The Groom's Wedding 'To Do' List

You finally asked her to marry you. Now, all you have to do is figure out how to marry her. Deep breath - and relax. Just follow our lead with this step-by-step groom planning guide by wedding expert and guest blogger Genve McNally from Dreamgroup Productions Inc. EIGHT-TWELVE MONTHS PRIOR: Decide on who's paying for what (e.g., bride's family might pay for the food bill, the bride's attire, and the flowers & dcor, while the groom's family may take on the liquor bill, the hosting of the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding day transportation) Create a budget and stick with it (if you end up spending more in one area, find another area(s) in which to cut back some costs) - Just be sure to start off with a realistic budget -- expecting 15K to cover wedding costs for 200 people is not practical! Do the math first... take the cost of an average evening of dinner and drinks, times it by the number of guests expected and double that figure to get an average and realistic working budget. Assist with selecting your marriage officiant; referrals are a great resource. Create your guest list (don't forget to allow for your family's inclusions) Choose your groomsmen (and no, you don't HAVE to have the same number of groomsmen as your bride-to-be has bridesmaids, unless she's very adamant about balance... you then may be forced to make some new friends fast) Plan the wedding night and honeymoon (not all couples need to travel to Hawaii or Europe to celebrate their union... check out local hideaways and spa retreats) Check that passports and travel papers are up-to-date (if applicable) FOUR-EIGHT MONTHS PRIOR: Purchase the wedding rings and arrange for engraving (one couple wrote the first words the groom ever uttered to his bride, "come here often?") Select what you will wear by referring to The Groom's Guide to the Tuxedo and arrange for a fitting Confirm reservations for the honeymoon Arrange a special rate at a local hotel for your out of town guests; they're always appreciative of this gesture TWO-THREE MONTHS PRIOR: Acquire your marriage license Make reservations for the rehearsal dinner (if your parents aren't taking care of this) ONE-TWO MONTHS PRIOR: Buy a special gift for your bride on her wedding day (anything from a strand of pearls to a lovely bouquet of long stemmed red roses accompanied by a sweet note is acceptable... hopefully you know what will make her smile) Purchase your groomsmen gifts (something like an engraved flask is nice - perhaps golf, dinner, or even spa certificates are also well received ) Review all vendor contracts and make sure all required payments are made Re-Confirm honeymoon and reservation details (once is not enough) ONE WEEK PRIOR: Confirm the time and place of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner with all your groomsmen and anyone else you think needs to "be in the know" Pick up wedding rings -- make sure you check the engraving before leaving the store! Pick up your formal wear Give the best man marked envelopes with payments that need to be made on the wedding day (e.g.: officiant, musicians, photographer, etc.) Pack for the honeymoon Event Planners in Vancouver, BC. Geneve and her business partner, Sarah Shore, created DreamGroup in the Summer of 2004 and are now considered one of the top planning companies for a Vancouver wedding, executing over 60 Vancouver weddings and special events annually. In her "spare" time Geneve teaches Wedding Planning at Vancouver Community College and also writes for several local publications. She is happily married and the proud mother of two year old son, Harrison Law.

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Take Back Your Wedding Sale

7 Tell-Tale Signs You Blew Your Wedding Budget Wedding Budget Blunders Your groomsmen gifts were personal handmade keepsake cards tailored to each of your friends.It's the thought that counts, right? And the two dollars in material costs. The closest your bachelor party got to having 'live entertainment' was the banter between your friends and a middle-aged woman named Flo working the Sunset lanes bowling alley.As 'live entertainment' goes, Flo wasn't half bad. She out drank half your friends, and you lost five bucks in a bet. Who knew a 100 pound dame could inhale an entire cigarette in one mind-blowing draw? You refinanced your house - again - to pay for the wedding rings. It seemed like a good idea around this time last year... You hired your second cousin Luigi's 80s hair cover band to play at your wedding because he offered to do it for an invitation. The band received its loudest ovation when Luigi fell off the stage and onto his face in one drunken careening spectacle. Your tux was the same color as the Pink Flamingos that litter the yards of Florida's retirement homes. At least it cost half as much as those useless plastic birds. Your tuxedo has more crimps and ruffles than a tutu dress, and you're sporting so much polyester you begin to feel like an extra on "That 70s Show". Your wedding night is booked for a stay at the nearby Motel Six Your Honeymoon suite at Motel 6 comes complete with heart-shaped bathtub and a free continental breakfast. You wake up late the next morning, so you have to fight off a ten year old for the last warm waffle and a creme-filled do-nut. Your first errand as a married couple, mere hours after being married. Do pawn shops accept gifts from newlyweds? How much cash for all the toasters? Do any of the above scenarios sound familiar? There's more than a slight chance the weddings you know that parallel these encounters went drastically over budget. Luckily, if your wedding budget is getting tight, all you need to do is look at our site-wide Groomstand.com sale for easy ways to save money on your wedding. Not only do we have the gifts for groomsmen that will make shopping a fast and comfortable experience, our site-wide sale means those low prices you've come to expect from us will be even lower in the next few days. Make sure you act fast because this sale is a limited time only offer. If you know your wedding budget is going to be a squeeze heading into the home stretch, make sure it is still a success by keeping those wedding favors and groomsmen gifts under budget.

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Smart Saving And Giving

Wedding costs are always getting higher and it's important to keep an eye out for cost-cutting possibilities. There aren't many that are straight up savings, but taking the time to shop around and find the best price really works, though it does take up a lot of time. There are a few other ways where a little creativity can save you a bundle, namely stationary and centerpieces. You can have cheaper invitations made or you can get some okay ones beef them up to the quality you want on your own, just be creative. Same goes for the centerpieces. One lady put a bowl with rocks and a goldfish as her centerpiece. A goldfish is kind of cheap and easy, but if you wanted to put a more elegant fish in its still only a couple bucks, much cheaper than a flower arrangement. You can also manage your purchases concerning the cake by getting flat cake. You can have your tall and beautiful wedding cake still but with all the guests to serve it would work just as well to get a smaller wedding cake and have a flat cake of the same kind of cake to serve to guests. These savings don't stop there, you still have gifts, groomsmen gifts for you. Shopping sales works on this too, but that might not be the best idea for a personal gift. You want something that is suited just for whoever it is for, maybe a wallet (for all that money saved!) or something for drinking or even a hobby-based gift like golf. Maybe they aren't that personal to begin with either, but with an engraved name or message you can turn it into something special, regardless of cost. Tags: groomsmen gifts, groomsmen, gifts, camping, cut_costs, personal, gift,

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Should Someone Else Pay for Your Wedding?

Forget the dish set and frying pan. The economy is taking a big bite out of wedding budgets, but newlywed blog sites like Dollarforawedding.com and Wishpot give guests a chance to forgo the Macy's registry list and help the couple where they need it most - paying for the party. Etiquette experts advise against taking wedding donations from guests. They compare setting up a PayPal account for wedding registry to charging admission at the door. We at GroomStand know weddings are expensive, but it's not like you have to put your groomsmen gifts on layaway. You just wouldn't mind help paying for the most important, not to mention expensive, day of your life. Why PayPal Makes Perfect Sense for Wedding Gifts After a few years in an apartment, you should have enough wine glasses and mixing bowls to fill the cupboards. The two of you are young, bright and likely eco-conscious. There's no reason to create extra waste with unnecessary kitchen replacements. Skip the new spatula, the best wedding gift your guests can give is a debt-free start at a new life together. GroomStand Tip: While cash is a perfectly acceptable gift for the bride and groom, it does not make a good groomsmen gift. Take these 5 tips if you plan to get your wedding sponsored or ask guests for a donation. 5 Ways to Request a Wedding Donation 1. We Already Take Cash. Why not a Credit Card? Cash is the gift of choice for those who know they should bring a wedding gift, but are too lazy to pick one out. The main problem: people don't carry cash anymore. People are glad to make it rain Benjamins on the gift table, but if you don't have an ATM at the altar, you might be out of a gift. PayPal makes it convenient for the uncreative gift giver. Just set up a wedding blog with a PayPal link. Even if guests forget about the registry list at home, they can make a last minute deposit from their iPhone while at the reception. 2. Give your Guests the Option to Donate Aunt Mildred is set in her ways. If she doesn't like the idea of transferring funds to your PayPal account, let her choose a traditional gift from your wedding registry. 3. Be Political Politicians have to sell their grand idea if they want funding. Your wedding is no different. Sure, no one will feel sorry for you when you say you're having trouble paying for your two-week Mediterranean cruise, but your guests will find more satisfaction when they know their money is going towards something practical. Ask them to vote YES on an unforgettable honeymoon. 4. Make it a Communal Experience If you give people the option of funding your wedding, give them a vote on how the party should go down. Sponsorourwedding.com is another newlywed blog that allows donators a chance to vote for specific wedding details like the best wedding cake design, or which car to use for the getaway ride. 5. Take Over an Event One couple in Brooklyn, NY took their $100,000 wedding budget down to $20,000 by inviting corporate sponsors. By hosting their wedding at a minor league baseball game, Dave Kerpen and his new wife created an attractive venue for wedding advertisers -- 7,000 people showed. They found sponsors for the rings, dress and flowers in exchange for advertising space around the altar.

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O.W.A. - Organizational Wedding Assistance

In getting ready and planning his wedding, what more could a groom need than this: My Wedding Hero. A first-of-its-kind Internet-based software program that acts as a comprehensive wedding planning tool, this guy will keep your plans running along smooth and organized. It obviously wont help a groom get the courage to confront his mother-in-law or restrain himself later on in his bachelor party, but what can? What My Wedding Hero does allow is for the groom to create a list of To-Do wedding items by date and the person responsible for the task (if you don't know yet this includes getting fitted for a tux, booking honeymoon travel, planning the rehearsal dinner, showing up at the bachelor party, buying the groomsmen gifts and getting ready for the big day). The online software allows the groom to tag similar items to create a group and send email reminders to himself, his bride-to-be, and anyone in the wedding party or on the guest list. Now it does cost $25 a month to use (after its free 5-day trial), but keeping stress free and well organized for 25 bucks sounds a lot better than struggling to manage everything and saving a couple bucks. Check it out though and see if it's something in your ballpark.

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Number One Wiidding Gift

A nice little article from joystiq gave us an update on the most requested newlywed gift at amazon.com, and we think they'd work as gifts for your groomsmen too if you want your buddies to love you forever. Their wedding registry shows that it is no other than Nintendo's Wii gaming console. It's probably because of the Wii sports games that anyone of any age can enjoy, not to mention the fun a little competition brings to any relationship. There are plenty of other games that the groom and groomsmen can enjoy now, or will soon, in addition to the games the ladies will be wanting to play (i.e. Metroid, Resident Evil, Medal of Honor). The one downside is that it's out of stock on amazon.com, but you can always go for Amazon's number two: a pyrex 10-piece food storage set! Instead you might just want to try someplace else for newlywed gifts, but of course you never know when that tupperware might come in handy. Perhaps it'll be when you only have time to be eating leftovers during your few-and-far-between breaks from the Wii. Tags: groomsmen_gifts, groomsmen, gifts, groom, newlywed, Wii,

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New Wedding Toast Widget Saves Groomsmen from Embarrassment

Not only the groom suffers from wedding day jitters. Best men get them too -- just before the wedding toast. The speech should entertain and make the wedding guests guffaw, but at the same time, you should avoid stories about the groom's hilarious drunken escapades. Don't pig roast the groom on his wedding day! Unless you're a rare cross between Jimmy Kimmel and Walt Witman, everyone could use a few wedding words. So what do you do? Get GroomStand's new Wedding Toast Widget! It aggregates the best quotes for the various types of wedding speeches. Spread the words! Copy and paste the toast widget on your own blog, using the code provided with the link. With your help, we could put an end to terrible toasts.

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Mission Possible: Ring Sizing Reconnaissance

The engagement ring. She's pointed to it a million times. The squareish-cut diamond, with a bunch of diamonds around it (ok, so you weren't listening that well, but you could pick it out of a magazine if your life depended on it). The symbol of your love is just one bank account clearing transaction away - when you realize... you don't know the ring size. The ring size is the bane of your existence. It's the last thing you want to think about when you're popping the big question, but it's the first thing that can ruin your magical moment. Finding a ring size isn't like finding your best man's shirt size for your groomsmen gifts. Ring sizes don't come up in everyday conversation. If you'd rather pass on the "let's go ring shopping together" experience, take our advice on ring sizing reconnaissance. Ring Size: 101 - Size Does Matter Jewelers don't make this easy. Ring sizes in the United State and Canada are on their own system with quarter and half sizes. What makes it more confusing is that fingers can swell up to a full ring size throughout the day from eating or exercising. When it comes to measuring a ring, anything more specific than a half size is irrelevant. Finding the Ring Size: There are five ways to find your gal's ring size without her knowing (but only three will work): 5. Use a Printable Ring Size Chart This printable ring size chart from Blue Nile is a great piece of marketing, but it's not a tool of the trade. The paper sizer is suspect because... um, IT'S PAPER. Paper is flexible. It moves and takes the shape of your finger. You'll get inaccurate results when you compare it to a medal ring. 4. Tie a String Around Her Finger A string takes less work (no cutting out paper sizers) but still just as shoddy. The string is more likely to give a tight measurement than a loose one. 3. Steal One of Her Rings Your mission, should you decide to accept it... Snoop through her jewelry box. Swipe a "ring finger" ring. Slide it in your pocket and dash to the jewelry store. If you or any team member be caught or killed, GroomStand will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck. This message will not self-destruct in five seconds (so don't let her find out). 2. Use Your Own Finger If you can't make it out the door with her ring, place it on your own finger. It's likely that your hands are wider than hers - take note by marking the spot the ring rests (just so you don't confuse yourself, mark your finger on both sides of the ring). 1. Use Soap This method sounds asinine, but we're not the only ones recommending this stunt. Smash one of her rings into a bar of soap. The circle impression should be an accurate mold of her ring to take to the jeweler. Ring Shopping - Before You Buy Understand the return policy. Always make sure you can get a full refund, or at the very least trade the ring back for store credit. If the future fiancé needs an alteration, find out if those services are included with the purchase. Have fun with the surprise. Remember this is a story you'll have to share about a million times over the next year.

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May the Force be with your Star Wars Wedding

She's as beautiful as the moon of Endor, and as graceful as a TIE Fighter. She can throw on a gold bikini and argue why the Millennium Falcon can do the Kessel run in twelve parsecs. Yep, you found the perfect girl. Celebrate your love for the conquest of the galaxy with GroomStand's step-by-step guide for a Star Wars Wedding. Add a Touch of a Galaxy Far, Far Way You don't have to build the Mos Eisley Cantina to give your wedding an outer space theme. With a few Death Star disco balls and some lightsabers as groomsmen gifts, you can have your very own Star Wars themed back yard ceremony (although, it might take a Jedi mind trick to get your mother-in-law to dress up like a wookie). Duncan Thompson (dressed as Han Solo kissing his bride Sammi Gardiner) went the extra light year with his wedding details. Mr. Thomas told his bride "I promise to protect you from carbon freezing and promise to protect you from the Dark Side, through hyperspace and into the far reaches of the galaxy." While he wasn't able to wrangle George Lucas as a wedding guest, he did create his bride's ring out of a meteorite, engraved with: "May the 4th be with you." The Beauty of the Galaxy If your wedding party isn't in the mood to strap a blaster to their hip, the bride can embrace the beauty of the Empire with this curvy Stromtrooper wedding dress. Screw the droids, now that's what I'm lookin for! Slice Your Tauntaun and Eat Him Too And you thought they smelled bad on the outside. This special cake from Cake Nouveau shows of an unconscious Luke Skywalker keeping warm inside a severed Tauntaun during a Hoth ice storm. The groom, original Star Wars artist Chris Trevas, commented on the Star Wars blog that "Older relatives were a bit confused, but the kids and our friends loved it!" If you're actually trying to throw your own Star Wars themed wedding, Jedi-Robe.com has enough lightsabers and blasters to take down the Empire. And if you're still looking for some awesome groomsmen gifts from this galaxy, shop at GroomStand.com.

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Make it a Dance Party worthy of the King of Pop

So, you've decided to turn your Girlfriend into The Lady in My LIfe and you want to Come Together with those Smooth Criminal college buddies for one last Carousel? If you're like us, you Wanna be Startin' Somethin' on the night of your bachelor party. Whatever Happens, make sure you and your friends party until the Break of Dawn like the Heartbreakers that you know you are. With the Last Night of Freedom tee, you and your groomsmen can party to Billie Jean, Man in the Mirror and all the other great Michael Jackson dance tunes. It's a recipe that is sure to make your bachelor party a Thriller that you and your groomsmen will remember for the ages. Today only, you can have your very own last night of freedom t-shirt, now just $15.00 $12.00. Buy 6 or more and get an additional 10% off! Hurry - BUY NOW, supplies are RUNNING OUT!

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Fake Cakes: Do or Don't?

If only, there was a way to have a ridiculously fancy wedding without the ridiculous price tag. Everyone wants the best tuxedo, the classiest reception hall and the shiniest groomsmen gifts, but there's only so much a guy could can spend. Say goodbye to your budget sorrows because FunCakes will get you one-step closer to the wedding you could never afford. Why Rent a Wedding Cake, you ask? You already know the wedding cake is the centerpiece to any wedding. You also know wedding cakes are expensive, heavy and prone to damage from heat, children's fingers, and groom and bride cake smashing. Cakes are fun to look at, but they're not fun to destroy when all you can think about is the price tag. By the way, fondant tastes like Play-Doh. Skip the stress and save your own dough by renting a cake. FunCakes offers some fantastically gravity-defying cake structures made out of foam. Even though it's a fake wedding cake, each foam structure has a fondant frosting cover for that insta-cavity glossy finish. Instead of cutting the cake apart, each of these artificial cakes has a secret compartment to store a small tasty treat for the bride and groom to snack on. Otherwise, FunCakes recommends that you take the rental cake back to the kitchen and serve a delectable sheet cake to all of your guests. Trust me, no one is going to stand up and shout "You Imposter!" Don't try this with your groomsmen gifts or any other wedding accessory. Your buddies likely won't appreciate fake Rolex watches! How Much Does a Rental Wedding Cake Cost? If you order a cake from their pre-designed gallery, the model will start at $175.00, plus a fully refundable $200.00 safety deposit. Here are some of their most eye-popping designs: If a custom theme is more your style, you can submit a two-dimensional drawing or three-dimensional CAD file to show off a special image or corporate logo. The basic three-tiered custom cake rental costs $275.00, plus the safety deposit. Compare that to the average cost of a no-frills wedding cake at $534 according to The Bridal Association of America, you'll save more than enough to spring for some extra cool groomsmen gifts.

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Credit Cards Don't Lie

The proof is in the pudding and the averages and statistics don't lie. Discovery has published their findings that men actually spend more money than women on weddings. Groomsmen actually spend an average of $1,009 on wedding expenses (which include pre-wedding festivities) while bridesmaids only spent an average of $963. The discrepancy isn't much, but that is hardly the point. It's simply interesting to note that in an industry that has historically always been known to celebrate "her big day" this writer finds it fascinating that men actually spend more money than women, and they're not even the ones buying the groomsmen gifts. And those numbers likely aren't tallying the the ATM withdrawals at the local strip club as groomsmen gifts are being passed out in the form of lap dances. Another interesting fact is that apparently only five percent of brides and grooms claimed that they would want crystal and china, long known as the big registration favorites. The big hit with brides and grooms in today's society is gift cards. It makes sense too, for while it may seem like an impersonal gift, much like giving cash, it also means that they can spend it on whatever they like, which makes sense to me. Apparently with men having as much interest in weddings as women and for more than just picking out groomsmen gifts and finding the best strip club for the bachelor party, there will be plenty of wedding spending for eons to come. Technorati Tags: credit cards, groomsmen gifts, weddings

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