winter landscape creates a beautiful backdrop for a white wedding but also extended family members are usually already gathered together. In the hustle and bustle of the season, don’t let the following details slip by you before the big day approaches. 1) Don’t forget to select a wedding gift AND a holiday gift for your bride. While you may think the proximity of the two occasions makes it acceptable to give one gift; believe us, your fiancée will certainly be expecting two gifts, so check out our life-saving selection of gifts for the bride. 2) Order your groomsmen gifts early, to avoid the hassles of holiday mail delivery. In a pinch however, Groomstand.com offers a variety of shipping options (including overnight delivery) to suit your situation, even for people with procrastinating dispositions. 3) Consider holiday-themed groomsmen gifts. A unique idea for groomsmen gifts is to take our traditional engraved photo ornament, insert a fun picture of you and your groomsman having a great time (perhaps from the bachelor party), and tie it around the neck of his favorite bottle of scotch or whiskey. Your good name is sure to be toasted until the bottle of booze is drained. 4) Make a contingency plan in case the weather turns severe during your wedding ceremony and reception. Consider how guests will travel home safely or if the venue will allow you to stay longer if needed. In either event, our personalized leather auto utility kit, personalized fleece blanket, and umbrellas make useful wedding favors and groomsmen gifts. So do personalized flasks if the weather turns really, really bad and everyone is stuck inside for days!

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April Fool's Day Pranks for a Wedding

While getting married is a serious matter, thereÍs no reason not to add a little fun to the festivities, especially on and around April FoolÍs Day. Or, if you have a reputation for pranks and practical jokes, you could get away with a shenanigan or two at a celebration any time of the year. While it probably isnÍt in good taste to pull off a prank at the actual ceremony, the other wedding events are fair game _ such as the bachelor party, wedding showers, bridal events, family lunches, and so on. While pranks are fun, you donÍt want to poke fun, upset, or embarrass the friends, family and other guests who have gathered to support you during this time. What you think is funny could be interpreted as mean-spirited or malicious by another, thatÍs why itÍs always a good idea to run your prank through a few ñgates.î Reveal the prank to at least one close comrade or family member to make sure that itÍs not too ñover the top.î You donÍt want to make the bride cry or send her mother into a hissy fit. And, you definitely donÍt want to initiate a prank unless you are the bride or the groom; otherwise you risk losing a friendship. Here are some fun ideas for an April FoolÍs Day prank at a wedding-related event: Tie candy Ring Pops onto the ring bearÍs pillow. Of course youÍll have the real bling hidden in the best manÍs pocket and the pint-sized wedding helper can keep the edible rings as one of his >ring bearer gifts. Arrange for a celebrity impersonator to show up at your wedding, especially a sexy star who will make the groomsmenÍs jaws drop. Think of what a fun groomsman gift this would be! Snap a picture so each buddy can show off his celebrity meet-up long after the wedding.> Hire a troop of professional yo-yo performers to entertain guests at the wedding reception before you arrive. Give each guest a >personalized yo-yo as a wedding favor and have them show of their new skills in a commemorative ñadviceî video for the bride and groom about the ñups and downsî of marriage.> Surprise everyone watching and do the hokey pokey for your first dance. Shake it all about!> Serve ñsurpriseî wedding food in a uber-formal setting. Imagine tuxedo-wearing waiters opening domed silver trays to reveal corn dogs, pork rinds or funnel cakes. Sure to get a laugh and get gobbled up.> Put on one of those choreographed dance routines that turn into viral videos, like the Michael Jackson ñThrillerî dance that started it all! YouÍll have to practice for many hours with your buddies, but the reaction youÍll get from your audience is well worth it! Make sure to give the guys awesome >groomsmen gifts for being part of this prank! Try to set a world record at your wedding and get all the guests to participate. Go for the largest amount of rose petals tossed, the fastest ñraceî down the wedding aisle, or the most years of marriage by all guests combined. Get creative and call in a Guinness Book representative to make it official.> Create photo pranks like the shot where the groom has written the words ñhelp meî on the bottoms of his shoes, so that when he kneels the congregation will see is plea. Or, have all the groomsmen AND bridesmaids wear stick-on mustaches as they walk down the aisle, this is especially funny if you are a guy known for his distinctive facial hair.> Fill the >groomsmen flasks with something unexpected like chocolate milk or prune juice. The ideas go on and on. Do you have any good wedding prank ideas? Let us know in the comments below:

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A Groom Should Express His ñTastesî at the Reception

Although many say the wedding is the “bride’s day,” most wedding receptions do take into consideration the groom. After all, isn’t food and drink a specialty of men?! Brides like to fuss and fret about many of the “visual” elements of the wedding, such as the dress, the flowers and the venue. However, men seem to be more interested in expressing their opinions on matters of “tastes”! Here are some areas that the groom should put in his two cents worth before the bride takes over: Reception Food: It may seem hard to reach a menu decision when the bride prefers delicate spa food while the groom prefers barbeque. Ultimately, many of the food choices are tied to the atmosphere of the venue. However, the tastes of a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy can be catered to without upsetting the bride’s ideas too much by adding a steak plate for a sit down dinner or a prime-rib carving station at a buffet. Consider using a personalized steak brand (also a favorite pick in groomsmen gifts) to add a unique look to the wedding meal! Drink: Serving beer at a wedding reception is a very popular choice with men. For causal events, serving beer in bottles or cans may be acceptable. You can even provide personalized koozies as wedding favors. However, at more formal affairs, beer can be tapped and poured into a “formal” beer mug such as a Ferdinand mug or a stemmed beer glass. Also on-trend at wedding receptions are scotch and whisky stations where guests can sample fine aged liquors in moderation. To serve these liquors in style, consider using our sophisticated shot glasses. Groom’s Cake: Serving a groom’s cake at the wedding, alongside the classic wedding cake, is a tradition that began in the South. As an alternative to the typically white bride’s cake, the groom’s cake is often chocolate. For years, a chocolate cake with chocolate-covered strawberries was a top choice for obvious reasons. But, since the popularity of all the “cake” shows on reality television, the options for groom’s cakes are now only limited by the imagination. Many of these edible masterpieces are decorated to pay tribute to the groom’s favorite hobbies such as fishing, golf, or a particular sports team of choice.

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