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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Hey Grooms! Prevent Mother-In-Law Madness

As the groom whether you legitimately think your future mother-in-law is awesome or the feelings are less that warm and fuzzy, the plain fact is that youÍre stuck with her for life when you marry your bride! In order to stay (or get) on her good side, you need to be mindful about what you say to this ñother mother.î And, it wouldnÍt hurt to ply her with a few thoughtful mother-in-law gifts. And, while youÍre at it, donÍt forget to get a gift for the bride to show just what a thoughtful guy you are. Here are some topics to stay away from: Cooking critiques: If you know what side your bread is buttered on, you better not ever dare to offer your analysis of her cooking skills. Sincerely complement her on the dishes that you enjoy, but donÍt make comparisons like ñthis tastes almost as good as the spaghetti at Macaroni Grillî or ñhey, is this chicken Shake-n-Bake?î The later actually happened with my mother-in-law and I was given the cold shoulder (and cold dinners) for the next year when visiting her home. Politics: ItÍs best not to get the in-laws riled up about politics. Because your mother-in-law comes from a different generation, it is highly possible that she may have differing viewpoints about social, moral or economic issues. If a discussion does turn into a debate, keep it friendly and move on quickly to the next topic _ how great her cooking is! TMI: DonÍt ever give your mother-in-law ñtoo much information.î Whether the details of your bottom-line or the bedroom, this type of over-sharing will always come back to haunt you. There is the potential for her to gossip with other family and friends or to embarrassingly ask you about the topic the next time she comes calling. Even the most well-intentioned mom wants to offer her advice; remember that you are the one fueling the fire. Complain about her daughter: The woman you are marrying is also the daughter that she carried for nine months, birthed, fixed her hair in pony tails, took to endless ballet classes and bragged about proudly long before you ever came into the scene. So if your future wife has pesky little habits that drive you crazy or you think she should hit the gym a little more, these are thoughts you need to keep to yourself. Please!

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Best Man Duties on the Wedding Day

While being the Best Man isn’t necessarily a hard job by any means, there are a few responsibilities a guy needs to follow through with in order to keep the title bestowed upon him after the wedding. No groom wants in the hard position of having to demote his Best Man for failing to live up to the minimal “must-dos.” Last month we talked about what the Best Man should expect to do in the weeks and days leading up to the wedding. For the most part, this includes planning and executing a bachelor party, getting fitted for formal wear, attending the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (sometimes a toast is required), and taking care of any pre-wedding errands the grooms might need help with. The actual day of the wedding ceremony is also filled with easy obligations for the Best Man. If you are getting weary of all this wedding stuff; don’t worry, by the end of the night, but bulk of your to-do list will be marked off. Here are some key tasks you should plan on assisting with on the big day. Remember, many of these may not be assigned to you officially by the groom. The groom is stressed to the max and it is your job to help make sure that he is taken care of! This leads us to the roles you’ll be playing on the wedding day: Personal Assistant. Just think of those A-list celebrities who have a lackey to run around after them and tend to all the little (and big) situations that may come up. For example, does the groom have his tux? The marriage license? The wedding ring? You might have to run back to his apartment to pick up his razor or the groomsmen gifts he left behind. Or, maybe his great aunt accidentally barreled through the flower beds outside the church in her big Cadillac. Assure him every wedding has a snafu or two that happens, and then dash off to take care of the crisis at hand. Travel Agent: Ask the groom if you can help him take care of his honeymoon last-minute plans. It would really take a load off by confirming the flight reservations and pre-printing his boarding passes that morning. Make sure the groom has whatever he needs to head straight from the reception to the honeymoon – he may not get a chance to drop by is house beforehand. We’re talking about stuff like luggage (with personalized luggage tags), tickets, cameras and passport case all get put in the car. Also, a nice gesture, make sure is gas tank is topped off! Support-Giver & Sounding Board: It surely comes as no news, that many grooms get the proverbial “cold feet” right before the wedding. Even those guys who were never nervous about the nuptials during the engagement may start to have palpitation about leaving bachelorhood behind. Just remind the groom that he’s picked the love of his life and that the nerves are normal – it’s just a little passing anxiety about change and also being “on display.” Do NOT tell him he is ruining his life, if you feel the marriage is a mistake, your feelings should have been shared a long, long time ago. Groomsmen & Usher Shepherd: Without as many responsibilities, the groomsmen and ushers can often fall way to partying and having a good time instead of focusing on the significance of the event.. Hours before the ceremony starts, make sure that all the groomsmen have been accounted for, have their tuxedos in hand, and have a reliable ride to the church. As the groom’s party convenes before the ceremony, you’ll likely be the one responsible for handing out the boutonnieres and stealing away the groomsmen flasks. Ceremonial Sidekick: Traditionally, the Best Man walks in with the groom, but sometimes he also escorts the Maid of Honor. The actual wedding processional varies by the faith and formality of the ceremony. You’ll also be in charge of the wedding ring (unless there is a cute little ring bearer – and then you’ll be in charge of him). And, sealing the deal into the public records, you’ll most likely be asked to sign your name as a witness on the wedding license. So what part of the best man responsibilities are you looking forward to the most?

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Get Party Started With Bachelor Party T-Shirts

Think grown men dressing alike is for weirdoes and wimps? Well think again, because there are a couple times in a guyÍs life that itÍs okay for the entire wolf pack to dress up identically. The most obvious is on a manÍs actual wedding day when the whole line-up of groomsmen and ushers wear carbon-copy tuxedos. But the bachelor party is increasingly becoming a popular night to ditch individual style for a unified front of fashion. Whether you are heading out for a day of golf on his favorite course or spending the weekend in Vegas whooping it up, bachelor party t-shirts ensure that the world knows that the man of honor is celebrating his last days of freedom and his pals are supporting him one hundred percent. If you are the groom, you may have bigger and better groomsmen gifts in mind, but bachelor party t-shirts make inexpensive and practical presents that will bring the boys together in old-fashioned male bonding. Plus, most are made from 100% cotton, making them cool and comfortable and easy to wash for a second night of wearing. And, if the shirt gets stained with lipstick or vomit, itÍs no big loss to toss in the trash before the guests head home to reality. GroomStand.com, the leader in groomsmen gifts has several different styles of personalized t-shirts that can be custom-made for your guyÍs only event. Most are emblazoned with the name and wedding ñtitleî of the recipient; some even are made for specific stag parties such as those in Vegas or with a special theme. So, donÍt overlook the use of bachelor party t-shirts as groomsmen gifts for the men in your pre-wedding posse. These shirts send the message that the party crew is coming through and are perfect for staging group photos and drunkenly picking each other out of a crowded bar.

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Adventurous Outdoor Bachelor Parties

Bachelor parties have traditionally been the stuff of alcohol-marinated, strip club debauchery. But maybe the groom for whom you are planning a bachelor party isn’t into that kind of debauchery – no matter how much you might wish him to be No judgments here; every man has different interests and his wishes should always be respected when it comes to his own stag night. If you are trying to sidestep the boobs-and-booze type of party, you may be onto something big if you plan an “active” bachelor party. Many guys like to get their thrills from the great outdoors, not from smoky, shadowy, and sleazy situations that make him look like a guilty suspect the next day. Plus, you don’t want him to have to spend his budget for groomsmen gifts on bailing himself and everyone else out of jail the next day. Keeping this in mind, an “outdoor adventure” bachelor party is sure to get hearts pounding in much healthier ways – especially if you consider he won’t be killed the next day by an angry bride. Here are some outdoor bachelor party ideas to get you started: Whitewater Rafting: A wet dream in so many ways, careening down a raging river in a plastic raft and a half-dozen buddies is the perfect weekend for many grooms. The groom can gear you guys up with personalized pocket knives and other survival gear for groomsmen gifts and you can guarantee the bride that he won’t even look at another woman while he’s away -- -that’s because there probably won’t even be any women there! National Park Tripping: Rent an RV and hit the open roads with a famous geographical destination in mind like Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon. If the groom is an outdoor die-hard, you can skip the luxury of an RV and pitch tents instead. Spend the days hiking, fishing and exploring and the nights cooking dinner over a bonfire and drinking beer under the stars. Ski and Snowboarding: For grooms planning a winter wedding, a trip to enjoy snow sports is sure to be a fun fest. The wedding party can wear themselves out on the slopes until the sun drops and then hit the active nightlife scene in most towns. Whether you stay at a fancy resort or rough it at a cabin, a weekend of ski-bumming makes a great bachelor send off. Remember the ski vacation with a personalized sign featuring an alpine adventurer. Sun and Surfing: If you live near the ocean or a ready to road trip it, even the most laid-back groom will be going crazy to find out his bachelor party is a surf, surf, surfing safari! Take lessons if necessary and enjoy all the scenery of the beach, you can also take your newfound skills to the sidewalks on longboards. Plus, all the guys will get that “healthy glow” by being out in the sunshine – just don’t get sunburned bright red or you’ll stick out painfully on the wedding day. At night, drink beer on the beach in these awesome surfside design personalized beer mugs. Get Engines Revving: Indulge that need for speed at a race-car driving school with no worries about getting a ticket. This adrenaline-infusing bachelor party idea will be a real thrill for the groom and help him focus his nervous energy on the race track rather than the impending walk down the aisle. The groom can send y’all home with race car themed groomsmen gifts like our NASCAR steak brand, decked out with a driver’s signature and car number.

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Have a 'Smoking' Bachelor Party

Grouch Marx once said, “Given the choice between a woman and a cigar, I will always choose the cigar.” What better way to kick off a fiancée free night than to light up a round of fine cigars at your bachelor party. Cigar smoking has become quite a popular activity at these guys-only events and Groomstand.com has plenty of ideas make your night go up in smoke . . . in a good way! Pick the right cigar: While there is no such thing as “the perfect cigar,” there is a cigar that is right for your budget. Whether you have $5 to spend on each cigar or $50, the guys will be exited to light up just the same. A wise person once said that a cigar is as good as the memories that were created when you smoked it. So a great time equals great cigars. Cigars come in differed types, lengths and flavors, nearly something for every type of man in your wedding posse. That’s why investing in a variety sampler pack of cigars is a crowd-pleasing decision. Cigar supplies: In order to properly smoke your bachelor party cigars, certain tools of the trade are required. A cigar cutter is used to nip the end off, preparing it for your enjoyment. Also, highly recommended is the employ of a nice butane lighter, such as a no-fail Zippo. These luxe lighters make great groomsmen gifts because they can be personalized with the recipient’s monogram, name or message. Another must-have for the cigar aficionado is a humidor. The proper humidity levels are maintained in a humidor, keeping your cigars fresh and ready to be enjoyed. Plan ahead: Don’t rush out the night before to purchase cigars for your bachelor party. As with fine wines, cigars must be matured in a humidor for one to two months. This process eliminates foul odors inherent to the rolling process and creates a mellowed smoke that provides a rich reward for the palate. Coordinate groomsmen gifts: If you are having a cigar theme for your bachelor party, follow it up with some groomsmen gifts that match the mood. Groomstand.com has a wide range of smoking gifts for every price point, from supplies such as lighters, humidors and cigar carrying cases to décor for a man cave such as personalized cigar signs and cigar-inspired poker sets.

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ThereÍs a Groomsmen Gift for Every Game

Usually an eclectic bunch, a guy’s posse of groomsmen is a collection of great friends made in a variety of different places. You may go way back to childhood with some of the guys and share memories like learning how to ride bikes and playing on the same Little League team. Some of your other groomsmen may come from a college fraternity, sports league or from your first real job after graduation. Don’t forget about those groomsmen you are closest to; we’re talking about brothers and cousins, if you have them! Sometimes the bride will even have a male relative that she wants to join you entourage. For the sake of the future marriage, embrace the newest addition to your line-up. Who knows, you may end up being life-long buddies. So, with all these guys that you’ve bonded with in different places, it may be hard to decide what to get them for groomsmen gifts. While you know with complete certainty that your rowdy frat brothers will enjoy engraved flasks or personalized beer mugs, you’re not quite sure if this kind of gift is appropriate to give to your 17 year-old cousin who is serving as an usher. One type of gift for groomsmen that you can count on being a winner is any kind of personalized sign that has to do with sports. The main two reasons these personalized signs are such a big hit is that guys just love sports; we challenge you to show us a man who doesn’t appreciate some sort of sporting event. It could be one of the mainstream sports like football, baseball or basketball or be a sport more unique like billiards, bowling or skiing. The second reason that personalized signs are such a well-received choice in groomsmen and best man gifts is that they stroke the recipient’s ego. Again we challenge you; show us a guy who doesn’t like to see his name in print, in lights or in the middle of all the action. Football: NFL fans will go wild for our “In the Game” personalized signs that show a collage of sports scenes from his preferred team anchored by a uniformed player bearing the recipient’s name. Or, our “Locker Room” personalized signs show off a foursome of jerseys from his favorite franchise – three of the uniforms feature some of the top players on the roster, but the number one jersey is personalized with his last name! GroomStand.com also has these locker room football signs available for the popular collegiate teams too! Baseball: Knock it out of the park as far as cool groomsmen gifts go with our personalized collegiate baseball and MLB signs. From the sandlot to the stadium, your friends who have grown up playing, watching and cheering for baseball will appreciate these all-American groomsmen gifts. GroomStand.com also has MLB stadium personalized signs that feature aerial views of Major League Baseball diamonds and stadiums from coast to coast. Hockey: The puck stops here when you’re looking for groomsmen gifts for the hockey fan. Our NHL personalized signs capture that locker room vibe, the calm before the storm on the ice. Pick the recipient’s favorite team and his name with be personalized on the back of a signature team jersey, bearing all the right colors and the highly-coveted number “1”. Basketball: Give your buddies a hand with their hoop dreams; thanks to our collegiate basketball signs, each friend will be transformed into the number “1” player for his favorite school. These fun personalized signs are ready to gear up a game room, dorm room or other spot of sporty celebration. Other Sports: GroomStand.com has other personalized pub signs featuring a huge range of sporty activities. Basically, if a guy has played the sport, we probably have a groomsmen gift to honor the game. From golf hole-in-one personalized signs that actually record the date, distance and venue of the achievement to personalized tavern signs for race car driving, fly fishing, and even poker. Yeah, we’re calling poker a sport because all the table tension makes us break a sweat!

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Pedal For Beer Bachelor Party

Looking for a unique idea for a bachelor party? Well, we were inspired by Pubcrawler, a pedal-powered bar out of Austin, Texas. Just grab a barstool and belly up to this mobile contraption, if you expect to actually go somewhere, like to the nearest pub, youÍll actually have to use some good old-fashioned foot power. Gather up 15 of your groomsmen and bachelor party guests and hit the roads, you can actually drink and peddle according to the cityÍs alcohol consumption guidelines _ the company limits guest to BYOB and only pony kegs, beer cans or home brew are allowed. Now, there is an official driver that is provided by the company, heÍs in charge in case things get too crazy and is required for insurance purposes. Just imagine how hard it was to get insurance for this wild ride! There are 5 pedaling seats on each side of the vehicle with a 4 rear non-pedaling seats for the lazy (or passed out) guys in back. You bring the beer, the ice and also your own tunes; Pubcrawler is pimped out to blast your iPod playlist. When you head out on a three-hour tour (a popular rental time), youÍll be filled with the ïKeep Austin WeirdÍ spirit. Whether you head through the live-music 6th street district or around the stateÍs capitol, youÍll have a sipping and sweating as you traverse from pub to pub. LetÍs just say youÍll attract plenty of attention too! If you are lucky enough to party down on the Pubcrawler, end the adventure with beer-themed groomsmen gifts. Personalized beer mugs with the name and date of the outing will be fondly used for years to come. Or, another idea in groomsmen gifts is to hook the guys up for the ride with a Joe six pack belt, so they can keep their precious beverage even closer to their hearts. Not sure if other cities have hopped on the ïhops wagonÍ yet, but if they know beans about bachelors and beer, they should be signing up soon. Not a true invention of Austin, although this town who prides itself on uniqueness would like to think so; the beer bike originates from the always-up-for-a-good-time country of the Netherlands and has become popular (mainly with tourists) in many other European countries.

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Why Personalized Groomsmen Gifts are Best

The search for the perfect groomsmen gifts has plagued about-to-be-married guys since the beginning of time. At Groomstand we have been supplying proud American and Canadian groomsmen with gifts since the late 90's and we have a good handle on what the most popular gifts are and what you should engrave on them. But why are personalized gifts the best? Here are some of the reasons our customers and their friends come back to Groomstand time and time again. Here are the top reasons we believe getting your gifts monogrammed is the way to go for your groomsmen or bridal party               No 1. Engraving of quality gifts lasts a lifetime. The benefit to you is the person you are giving the gift to will think of you and your lovely bride on your special day for ever and if the gift is something used daily then even better. This we believe is PRICELESS. Memories and friendships last a lifetime and are the most valuable thing in our lives. Personalized groomsmen gifts are the gift that keeps on giving. No 2. Personalized Gifts are affordable. Guys it doesn't have to be expensive to be priceless. We have a huge range of personalized wedding gifts for groomsmen and they range in price and are so very affordable. One of the popular ones we get often are personalized key chains cufflinks & money clips. These makes excellent gifts and are highly valued by the person receiving them. Another popular one are whiskey decanters as shown below                                             No 3. FREE ENGRAVING. Let us do the hard work and get the engraving down for you. Its free to get the engraving done at Groomstand and we are experts at it.This saves you time and money and all those hassles with taking the gifts to the jewelry store, paying too much, and then having to drive back and collect the gifts again. Parking hassles, fuel and time plus you have other more important things to worry about! No 4. Middle Name GuessingIt’s so much fun to give your buddies a personalized gift, it’s the perfect way to finally find out his middle name and torture him endlessly about it. If he’s held it an impenetrable secret for all these years, all you need to do is pick up the phone and call his mom. She’ll be happy to fill you in with the details of that special moniker, be it Mortimer, Ashley or Rufus.                               No 5. Personal Property MarkingYour groomsmen won't lose their gifts! Any guy who has lived with a bunch of guys in a frat house-like setting will concur that it’s nice to have things that don’t need to be shared. Giving your wedding wingmen groomsmen gifts that are personalized with their names helps mark personal property with an unspoken “hands-off” sentiment. For example, there will now be no confusion about who the razor and badger brush belongs to when it has been so obviously monogrammed on the handle.                                             Beverage Identifying: There is nothing more annoying (and kinda germy) than setting your drink down and then having someone else pick it up and start sipping it by mistake. These guzzling gaffes happen in direct correlation to the number of guys around and number of drinks that have been consumed. When you give each friend a personalized beer mug or engraved flask there will be no more worries about whose booze is whose.                                                 Girl Getting: Help your wingmen get a girl of their own with personalized groomsmen gifts that kick up their style. Engraved cufflinks are the hottest item in town, seen on the cuffs of every swaggering celebrity around. Pick out a pair that suit his personality, from silver round cufflinks with a traditional monogram to novelty cufflinks that add an edgy vibe to his ensemble. The guys will love them, and so will the girls!                                         Live Saving: For those outdoor guys who are always seeking the next thrill of nature, giving a personalized groomsmen gift can be a life saver – literally. An engraved pocket knife or multifunction tool can help a man get out of so many uncertain situations, like fileting dinner, cutting a tourniquet, or even just popping the top off a beer. Plus, and this sounds morbid, if he is ever found in a state of distress, the initials or name on a personalized pocket knife can help rescuers determine his identity. So, if you’re a groom who is looking for a useful and unique way to thank your wedding attendants, personalized groomsmen gifts are the best choice. You’ve come to the right place; GroomStand.com is the go-to source for engraved groomsmen gifts, best man gifts, usher gifts, and other personalized gifts for the important members of your wedding party. Get ready, get set, make a mark! Well, maybe the problem doesn’t date back that far. Probably, just making it to the next meal was a good-enough prehistoric present for the entire wedding party. But today, these guys who are going to plan your hopefully awesome bachelor party, stand around in a fussy suit or tuxedo on the wedding day, usher the geriatric female guests to their seats really deserve a special token of your appreciations. One of the best ways to show that you are thinking specifically of that person is to give a personalized groomsmen gift. While each of the groomsmen gifts will be alike (such as a groomsman flasks, engraved cufflinks or pocket knives), each will also be as unique as the recipient thanks to the addition of a name, monogram, or initial letter engraved on the gift. There are numerous other reasons why it makes perfect sense to give personalized gifts for groomsmen, here are a few:    

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Grandparent Wedding Advice Gone Viral

Sometimes the younger generation tends to act like they know everything; but, almost always, our grandparents and others in that generation tend to have some of the best advice. They’ve lived through many experiences, learned by trial and error and are a source of great wisdom. When it comes to marriage, those about to be married for the first time can only imagine what it would be like to live with someone day in and day out. But, those who have shared many anniversaries really know what the union is all about. These types of tips and pointers from older, wiser folks can really considered a gift for the groom and bride. Take internet sensations, Selma and Kenny, who after nearly 72 years of wedded bliss shared their advice on marriage through a video they made for their grandson and his new bride. Talking frankly, teasingly and even arguing a bit, the older couple doles out their nuggets of wisdom and never expected the toast would go viral. This is probably the most touching and funny groom gift any guy received from his grandparents. Their tips for a successful marriage include being good to one another and not bickering; a comical statement because they good-naturedly argued through the whole video. They also instruct to always go to bed together after fighting, because you’ll be so tired from arguing! Also, pick up after yourself, even if you make a mess unwittingly and keep the refrigerator stocked up "because you do not want to be hungry or starve” We think that Kenny probably had his own man cave. Selma also suggest travelling together, anywhere and everywhere; except maybe to Italy where they sunbathe topless – apparently Kenny had a little incident ogling a sunbathing beauty. Really, the take away from the cute video is that, while marriage has ups and downs and a lot of monotony in the middle. If you stay light-hearted, don’t take things too seriously and acknowledge each person has flaws, and don’t obsess about perfection, you will succeed. To end the video, the couple shares a passionate kiss before breaking out into uncontrollable giggling. Sheez, you’d think they were teenagers.

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Best Man Responsibilities: Pre-wedding Day

Your best buddy has confirmed the feeling is mutual in the most ultimate way. HeÍs asked you to serve as his wingman on the most important day of his life, his wedding day. Even though this is the same friend who has run interference with your ex-girlfriend, bailed you out of so many mishaps and would even share his last swig in a flask with you, you still have your concerns about saying ñyesî to this best man proposition. But donÍt worry; being a best man isnÍt hard, definitely not as stressful as being the groom! If you know what the job entails and the subtleties of getting each task done with finesse, youÍll probably be the ñbestî best man ever! How could you not?! Make sure you do a top-notch job so you donÍt get one of those awesome groomsmen gifts revoked. Bachelor Party Planner: The groom is counting on his special night to let loose one last time with his friends. With that in mind, itÍs the best manÍs responsibility to plan a shindig that legends are made of. DonÍt plan in for yourself. Instead, take the groomÍs personality and requests into mind. If he doesnÍt want a booze-and-breast fest, respect his desire to bypass a bacchanal blowout. Consider his hobbies and how you can weave them into this special celebration. For example, does he like to golf? Fish? Watch his favorite football team battle it out on the gridiron? All of these activities can be the impetus for an interesting and entertaining bachelor party. Wedding Attire Wearer: Even if you donÍt like what the groom (or often the bride) has picked out, you have to smile and sport it with style. Be prepared for the fact that you may have to purchase or rent your own attire; that is at the discretion of the groom. If the topic is brought up, assume youÍre paying. Or, just ask. YouÍll also need to make sure all the other groomsmen are on board with the wedding attire and have made their fitting appointments. Offer to pick up all the tuxes a day or two before the wedding and also return the groomÍs tux while heÍs away on the honeymoon. DonÍt forget to punctuate your shirtsleeves with personalized cufflinks for that ultra-dashing image. Errand Runner: In addition to picking up the tuxedos, you can be other ways to help out the groom as he starts to get busy, nervous, freaked out about getting hitched. He may need you to swing by the airport and pick up Aunt Martha or take his dog to the kennel in preparation for the honeymoon. He may even ask you for advice on picking out groomsmen gifts for the other guys and something sentimental to give as a gift for the bride. Wedding Rehearsal Participant: YouÍre not just an attendant at the wedding rehearsal; youÍre a participant _ so show up on time! YouÍll be walked through your responsibilities for the next day, especially where to usher guests, where to stand at the altar, and so on. Yes, itÍs dull, but it will be over within the hour. Rehearsal Dinner Charmer: Even though you may not feel like schmoozing with a whole bunch of the bride and groomÍs relatives you donÍt know, itÍs your job to be a model of manners at the rehearsal dinner. Meet and greet everyone you havenÍt met yet; these folks are soon to become part of your buddyÍs family. Who knows, you may even have a future with that cute bridesmaid. During the dinner, there may some toasting and roasting of the couple. Feel free to join in, but keep it short and save your standing-ovation-worthy speech for the wedding reception. If you need help writing a speech for the rehearsal (or actual wedding), the wordsmiths at ThePerfectToast.com can expertly craft a toast that will captures your sentiments and personality. What are you looking forward to MOST about being the best man? What do you think will be the most CHALLENGING duty? Let us know in the comments below.

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Suited Up for Wedding Success

Forget about a tux and tails; suits are becoming quite acceptable as the wardrobe for the man and his wedding entourage. While a more casual approach to dressing the groom and his groomsmen, the suit still imparts a respectable level of formality for the 21st century gentleman. Today, many guys don’t even wear a suit and tie to work or church, society has just become much more tolerant of dressing down. For this reason, a nice dark suit is considered ‘dressing up’ in many circles. Plus, if groom is more comfortable in a suit, he’ll be more at ease during the ceremony and reception and that will make everyone happier. Plus, upon hearing that they don’t have to wear a stuffy tux, your buddies will say this is one of the best gifts for groomsmen ever! When shopping for suits to wear to a wedding, you’ll want to keep a number of things in mind. First, a proper fitting coat will not be baggy; it should be cut closer to the body and, in fact, feel slightly constricting. It’s not a sweat suit with a full range of motion; so if you do need to bust out a few moves on the dance floor, just take off your jacket before you do. Another thing to remember about your jacket is to have the sleeves altered, if needed, so that exactly ½-inch of your shirt cuff shows when your arms are hanging down. Pair your suit jacket with a fitted shirt; otherwise, the sides will be billowing out like a balloon when you move about. A nicely tailored shirt is universally flattering on all body types so don’t assume you need a fuller cut shirt if you are heavier. Instead, you just need a tailored shirt in a larger size. Accessories are also important to the look of your wedding suit and make nice groomsmen gifts, as well. The easiest way to bring in a pop of color to your look is with a necktie, bowtie, cravat or pocket square. Coordinate with the bridesmaids wearing accessories that match, or at least coordinate, with the gowns. Another way to make a modest suit look like a million bucks is with a dashing pair of engraved cufflinks. Personalized cufflinks come in a wide array of styles, from traditional to trendy, to suit the personality of the groom and his wedding attendants. By engraving the recipient’s monogram or initial on the face of the cufflinks,you’ll have created a thoughtful groomsmen gift that will be worn for years to come.

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