Re-Tying the Knot - Vow Renewal Ceremonies

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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.

Say "Yes" to Proposal Day

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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.

What To Do: You DonÍt Want Kids at your Wedding

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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.

Weddings and Office Politics Tips for the Groom

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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?

Man-centric Spending Strategy for a Wedding

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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 43,3oo 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 “average” wedding or be guaranteed two beers a day until you kick the bucket? Gee, that’s 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.

Raise the Bar at Your Reception

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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 canapés 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 groom’s 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 you’ll want to have a say in. Otherwise, you may end up with skinny margaritas, sangria, hibiscus iced tea or some other ladylike libation.

Where-Oh-Where to Wed

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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 you’ve followed convention when it came to asking her to be your wife, you’ve most likely already made challenging decisions about the perfect engagement ring and the ideal wedding date. Since it’s typically the bride’s thing to spend countless hours picking out the dress, flowers and other fussy touches, there’s 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 “where to wed.”

Can I Have More Than One Best Man?

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

A question that comes up more frequently than youÍd think is whether it is ñokayî 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 ñlike OMG youÍre one of my BFFsî sort of way. So, before you down your which-guy-to-pick stress with the help of a flask, weÍll set the record straight. While it is ñtraditionalî to have one best man, there is no reason why you canÍt have multiple best men in this day and age. Heck, some guys even have women as ñbest men.î Just remember, that if you really do have more than one best man, youÍll need to give them all the duties and honors that go along with it (including presenting nice groomsmen gifts), otherwise, theyÍre really just still be groomsmen.

Grooms, Make the Rehearsal Dinner Yours

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

Grooms, Make the Rehearsal Dinner Yours

It’s pretty obvious the wedding is about the bride; that is, if you listen to most people. Phrases like “it’s the bride’s day” and “all eyes on the bride” 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 “the groom’s day” too. The rehearsal dinner is one event that you can plan and execute how you see fit. Especially considering that it’s the groom’s parents and/or the groom who pays for and hosts the event.

GroomÍs Checklist for a Winter Holiday Wedding

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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.

April Fool's Day Pranks for a Wedding

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

April Fool

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.

A Groom Should Express His ñTastesî at the Reception

Posted by AMIT SUTHAR

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:

Pre-loader