Eat, Drink and Get Married (Especially Drink)

Attention, grooms. Speak up and be heard about your preferences on the most important part of your wedding reception _ the adult beverages. If the bride has taken charge of the wedding cake details down to the last dark-chocolate-with-raspberry-filling detail, then by all accounts of fairness the selection of liquor should be appointed to the groom. Just like the cake and the reception food, the choices you pick for beverages reflect on the overall style of your wedding. ?xml:namespace> Beer: This is always the go-to choice for the groom who is no-frills. Beer can be incorporated into the menu and is sure to quaff the thirst of your wedding attendants and old college fraternity brothers _ toss in personalized beer mugsand it can be your groomsmen gifts! Consider using local beers that capture the spirit of your location for out-of-town guests. But, unless you are having a wedding reception where beer universally fits the mood, such as at a BBQ or the groomsmen are wearing Lederhosen, it is probably best to include other libations. ?xml:namespace> Champagne and Wine: It is traditional for the bride and groom to be toasted during the reception with a glass of champagne served to each guest. For the guests that choose not to consumer alcohol, it is always a nice gesture to have a sparkling juice available so that they do not feel left out of the festivities. Wine is also an expected choice for weddings, but can also be used in an unexpected way. Consider having a wine-tasting area set up at the bar where guests are served small portions of several various types of wine. ?xml:namespace> ?xml:namespace> Signature Drinks: Creating a signature cocktail a fun way to show your personality and tie in the theme of the event. It can be a tried-and-true drink, like a hot toddy with monogrammed swizzles, or a completely new recipe. Think of a fun name for the drink and serve in fitting barware, even personalized glasses that can be taken home as a wedding favor. For example, a drink made with Blue Curacau could be served in a hurricane glass and called ñSomething Blue.î Or, a white chocolate and vodka concoction could be poured in a cocoa-rimmed martini glass and named the ñNow Married-tini.î With so many choices and so little time, you may want to start your taste testing now!

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ñSeriously?! You Bought Me THAT Ring?!î

By Jewelry & Style Expert Michael OÍConnor Just when you think that everything is going right, life can throw you a curve. You found the girl and you want to spend your life with. You found the perfect time and place to pop the question and youÍre down on one knee. You hand her the box and summon up courage to ask those words ñWill you marry meî. SheÍs shocked, happy, starts to cry. She opens the box. The expression on her face changes to utter horror! She purses her lips. Dude, you got the wrong ring! Laugh or not, itÍs not unrealistic. In fact many women say the ring they got was not the one they hoped for. Why? Two reasons. The guy didnÍt listen to all those hints sheÍs been carefully leaving or he didnÍt view the ring as the most important symbol of their life together and he ñcheaped-outî. When buying an engagement ring there are two ways to avoid a major mistake. Listen to her. You may not think sheÍs hinting, but she is. Listen to how she describes the rings of her friends of others who are recently engaged. You will hear what she likes. Listen to what she says about the center stone, itÍs size, shape and color. Round shapes are most popular followed by princess. And colored diamonds and gems like sapphire are becoming very popular. Understand that this is the most important piece of jewelry that she will ever own and will wear it every day. As such it needs to be durable and made of a precious and pure metal like platinum. It may be a slightly more expensive, but worth it! Platinum will stand up to daily wear better and hold your center stone more securely, itÍs one of the most precious and rare metals and usually 90-95% pure, making it most appropriate for this important symbol of love and commitment. For help in buying the best rings within your budget always choose a reputable jeweler. Visit www.preciousplatinum.com and find one near you.

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How to Hire a Band For Your Wedding

After hearing that ultra-conservative talk-show host, Rush Limbaugh, hired way-more liberal musician, Elton John, to perform at his June 11th wedding in Florida got me to wondering "how do you pick o ut a band for your wedding reception?" Unlike choosing floral arrangements and tablecloth colors, picking reception entertainment is an area that many grooms want to have a voice. In fact, if there is a band that you really must have and it is a little out of the budget, it could even be a gift for the groom from parents and family. While Rush and Elton certainly sound like an odd pairing, we're pretty sure that the reported $1 million dollar fee probably set free any proverbial elephant in the room. Even though you might not have the big bucks to attract world-famous entertainment, there are still important steps to follow when selecting a band to play at your wedding according to MusicMates, an online musician referral service. Select a musician to fit the audience, not your own interests. While the reception should reflect your personality, you also want to take into consideration the musical tastes of your guests if you want to keep them dancing all night. If you've got a lot of elderly relatives on hand, go with something more easy to the ears than a metal band. Or, if you have a room full of urban, socialite types, country music might fall flat. Discuss the "playlist" with the band. When meeting with the band, inquire about what songs they plan on playing at your wedding. You don't want to be disappointed if your favorite tune of all time is overlooked. Also, are they willing to learn a special song that is near and dear to your heart or go corny and play "The Chicken Dance?" Get written references and recommendations. Just because they play awesome music doesn't necessarily translate into great gigs. Follow up on their written references and recommendations to see how the other brides and grooms felt about their performance. Visit a live performance before hiring. Even if you love the bands music that you've downloaded to your iPod, make sure to view a live performance to get a vibe for their stage presence. Do they have short sets and long breaks, that may not work if your guests plan to whoop it up non-stop on the dance floor. Are they too "wild", gesticulating or encouraging a mosh-pit, grandma wouldn't like that. Have the band pre-sign copies of their CD that you can give as groomsmen gifts. Get a back-up plan. Even though the band's references may be top-notch with past grooms saying that they showed up on time and didn't bale, you still want to have a plan "B". Things happen ---car accidents, sicknesses, band breakups -- and you need to have alternate entertainment lined up in the unlikely event that the band doesn't make it. You can put another less-experienced band on stand-by, or line-up a DJ to act as a substitute. Feed the talent. Invite the band members to partake in the wedding buffet, even if they're not the starving-artist types. This gesture shows hospitality on the part of the bride and groom and the feeling that you really want to include them in your special day. Satisfied stomachs should result in a pleasing performance!

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Weird Places to Wed and Groomsmen Gifts to Match

To some brides and grooms getting hitched in a chapel is just so predictable. Why marry in a place where you spend so little time (insert lightening bolt strike), when you can take your vows in a place where you feel more at home. We've recieved reports of some wild and wacky places to get hitched, as uncommon and unique as the couples themselves. Plus, wouldn't you love to shake it up for your buddies, the groomsmen who are usually bored to tears in a traditional ceremony? Pick one of the weird places to wed and treat your wedding party to our coordinating suggestions in groomsmen gifts. Hamburger Joint: Your wedding guests are going to flip for a ceremony and reception combo in the local hamburger joint. After your I-do's under a canopy of checkered tablecloths, your friends and family can chow down on burgers, fries and frothy shakes served up in those red plastic baskets. For groomsmen gifts, the guys will appreciate their own stainless-steel spatula engraved with the details of the day. Zoo: Get hitched in front of the Love Bird exhibit; the guests will be a flutter with the aviary ambiance. Or, go savannah style with your wedding, lions sunning themselves in the background. Whatever section of the zoo you choose (please, not the snakes), it's going to be hot and sticky. Quaff the thirsts of your buddies by presenting pre-filled flasks as your groomsmen gifts. Airport: Maybe you're a pilot or a flight attendant -- or a jet-setting traveler. Tying the knot at the airport is unusual, but has a unique benefit. You'll be just that much closer to making the signature bride and groom getaway - just hop straight on a plane and head toward your honeymoon. Travel accessories will make fitting groomsmen gifts, from personalized passport covers to dopp kits Brew Pub: The nerves of an anxious groom will definitely be soothed if he is wed near the production of beer. While it's not okay to get married under the influence, there's no reason to teetotal afterward -- celebrate with the suds! Your friends will be high-fiving you all night, wondering how you pulled this venue off. Of course, personalized beer mugs or tavern signs make toast-worthy groomsmen gifts for the pub wedding.

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Robot Says, "You May Now Kiss the Bride"

The bride was blushing in white, the groom quite dapper in his formal, black tuxedo, and the official joining the two in holy matrimony -- a robot! This recent wedding, held in Tokyo, Japan, was typical in so many ways except for the 4-foot robot named "I-Fairy" which helped the happy couple say their "I do's". According to manufacturer Kokoro Company, this was the first time that a robot has conducted a marriage; and we bet not the last in robot-happy Japan! Those Japanese seem to always be one step ahead when it comes to all things high-tech, they have some of the most advanced robotic and artificial intelligence technologies in the world. With robotic research typically supported by the government, robots are common in factories and, in the last decade, becoming more and more present in peoples every day life. Honda has a small human-like robot and recently teddy bear and pet robots have been designed to provide companionship for the elderly and children. So, why not an I-Fairy for your wedding?! According to the Kokoro spokesperson, she has 18 degrees of motion in the arms and can repeat pre-programmed movements and sounds. Not the most advanced robot on the market by any means, she will come dressed for the event, wearing a wreath of flowers around her head. However, don't think you'll be saving money by cutting the services of a human minister or justice of the peace out of the event -- I-Fairy will set you back $68, 000! That's the price of an awesome wedding experience including the groomsmen gifts and bachelor party; so unless she cooks, cleans, irons and walks the dog, we're passing!

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Embrace Your Inner Groomzilla

Who says guys donÍt care a flip about weddings? Wedding planners across the country say they are seeing an increase in the number of discerning and demanding soon-to-be husbands out there and, for a lack of a better name, are calling them ñgroomzillasî after the so-old-news-theyÍre-out ñbridezillasî that have taken the wedding industry and media by storm. If a guy can be a ñmetrosexualî, totally straight yet concerned with the aesthetics of everything, then why wouldnÍt this logically apply to planning a wedding as well. Aside from wanting to express personality through style and fashion, there are other reasons why a normally mild-mannered guy might turn into a groomzilla. ThereÍs that whole ego, competition thing that guys have with other guys. If a buddy had two meat carving stations at his reception, then the one-upper groom may insist on three or more. Suddenly 100 guests and a DJ on the dance floor don't sound as grand as a party for 500 with a performance by the hottest band in town. WhoÍs footing the bill may also have something to do with a guy going all groomzilla during the wedding planning. According to the Fairchild Bridal Group, nearly one-third of newlyweds paid for their wedding in 2005 instead of a parent. Traditionally, when the femaleÍs mother and father are paying, then the bride is the final authority on all wedding purchase, but when the groom is financially responsible or the couple is chipping in together then the man has a much larger role in decision-making. So, if you feel like selecting the font for the wedding invitations, picking out both the groomsmen gifts and the bridesmaid gifts, or tasting each and every filling for the cake, donÍt be afraid to stand up for yourself. ItÍs the biggest day of your life, too! So get out of the way, Miss ñitÍs all about meî _ groomzillas are here to get their fair share of the spotlight.

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Go Wild - A Fishing Bachelor Party

June, the month filled with the most weddings of the year, is also home to National Fishing and Boating week -- June 5 through 13 in 2010. Just think how genius it would be to combine all these wonderful events into one! Even though you are admittedly a good catch, the bride may not be so big on having the wedding ceremony in a boat with the sea air ruining her hair and makeup. However, your groomsmen and buddies are sure to be up for a bachelor party filled with fishing, friendship and a cooler full of beer. Whether you choose to grab a couple poles put the bass boat out on the lake or are planning a destination deep-sea fishing charter in hopes of reeling in a big one, the point of the fishing and boating bachelor party is just to relax, unwind and bond with your buddies before the big wedding day. Plus, youÍll come back with a good tan which will look great in the wedding portraits! It doesnÍt really matter how many fish you bag, but you will want to have your camera on hand to prove that your fish tale is legit when you come home! DonÍt open a can of worms by forgetting to treat the guys to groomsmen gifts based on the fishing theme. Splurge on new gear such as a top-of-the-line pole or multi-pocket fishing jacket or make a thoughtful gesture with personalized groomsmen gifts such as a rustic cabin sign carved with a big trout and the recipientÍs name.

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Get a Kick Out of the Groom's Cake

Offering a groomÍs cake at your wedding is not a requirement for a good marriage, but certainly a tasteful way to get it off on a good start. The groomÍs cake is a way for the man to get his way (for once) in the wedding planning process. Not to stereotype, but the brideÍs cake will probably look like a tall tower of fluffy white frosting and flowers _ not exactly what a guyÍs guy has in mind. A cake for the groom is a way for him to express his personality, hobbies and passions _ no wonder these creations of sugar and butter usually involve chocolate! We say, invite your groomsmen to join you in a cake-tasting session at your preferred bakery. Chocolate with truffle filling, check! Chocolate with raspberry filling, check! Chocolate with espresso ganache, check! Sure, the bride could come along, but she doesnÍt really need to since the cake creation you choose is all about you! Plus, if she stays home, more samples for you and the buddies. If youÍve ever watched a cake reality show on television (admit it), youÍve no doubt see all sorts of groomÍs cake wonders. From huge fish-shaped cakes to hip-shaking Elvis cakes, there really isnÍt anything you canÍt get a cake baker, err artist, to whip up. In particular, we have a fondness for football and have gotten a kick out of the football stadium cakes. Just let the bakery know your favorite collegiate or pro team and they can cook up a totally detailed stadium complete with a scoreboard, gridiron and thousands of tiny seats. Coordinate your groomsmen gifts to the football theme and hook each up with a stadium printthat has been personalized with his name, a message and the date.

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Hey, Jude Law _ June's Marrying Man of the Month

Jude Law, Academy Award-nominated actor and scandalous playboy, is engaged to Sienna Miller (again) after rekindling the relationship this past December on a Caribbean beach getaway. Readers of gossip magazines may recall that the two began their on-again, off-again relationship on the set of Alfie, co-starring in what turned out to be a real-life romantic comedy. Engaged the first time on Christmas Eve 2004, the two called it quits in 2006 when Law was caught nuzzling and more with the nanny of his children from a previous marriage. The couple has been pretty hush-hush about the engagement, but Miller has been seen around town wearing the exact vintage diamond bauble that she received when the question was popped the first time. WeÍre surprised it wasnÍt thrown away after the nanny-gate fiasco! According to Daily Mail, a British newspaper, the pair will marry this summer in a ñbohemian-styleî ceremony in Gloucestershire, England. Miller is hinting that she has some other big news _ perhaps a baby bump? If so, it would be the 5th biological child for Law who has 3 school-aged children with first wife, Sadie Frost, and a new baby daughter from a brief relationship with model Samantha Burke. Although itÍs hard to imagine this player being settled down, a more mature-sounding Law recently reported to Parade magazine that ñMy daughter made me realize if thereÍs anything thatÍs going to make a man of you, itÍs having your will broken by a little girl. Eventually you have to grow up.î All of us here at Groomstand hope that it works out this time for the love birds.

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Searing Steak With Style _ Groomsmen Gift Suggestion

The entire month of May is dedicated to sizzling up good food on the grill, itÍs National Barbeque Month! According to a consumer poll by the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association, enjoying the company with family and friends (94%) combined with the desire to be outside (22%) is the reason why barbeque season heats up this time of year. And really, the launch of the outdoor cooking couldnÍt be better timed considering how many soon-to-be-married couples are launching their pre-wedding entertaining schedules for all the important members of the wedding party. If you are hosting a bachelor barbeque this month, youÍll want to check over your gear and supplies to make sure everything is in order. Pull off the cover under which your grill has been hibernating all winter and give it a look-see to determine whether is still up to the manufacturerÍs safety guidelines. Anything rusty or wobbly needs to be repaired or replaced. Also, youÍll need to stock up with a freshly filled propane tank or plenty of charcoal briquettes along with all the other consumables you plan on grilling up. This year, why not break with tradition and try a new marinade or dry rub to shake up the taste buds of your carnivorous friends and family?! For the men at your backyard cookout, it is always a thoughtful idea to bring along personalized groomsmen gifts, especially BBQ gifts, to show your appreciation for their willingness to eat, drink and be merry at your upcoming wedding. Sure to make a searing impression with your groomsmen is a steak iron which can be used to make a personalized mark on beef, chicken, pork _ even tofu! There are many styles of steak brands to choose from including steak irons forged with the recipientÍs monogram letters or a sports team or military logo held near and dear.

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Thumbs Up for Multi-Function Tools _ Manly Groomsmen Gifts

Men werenÍt given opposable thumbs for nothing. Thumbs are called opposable because this digit can be moved around to touch the other fingers, enabling the grasping mechanism. YouÍve enjoyed the use of your opposable thumbs for many worthy tasks, popping the lid on a beer can, holding your golf club, and snapping to your favorite tune. However, the most important event you can thank your thumb for is using it to flip open the lid on the velvet ring box when you made the big proposal to your fianc_. You groomsmen are also sure to be quite pleased with the physical adaptation provided by the thumb. WeÍre not saying the guys are monkeys or anything, but they couldnÍt peel a banana if it wasnÍt for this first-rate finger. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans also all have opposable thumbs just like your loveably knuckle-dragging buddies. One choice in groomsmen gifts that is sure to get a round of Tim Allen-eque grunts and groans of admiration is a multi-function tool. Like a pocket knife but better, these must-have implements are outfitted with lots of gear such as a blade, a screwdriver, a serrated saw, a corkscrew, a flashlight and more. A total thumbs-up for groomsmen gifts, your friends will enjoy keeping a multi-function tool on hand for DIY projects, emergency situations and all those other unexpected times when you need a special gadget.

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Make Mine Moonshine

Gather up the guys and celebrate the end of your bachelorhood the good old-fashioned backwoods way; passing around a jug of moonshine. Whether you call it Moonshine, White Lightning, Mule Kick or any other number of clever code names, the spirit is all the same recipe, an un-aged whiskey distilled from a yeast-fermented sugar source.     Although around for several hundred years, this home-cooked concoction rose into popularity during the Prohibition era when folks were forced to whip up illicit batches in their basements. Despite the fact liquor had become illegal, bachelor parties were forced to take on a more clandestine nature, being celebrated at home or in the nearest Speakeasy.       After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, moonshine continued to quench many thirsts, stereotypically so in the Deep South. ItÍs almost goes against the rebel nature of bootlegginÍ, but you can actually purchase mass-marketed moonshine at your local liquor store! There are a handful of legal distilleries on the up-and-up that sell the spirit. Those who have partaken in a swig of the hard stuff report that it is actually quite quaffable.       Pack a little high-proof punch to your bachelor outing by stocking up on a few bottles of the ruckus juice to get the party started. If you want to check the proof the way men did years ago, just fill up a teaspoon and light it on fire; if it flames, you know the stuff is strong. Present great looking flasks engraved especially for each bachelor party guest; the guys will appreciate this choice in groomsmen gifts that is sure to find its way into the proverbial boot leg.

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