Groom's Guide To Meeting the In-Laws

As the groom, meeting your in-laws is inevitable, except in rare cases. Now wipe out all preconceived notions you may have about the sometimes awkward introductions from the hysterical movie, "Meet the Parents". While it might feel otherwise, the parents of the bride arenÍt looking to make a laundry list of your faults; they just want to make sure that the husband of their precious daughter is decent, down-to-earth and an all-around good guy _ and most importantly, to know that you love her and will take care of her forever. The most important thing to remember before the meeting is to just be yourself _ donÍt try act like the mate you think they want for their daughter, show them who you really are. Remember these tips for your ñare you good enough for my baby girlî interview, and youÍre sure to pass: Research: Ask the bride about her parentÍs hobbies and interests, knowing if dad likes to fish or mom loves to travel will help you fill the void if any awkward silences come up. Bonus points for knowing how long theyÍve been married, how they met and other fun family details _ you can always ask these questions later as a way to create a bonding conversation. On the flip side, if you know ahead of time what the parentÍs dislike, you can avoid these touchy topics. And, for the most part, stay away from religion, politics and ex relationships until you know her mom and dad very well. Grooming: When you show up to meet her folks, make sure youÍve combed your hair and cleaned up your cuticles! Plus, brush your teeth, parents donÍt want to be greeting with a rush of bad breath or see a piece of lettuce hanging between your teeth. A good shave will work wonders, check out our personalized shaving sets to get the advantage. Manners: Remember the manners your mom tried to teach you when you were still living at home? Use please and thank you regularly and call her parents ñsirî or ñmamî until they invite you to do otherwise. Show acts of chivalry, this will work wonders with impressing her folks _ pull out the chair of your finance and future mother in law; open doors for them, complement them and you will go far in the family! Bear gifts: It is considered proper etiquette to bring a small gift for your host and this definitely applies to visiting with the future in-laws. A bottle of wine, flowers potted houseplant always make a nice gesture as long as one of them doesnÍt have a drinking problem or allergies. If youÍd like to give something with a personalized touch, at Groomstand.com you can find much more than gifts for groomsmen. Our many great gifts can be engraved with a name, date or special message. From personalized wine accessories and engraved glassware, you canÍt go wrong with these little ñbribesî of acceptance into the family!

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Groomsmen Duties _ A Job of Honor

After talking about groomsmen "this" and groomsmen "that", it just dawned on us that we're making an assumption that everyone knows what a groomsman is supposed to do. Most marriages are the couples first time to tie the knot; the whole wedding planning process is unchartered territory. Many guys have not even been to a single weddings as they are events that tend to be avoided by the perennial bachelor. But if you've found a girl that has made you change your mind about settling down, there is no doubt a wedding in your future. She's going to know everything and more about what her bridesmaids are going to do, but do you know what role the groomsmen play in your big day? One thing you've probably heard is that it is proper etiquette to present your chosen wedding helpers with groomsmen gifts as a token of your appreciation. Other than the groomsmen gifts, we've got a brief tutorial to get you up to speed: Bachelor party: The groomsmen assist the best man in planning and setting up the bachelor party. They should come up with an outing you'll love, make all the reservations, and coordinate designated drivers for your safe return. Supply formal wear: The groomsmen are also traditionally expected to rent, buy or provide wedding day attire according to your instructions - as well as pick up and return the garments at their convenience. Some well-off grooms prefer to foot the bill for the tuxedos, but that is up to you - just be clear up front so issues arise on the eve of the wedding. Rehearsal dinner: The groomsmen should be invited to the wedding rehearsal and subsequent dinner so that they can understand their role on the big day as well as feel part of the close-knit festivities. Typically, it is only the bet man that is required to give a speech at the rehearsal dinner / wedding. Escort guests and bridesmaids: The groomsmen serve as ushers right before the ceremony, walking guests to their seats within the venue. Additionally, they walk down the aisle during the ceremony with a bridesmaid and then stand by your side for the duration. Serve as hosts: The groomsmen can be given tasks to help out guests during the ceremony and reception, such as carrying gifts, chauffeuring out-of-towners, running nterference with the wedding vendors and more. Ease groom's fears: The best man and groomsmen can help to allay any last-minute cold feet that the groom may be facing. Groomsmen and best man advice to the groom is always appreciated. Decorate the get-away car: Give the groomsmen creative license to decorate your car as they please; it's all in good fun.

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Wedding Toast Advice for the Groom, Best Man and Groomsmen

No matter how much you try and avoid the situation, giving a toast is pretty much a given if you are involved in some significant way in a wedding. Whether groom, best man, father of the groom or some other special guest, toasting opportunities abound at wedding events. From the engagement party and wedding showers to bachelor parties, rehearsal dinners and, of course, the wedding reception, guests will be waiting with anticipation for your words of humor, wisdom, and love that ends with a lifted champagne glass. To ensure the best impression, learn how to gab effortlessly in front of a crowd with these simple tips. Planning: Even if you consider yourself an extroverted, natural-born talker, it is still imperative to put pen to paper and write out, at a minimum, an outline of your talking points. If you do plan to write out the entire speech, remember not to read it directly from the paper – the audience will feel disconnected. When planning out what to say, aim for about 4 through 6 minutes of content, which has been proven to be the optimal length for the audience’s attention span. Writing: There are many styles of toasts; some are knee-slappers that are intended to be a good-natured “roast” of the honoree. Before you try this type of speech, you need to know the honoree very well, have a feel for the audience, and know that this won’t turn into an embarrassing situation. Other toasts are very sentimental and can be real tear-jerkers, as can be expected at an event as momentous an emotional as a wedding – heartfelt toasts are great, just don’t make it a downer. Most toasts given by men at a wedding event include introductions, acknowledgements of thanks, anecdotes and stories, quotes or readings and advice. Delivering: When the time comes to deliver your toast, remember to speak clearly, slowly and loudly enough the back of the room can hear you. If you need notecards to keep you on point, remember not to read entirely from them – glance around the room and try to make eye contact with the bride, groom and other guests. Do not give a toast if you are inebriated, both your slurred words and impromptu comments may embarrass you the next day. After the toast, it is a thoughtful gesture to provide the honoree with a copy of the speech that they can keep forever. If you are worried about coming up with a wedding toast on your own, ThePerfectToast.com can help you develop a custom speech that will capture your feelings with the perfect words. A toast-writing service can really make your moment in the spotlight and huge success – with so much less stress on you!

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A Proposal That Stops Time _ Groom To Do List

Lately there has been a rash of crazy, creative Romeos keep upping the bar on how to propose marriage to a sweetheart. Let's just say that proposing on the football field jumbotron's "Kiss Cam" is just so pass_. WE TV's wedding show, "Put a Ring on It," captures the best new ideas for proposals and helps the groom-to-be execute his vision for snagging the girl and getting a resounding "yes" to his heartfelt question! In this episode, New York City guy, Michael, decided that he wanted to "stop time" when he proposed to his girlfriend of 3 _ years, Nadia. Inspired by a viral video, Michael's proposal day happened in a quaint courtyard restaurant where the bride-to-be was lured in under other auspices. As Michael walks into the room to her surprise, the chatter and clinking of glasses was noticeably loud, but as he snapped his fingers all the bystanders and diners became as quiet and still as statues. Michael got down on bended knee, flashed her the rock and asked the question -- of course, Nadia says "YES"! A few hug and sweet nothings later,Michael snaps his fingers again to re-energize the crowd who breaks out in celebratory applause. We're not sure how you could make a day more special, but a personalized gift for the bride from the groom (in addition to the ring)would be nice. A personalized bottle cooler holding Champaign and two toasting glasses are perfect for the post-proposal celebrating!

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Rehearsal Dinner Behavior_ Groom Edition

Out of all the elements that go into wedding planning, most seem to fall under the purview of the bride. Admit it, do you really want to make the decisions on what the “colors” should be or if raspberry filling is just “too sweet” for the cake? However, there is one significant part of the festivities leading up to the wedding that the groom is responsible, other than getting the tuxes and groomsmen gifts, for and that is the rehearsal dinner. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is held the night before the wedding and is paid for by the groom’s parents. It’s a great way to break the ice between the families of the bride and groom who may have never met before. To make sure that the whole event goes off without a hitch (and the bride is still talking to you in the morning), follow these tips to ensure success. Behave: Because you may be making plenty of first-impressions at the rehearsal dinner, make sure that you are on your best behavior. This means, no cursing, bawdy stories, wandering eyes or disrespectful behavior in any way – remember to tell any groomsmen you have invited to follow the same rules. If you’ve purchased engraved flasks to give them as gifts for the groomsmen, don’t fill them up with the hard stuff! Introductions: During the course of the event, make sure that you have enough background information on guests (on your side) that you might not actually know too well, like thrice-removed cousins, far-away aunts and uncles, and friends of your parents that you aren’t acquainted with. Make sure everyone at the dinner gets, at a minimum, a handshake or hug and short conversation. Consider your job for the night as host with the most and chief introduction maker. Bride: With all the stresses of the dinner, making sure everyone is happy and such; don’t forget to make sure your bride is happy too! While you may both be busy, going in different directions to keep guests busy, it is essential to check in with each other a couple times throughout the night to get status updates. And, before you leave, remember to steal a kiss – it may be the last time you see the bride until the wedding aisle. Gifts: Many grooms find the rehearsal dinner an appropriate time to present groomsmen gifts. Typically these key players in your wedding party have been invited to the event, and it’s a more formal way to stand up and say, “Hey, thanks for being a great friend” than just tossing a groomsmen gifts at them after the fact. If you’re stuck as what to get the guys, Groomstand.com has a wide array of personalized gifts for groomsmen that will show your heartfelt sentiments.

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Home Run Weddings

Well before you met your beautiful wife, you and the guys shared a love for baseball in all its glory. From playing together as children on the little league team to many winning seasons of hitting and fielding balls for the high school squad, you and your now groomsmen were always revered as the quintessential boys of summer. Now that your baseball experience may have been sidelined to the fan stands, it doesn't make the love of the sport any less authentic. Just because you're getting married doesn't mean that you have to strike the sport out of your life. You can incorporate your fondness of the "diamond" into your upcoming wedding in many fun ways - even if your wife-to-be won't let you have the actual ceremony in the stadium. First, put together a wedding weekend baseball game where you, the groomsmen, father of the bride and other men involved in the Big Day can gather for casual yet still competitive match up - think the "bride's guys" against the "groom's guys". Of course, serve roasted peanuts, popcorn beer and all the other tasty treats you'd find at the baseball concession stand. Have baseball jerseys printed up with each guy's name on the back and after the last inning, pass out personalize miniature baseball bats as groomsmen gifts - sure to be a big hit! A tasty way to incorporate your love for baseball into the wedding is to have a baseball themed groom's cake. A groom's cake is a southern tradition (thankfully now appreciated around the country) that is often a gift for the groom from the bride - so drop a hint that you want a baseball groom's cake. Served at the reception or sent home in slices as party favors, a groom's cake can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. With the popularity of cake shows like "Ace of Cakes" and "Cake Boss", the groom's cake has become very elaborate. Sports-themed cakes often take on a 3-D shape of the entire stadium or can feature cake sculptures of players and gear. Yum!

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News to Like - Zuckerberg Gets Hitched

Status update: Married. That’s the message Mark Zuckerberg sent out hours after marrying his girlfriend of eight years. Zuckerberg, the 28 year-old who took Facebook public at $104 billion a couple weeks ago, tied the knot with Priscilla Chan, a recent medical school graduate, in a surprise ceremony that to place in the backyard of their Palo Alto home. The approximate 100 guests, who initially thought they were invited to celebrate Pricilla’s graduation, were treated to a beautiful but low-key ceremony and reception. Mexican food and sushi were served from favorite restaurants and the splurge of the night was that Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day provided musical entertainment. We don’t know if there was a best man or other wedding attendants, but who cares – the couple’s dog, Beast, walked the bride down the aisle! So what does one get a filthy-stinking-rich guy as a gift for the groom? That’s no easy feat, since Zuckerberg can buy anything he darn well pleases himself. So since it would be impossible to impress this type with a new tech gadget or trendy gear, the best route to go is to present a gift for the groom that is personalized with heartfelt sentiments. This way, the groom gift will be one-of-a-kind and unique to the recipient . . . and that’s something you can’t put a price on. For millionaire and billionaire types (as well as all of us lowly thousandaire folks), we suggest personalized pen and writing gifts sets so that he can keep writing out those money making ideas. While it is low-tech to actually put real pen to paper, it does have a dashing, old-school charm that is becoming popular again with even the most ga-ga over cutting-edge gadgets. Another good choice in groom gifts (and even groomsmen gifts) is a personalized shaving set. Every guy, no matter how loaded, needs to take care of his whiskers at least a couple times a week if not daily. Just the sight of one of our shaving sets sitting on the countertop will remind even the busiest man to slow down and enjoy the process of gentlemanly grooming.

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Groom Gives Future Bride Winning Lottery Ticket

Now this is a great gift from the groom to the bride - a winning lottery ticket. If you want to know how marriage changes your life and want a really unusual answer, just ask Missouri couple Robert Russell and Tracie Rogers. For an early wedding gift, Russell presented his betrothed with your standard scratch off card. However, the only thing that wasn't standard about this $10 lottery ticket was that it was a winner - a big $250,000 winner. Think how your heart would start pitter-pattering and your cheeks would become flushed at the sight of a quarter million dollars - it would be just like love! The couple could really use the money as he's been laid off from a welding job and she is unemployed as well. The bride and groom, who've been together for 12 years, plan to keep their wedding simple and use the windfall to help pay off the mortgage on a house so that the marriage can start off without the stress of debt. Why not treat your bride-to-be with a couple lottery tickets in honor of your big wedding day, it's not a sure bet by any means, but just some good,light-natured fun. If you win, imagine the awesome honeymoon you could plan or the wild reception you could throw. And, if you lose (which is the likely scenario), you've only tossed a few dollars down the drain. Even the buddies standing at your side would be thrilled to receive lottery tickets as part of their groomsmen gifts - especially if they are the winning ones!

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Manly Groom Trends

Groom trends, they come and go and such is the nature of trends! One year ruffled tuxedo shirts are all the rage, the next year they are an embarrassment. The next year it’s all about plaid bow ties, and quickly they’re passé. – pretty much a groom just does as the bride instructs, right? Well, no longer! One trend for grooms that we’d like to see stick around for good is the groom sticking up for himself in the wedding planning process and “getting his balls back” to put it less delicately. So basically, if you don’t want to take ballroom dancing lessons to get ready for the “first dance, you don’t have to. If you want to show up at the wedding with a 5 ‘o-clock shadow, you can! Here are other man-centric things we’d like to see more of this wedding season and beyond: Less herb-crusted salmon, more steak. From filet to t-bone, any cut of beef has got to be better that a fussy little 3-ounce serving of fish. Trust us; no guy really wants to eat fish on the most important day of his life. Make the whole reception meat-fest even more awesome by serving of steak brands and other grilling items as gifts for the groomsmen. Less mimosas, more scotch. The bride may double-insist on some sort of girly drink to be served at the wedding such as a mimosa, cosmopolitan or some other fruity concoction. Man up and say that you require a scotch bar for your peeps, complete with some really good aged stuff and monogrammed barware like these personalized double old-fashioneds, perfect for serving up a few fingers of the best stuff. Less kumbaya male-bonding, more old-school bachelor parties. Say “No” to a guy’s getaway at the spa that your bride has conjured up for you and your buds under the premise of “I just want you all to look your best for the wedding.” Having your cuticles cut and nails buffed is no way to end your bachelorhood. Instead, a proper bachelor party with tons of booze, cigars and rowdy revelry is more appropriate for a guy with normal testosterone levels. If you're looking for groomsmen gifts for this type of outing, think on the terms of a personalized flask or engraved cigar case – both filled, of course!

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Tuxedo Guide: How To Tie a Bow Tie

Men about to get married need to know how to tie a bow tie - and so does their posse of groomsmen. Tying this men's accessory into a dapper, little bow isn't really as hard of a task as it appears. But, because men rarely wear this type of neck embellishment except at formal events, this may be your first time tying one on! If you are a newbie to bow tie tying, never fear. Just check out this video from GQ style correspondent Brett Fahgren and Howdini's Jennifer Morris, and you'll be wedding-ready in mere minutes. Steps To Tie a Bow Tie 1. Lay the bow tie around your neck so both ends fall evenly on your chest. 2. Cross the right end of the bow tie over the left end. Next, loop the right end under to form a simple knot. 3. Tug on the tie so that the knot is fashioned snuggly against your neck and rest the top end on your left shoulder. 4. Pick up the other end of the bow tie and fold it across the knot. Now it is starting to look like this could actually turn into a bow tie! 5. Take the top end (that is resting on your left shoulder) and pull it down in front so that it crosses the center of the bow shape. 6. Firmly set your left finger on the front of the bow tie to keep it securely in place and reach behind with your right index finger to find the hole where the free end of the bow tie will slip through. 7. Important: do not thread the tip of the free end through the hole. Rather, use your left index finger to push the part that is closest to the center of the bow through the hole. 8. Initially, it may feel like the whole bow tie is going to fall apart, but it won't. Pull enough through to make even with the opposite side and adjust as needed. 9. The process is almost complete. Pull the bow down towards the front and tighten, tidy up and flatten as required to look sharp. If your bow tie doesn't look perfect, don't worry. Run and get the wedding planner and she'll surely be able to fix you up quick! Before you walk down the aisle, give your wedding attendants any help they may require with your newly acquired skills. To complete the dashing look that a bow tie brings, give your buddies a pair of cufflinks as groomsmen gifts that will complement their tip-to-tail formal flair.

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His Prerogative _ to be a Groom (again)

Probably singing “My Prerogative,” during the proposal (just a crazy guess), singer Brown and Alicia Etheridge are going to make it official after a two-year engagement. The couple, who also have a young child together, will be tying the knot as part of a business-pleasure trip to Hawaii. Brown has a Father’s Day gig in Honolulu, Hawaii and is parlaying a walk down the aisle on June 15th as part of the trip. Not a lot of details about the ceremony or guest list have been shared and most expect it to be a low-key, small affair with only family and close friends in attendance to serve as groomsmen and other members of the wedding party. On the heels of the shocking death of his ex-wife, Whitney Houston, Brown has been under the microscope with tongues clucking about his involvement in Whitney’s addiction to drugs. Breaking his silence with Matt Lauer on The Today Show, Brown responded to the accusations saying, “I didn't get high [on narcotics] before I met Whitney. I smoked weed, I drank the beer, but no, I wasn't the one that got Whitney on drugs at all ... I'm not the reason she's gone.” We’re thinking that the ever-popular personalized flask wouldn’t be an appropriate choice in groomsmen gifts and gifts for the groom at this wedding. But, maybe a personalized pen, a real luxury model, which he can use to sign all his autographs! Reportedly clean and sober today, it appears that Brown is looking forward to moving on with his life while grieving his ex in a healthy way. On June 5th, 10 days before the wedding, Brown’s first album in 14 years will be released, a compilation of his experiences and healing over the years – he performed a sneak peek of the touching single “Don’t Let Me Die” recently on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. ”

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Palin Baby Daddy Making It Legit

Redemption and forgiveness, those are good old-fashioned family values -- values you would expect from a sound and solid Marrying Man of the Month. Apparently Bristol Palin, daughter of past VP candidate Sarah Palin, is applying these moirés of morality by taking back her baby-daddy, Levi Johnston after they'd been separated since the birth of their baby. You heard it here first (okay, maybe not first), but Levi is still our Marrying Man of the Month! Apparently, the newly-happy couple had been keeping the news of an engagement from the ex-Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, but decided recently to give her the scoop via the phone. Most of America knows that since the birth of her grandchild, Sarah Palin as mocked Levi for a number of foolish endeavors - posing for Playgirl Magazine being the most obvious. However, Bristol reports to US Weekly that she thinks it is just a matter of time before her mother will "jump on board." Romance blossomed again as the youngsters took 18-month-old Tripp out for a stroll about three months ago. Despite their previous indiscretions, the soon-to-be-married kids have announced that they are abstaining from sex until after the wedding ceremony. The big day is allegedly going down in about 6 weeks or less! Bristol is sporting a little sparkler on her hand and Levi has had her name tattooed around his ring finger - now that's a sign of lasting love. Sure to be one of the biggest social events of the year in Wasilla, we wonder how hard it will be to score an invitation. Wondering what to get the couple for a gift for the bride or a gift for the groom? They may not be wanting for much since it is reported that Bristol can command $15,000 and more for a speaking engagement (on teenage pregnancy, we assume) and the two are rumored to be shopping for a reality television show.

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