Grooming with Jewelry

By Michael O'Connor, Jewelry and Style Expert It may be the bride's day, but the groom should look good for his wedding, too. Although no one is fussing over the guy issues, many men today are not afraid to show emotion (the room might get a little dusty when he gives out his groomsmen gifts). Whether he's a jeans-and-T-shirts man or a "wouldn't be caught dead sweats" guy, the wedding day is a time to show a more polished side. Jewelry can be a subtle way of making a strong personal statement. Men's Jewelry Trends Men are more open to jewelry these days, opting for platinum that offer a masculine look, feel and weight while providing durability, lasting luster. Because platinum jewelry is generally 95% pure, unlike 18k-gold that is only 75% pure, it is hypoallergenic. In the past few years, jewelry designers step increase their collections for men by giving them more options to express their personalities. This extensive gent's line from Precious Platinum has a timeless selection of in handsome and masculine finished platinum including tie pins and rings, pendants, and cufflinks. The tie accent is a simple way to make your tie pop with any suit you wear. When it's time to pick out your groomsmen gifts, don't overlook designer dog tags, cuff bracelets, and belt buckles. Resurfacing a quarter century past its heyday, the ID bracelet is back, but in personalized versions engraved with names, dates or mantras that mean something special to the groom and his buddies.

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Plan for the Worst on Your Wedding Day

FYI - This post contains Mad Men spoilers Your wedding day is supposed to be perfect. When it's supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life, how could you plan for the worst? Sure, forgetting a groomsmen gift for the best man isn't ideal, but what if something catastrophic happens? A family death? A natural disaster? In the latest episode of Mad Men, you'll find out that there are just some things you can't plan for when it comes to your wedding day. Ever since the second episode of season three, Mad Men fans were waiting in anticipation for the Sterling wedding set for Nov. 23, 1963 - one day after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. While the episode shows the fictional Sterling family at their half-empty wedding reception, this New York Times article shows how some couples found the strength to marry on Nov. 23, 1963. One bride to marry on the day after this American tragedy was 21 year-old Wanita Handal (now, Wanita Dehney). Mrs. Dehney never thought twice about putting a halt to her big day. When guests arrived for the reception at the Waldorf-Astoria, their spirits were not as bright. Mrs. Dehney says, "We thought it would be awful... I'll tell you, after a few drinks it didn't really matter." The average couple picks out their wedding date 17 months prior to the wedding. Just about anything can happen when you're planning a celebration a year in advance. Mrs. Dehney's wedding was after one of the worst catastrophes in American history, but everything came out all right. In fact, the Dehney wedding went so late, they had to pay the band extra to finish out the night. Still, if you'd rather not force your wedding through adverse conditions, there's no reason to worry. Use these precautions to ease stress on your perfect day. Wedding Day Plan B's Wedding insurance - it sounds like a scam, but would you go through with your wedding if it happened on 9/11? Wedding insurance protects against sudden cancelations like severe weather or illness, and protects against lost rings or a damaged wedding dress. Wedsafe.com gave a quote of $871.00 for a fictional wedding on Oct. 10, 2010 with liability insurance of $500,000 and cancelation insurance of $175,000. Plan for rain - no matter what the farmer's almanac says, you need to plan for terrible weather. Don't brush off the weather by thinking "oh, we'll just bring everyone inside." I went to a wedding in the desert last summer and they were sure it wasn't going to rain - It freakin' poured. It rained so much puddles formed in the grass and covered everyone's shoes in mud. At the very least, designate a group of umbrellas for guests as they dash out of their cars. Keep large sheets of plastic ready at the doorway for muddy shoes. And, always make sure you have an indoor option for all of your events. Grab the personalized flasks - if there's ever a moment to take a nip off some whiskey, it's when a major event over shadows your big day. Look on the bright side. You're with friends and family, and you're celebrating your love with a future wife. If you can't call off the wedding (or you just don't want to) break out the personalized flasks as groomsmen gifts and make the best of the moment.

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How to Write Great Wedding Vows (Without Using Mad Libs)

If your bride-to-be is anything like the multitudes of women who demand nothing less than the dream wedding, the wedding she has kept meticulously journaled in her Polly Pocket diary since elementary school, chances are she has taken care of everything. Location? Check. Invitations? Check. Caterers, seating arrangements, DJ playlist? Check, check, check. You may have at one time been responsible for procuring the ring, but chances are she took over that too, slipping subtle hints of cut and color, maybe even sketching out a diagram and putting it in your wallet (if not, check out some helpful suggestions for buying engagement rings from the groomsman gift experts). Uh oh. If she is marrying you for any other reasons than your wily wit with words or your ability to wax poetic at a moment's notice, this may seem a daunting task. Fear not! Following a few helpful guidelines might make the difference between snores from the guests and the future Mrs. You's tears of sentimental joy. Four Steps To Tear-jerking Wedding Vows Start now. Right now, if not yesterday. Or the day before. Putting off the vows may be the point of conflict in many a sitcom, but don't count on inspiration striking as you walk down the aisle and then winging it. This is not a suggestion to start crafting draft upon draft of prose, but start jotting down some points you would like to make. Having a bank of phrases, moments, and memories to drawn from will be crucial as you start constructing your final draft. Hint: "I love you so much" is a good place to start. Your vows should be unique, personal, and customized to your relationship. It doesn't matter how nice it sounds, if the climax of the speech is the romantic sunset you two shared on a beach, there is nothing stopping her from removing you from the memory and inserting Rick or James or Paolo from two summers ago into the same idyllic setting. Idyllic is not the basis of your marriage. Share the points that you love about her and your relationship that are specifically yours. Beaches are not yours. They belong to every new couple ever. Maybe you can make a promise that in married life you won't come to bed angry. Share an anecdote about the first time you noticed how she held a pencil or cut up her cucumber and then fell in love. By all means avoid When Harry Met Sally as your muse, but ask yourself: "What defines our love?" When you have your answer, you have your vows. Keep your audience in mind, especially if the wedding consists of any guests beyond two witnesses and a priest dressed as Elvis. Filling your vows with quirky inside jokes might mean a lot to your lady, but this wedding isn't only about the two of you (no matter what anyone may say). You have your whole future to spend just the two of you. Right now you have Grandma Sue in the front row, and you need to make sure that she, as well as your bride, is clear on what is being said. Sprinkle your vows with anecdotes and memories, but make sure they are the types of things Grandma Sue can at least imagine being a part of. There is nothing more alienating (and therefore boring) than not knowing what is going on. Practice. Practice, practice, practice. Do it once more for good measure. You don't need to memorize what you want to say, but it is worth it that you don't stumble over the words you so painstakingly put together. Better yet, practice in front of one person who is a better writer and public speaker than you - perhaps a poetic groomsman. He will be able to help you think of ways to really wow, be it with comprehensibility, language, or a tricky section of alliteration. Treat him to a fabulous groomsman gift as your way of saying "thanks!"

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The Money Dance is Weird, Right?

The money dance is totally funky. If you haven't been to many international weddings, you'd think this is the closest the bride ever felt to being a stripper. Sweaty men pinning globs of fives to her shoulder straps. It's what every bride dreams about for her wedding! One of the reasons the money dance is so weird to Americans is because we freak out about open cash flying around. There's something dirty about it. Cash is for tipping a person because they don't get paid enough with their current paycheck. No one wants to be reminded of that on their wedding day. Combine that with the fact that no one wants to freely admit they really need money that bad - even if they do. Just the other day, a money dance turned bad at a Florida wedding when a brawl broke out after the groom's brother 'made it rain' dolla dolla bills ya'll on the dance floor. (Looks like someone needed to wait on handing out personalized pocket knives as groomsmen gifts until after the reception). 40 people were questioned after the brawl, including the groom's 74-year-old grandmother who was put in a choke hold during the madness. The money dance might sound tackier than Donald Trump shoving ads for his golf course in his daughter's wedding invitations, but the tradition of the money dance is older than the personalized flask (Ok. Total shameless plug). Let's get down to the bottom of tossing cash at the bride and groom with another exciting adventure in Groomsmen Origin Stories. The Origin of the Wedding Dance Polish paupers get credit for the money dance. The lower-class Polish created this tradition around the turn of the century to ensure the newlyweds have extra spending money for their honeymoon. As the tradition goes, after the bride and groom's first dance, guests ask for permission to dance with each of the newlyweds by paying cash for the privilege. Guests form one line in front of the bride and one line in front of the groom, as the best man and maid of honor stand at the head of the line to help with the cash collection. You might be saying to yourself, "I saw a money dance at my ex-girlfriend's sister's wedding, and that was not how they did it." One of the reasons is because different cultures put their unique spin on the tradition based on the personalization or depersonalization of money in their customs. For instance, in Ukraine, Poland, Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico, it's common for family and friends to pin the money directly onto the wedding dress or tuxedo of the bride and groom. In the Philippines, the money dance is so common that guests create ornate patterns when sticking the cash on the brides. If you go to a Hungarian wedding, the bride places her shoes in the middle of the dance floor and guests fill them full of money before they dance with her. In Scotland, it's popular for the bride-to-be to trade kisses for cash before the wedding as a sign of good luck. The wildest variation of the money dance is in Slavic countries that practice the Babushka dance. Originally, the Babushka dance was a bridal ceremony where guests dropped money into her veil while forming a circle around the bride. In a variation of the dance, family members kidnapped the bride if there wasn't enough money collected in her veil. While it seems like another attempt to extort money from the guests, the groom runs around the room collecting "ransom" funds from family and friends to get the bride back. No matter what your ancestry is, the money dance is an easy and entertaining way to get your tight-wad uncle to cough up some extra dough on your wedding day. But keep in mind, this little extortion scam only works if everyone knows what the hell is going on. Unless the tradition of the money dance is deep within your family roots, don't try and create an impromptu collection agency on the spot. It's just tacky.

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Worst Wedding Facial Hair Of All Time

Facial hair is a guy thing. As soon as we hit that voice-changing age and strange shadows of hair appear in curious places, we're sold. And for the same reason we stride through the halls of middle school flaunting downy little imitations of mustaches, when we realize we can actually grow real ones in college (and that the ladies actually dig the dirty look), we do. We do with a vengeance. But now it's Wedding Day. And no matter what styles of facial hair you have experimented with over the years, you've got a big choice to make: to beard or not to beard. Some Hairy Situations to Avoid on the Big Day Anything that Requires a Template to Create Outlining a design in your scruff with your fiance's eyeliner before you start trimming away means your choice of facial hair is probably a bad idea. It means you are going to have growth on your face that does not actually exist on it's own in nature. There is a reason why, when you run a search for "Celebrity Chin Straps," only Season Five American Idol third runner-up Chris Daughtry shows up. All On the Bottom With Nothing On Top One might think the beard may be the bald man's saving grace: proof that he can still produce lustrous locks somewhere. It's not. Ed Norton could kind of pull of the bald-with-goatee look in American History X, but he was a white supremest with neo-Nazi ideals. You probably aren't, and this is a good thing. Chin Fringe Well played. You have the equivalent of a bed-skirt on your face. Anything Reminiscent of a Cute Animal's Tail You would have thought that the soul patch would have come and gone with the 2006 Winter Olympics, but nope. It keeps cropping up. Choose to still sport the cottontail look? Start preparing some stock answers: "No, I did not dribble something on my chin at lunch." "No, I did not miss that spot right in the middle when I shaved." "Yes, that is supposed to be there!" The Two-Toned Look If you dye your hair, consider that it does not mean your face curtain will transform to match. The equivalent of a girl with her tacky roots showing, a two-toned head is proof that you were not born with golden surfer locks. So What Are You Left With? Wearing "a look" is tricky business. To avoid any embarrassment, stick with the tried and true. Clean shaven is always a solid choice. Or, if you are a beardyman, go with facial hair that is maintained, manageable, and evenly distributed. Looking back, those "Star-burns" you thought were awfully clever are going to haunt you.

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Is Having a Pet in Your Wedding a Good Idea?

It would be strange not to have your best friend at your wedding. If he's not at your side up at that alter, there had better be a damn good reason as to why not (and complaining about not getting enough groomsman gifts is not a good excuse). But what happens when your best friend is man's best friend? What happens when your choice for best man happens to be your bull dog? You're in luck! Having your pet at your wedding is not as wacky as your fiancee claims, even though some prim mothers-in-law might put up a fuss. If Adam Sandler did it with his two dogs, why not you? There are problems. Introducing a four-legged friend into the festivities is introducing a wild-card. It is the equivalent to inviting a very forgetful guest who doesn't speak English, has no concept of social customs, and is very easily distracted. And who walks on four legs. In addition, I'm not sure your Chocolate Lab is going to appreciate a set of engraved cuff links as much as your other groomsmen. Don't worry, Groomstand is here to help. What to Watch For When Your Wedding Goes to the Dogs Make sure there is a place in your wedding for your type of pet. You love your horse very much, but is it really feasible to have a pony promenading down the aisle? Having an out-of-the-box wedding can be cool, but certain animals are more socially acceptable than others (which is why dogs are the most popular four-legged wedding guests). Cats, boa constrictors, birds, ferrets, hamsters. These animals can all make great pets, but may not be the ideal members of your wedding part. Is he ready for the spotlight? Unless your pet is a trained service animal, large groups of people, flashing cameras, and the instructions to not eat the rings might be overwhelming. There are going to be some pretty peeved attendees if there is a dog jumping up and ruining their formal wear. As Groomstand has advised before, be ready to accept that your pooch just might not be up to the job. Check to make sure the important parties are okay with your pet's presence. That means knowing ahead of time if the venue, the photographer, the justice-of-the peace, and your guests are going to be comfortable. If your flower girl is terrified of Dobermans, or one of your groomsmen is severely allergic to cat hair, you might want to reconsider. I don't think there are enough groomsmen gifts in the world to make up for puffy red eyes in all of your wedding party pictures. Having a backup plan means thinking of all the things that could go wrong with your pet. Think of scenarios where pet mishaps might pop up, and figure out fast fixes. Consuming the rings is only one possible problem. What about barking during vows? Chewing on your bride's train? Burying all the groomsmen gifts? Defecating on the aisle? Practicing with your pet is a given, but make sure you know what to do when the big day isn't as smooth as the dress rehearsal. The Perks of a Pet-Filled Wedding In general, people love pets at a wedding. It makes for a unique experience, and the photo opportunities are priceless. Besides, it's a great excuse to dress up your dog in ridiculous wedding garb without being that guy.

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Groomsmen Mindtricks: Show them the Way of the Cufflink

You want to give your groomsmen some flair on your wedding day, and personalized cufflinks as groomsmen gifts is a great place to start. The simple styling pops with a classic tuxedo, and the cufflinks themselves make fantastic keepsakes for years to come. One downfall. None of your groomsmen 'suit up.' They don't own French cuff shirts. In fact, some of your groomsmen have never seen a pair of cufflinks; much less know how to put them on. Bring your groomsmen out of the fashion rut. Handing out personalized cufflinks as groomsmen gifts isn't just an awesome memento from your wedding, it's an opportunity to add some grown up elements in your buddies wardrobes. They are your padawan learners. Show them the ways of the fashion force. The Origin and Styling of Cufflinks Back in the 17th Century, King Charles II was our equivalent to David Beckham. With every fashion gaffe, there was a triumph (oh, the foe-hawk. How you'll forever live in my heart.) Old Charlie 2 was the same way. As we can see, the king loved to show off his legs. As nice as those gams were, the whole legging look didn't catch on with the fellas, but what did was his cuff buttoning system. At that time, the puffy pirate look was in, and they tried to use a string to keep the shirt cuff around the wrist. King Charles made a fashion statement that caught on when he placed decorative buttons at the end of his sleeve to show off the lace in his shirt cuffs. Nowadays, if you want to sport the cufflink look, it needs to be a French cuff or double cuff shirt. DO NOT POKE A HOLE IN YOUR SINGLE CUFF SHIRT! It will look like hell, and people will notice your fashion faux pas. When you finally own a French cuff shirt, you'll notice all that extra material at the end of the sleeve should touch the middle of your hand. When you fold the flap over the sleeve, it should form a perfect cuff that extends beyond the sleeve of your suit or dinner jacket. Two buttonholes will meet at the outside edge of your cuff. Line the holes up, and slide the cufflink through, securing it so the cufflink design faces away from your body. If you want to make it look like you know what you're doing, only wear cufflinks that match your wristwatch or ring. Since the stainless steel/silver/platinum look is where it's at for the foreseeable future, that's the preferred neutral color for the groom to pick out his groomsmen gifts.

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The Secret Language of the Beer Glass

Crack a cold one, and you will soon realize that all beer receptacles were not created equal. Or will you? A stein is not a pilsner is not a tankard for a reason! There is purpose and history behind varied glass designs, often to showcase beers to the fullest. Understand these subtleties and match glass-type with each groomsman's beer preference - your groomsmen gifts will be personalized in more ways than one. The Pint Glass and Tumbler The pint glass or tumbler is the most common beer container. Typically sporting a slight taper to a wide mouth, these glasses are either 16 oz (commonplace in the United States) or 20 oz (to account for large crowning heads in beers like Guinness). The are cheap to make, easy to drink out of, and their hint of a conical shape means they are convenient for bartenders to stack. A set of personalized tumblers is perfect for the beer-loving groomsman who will break one out for his daily brewsky. The Beer Mug and Stein Built thick, strong, and made to last. The stein traditionally was made of stone and came with a cover (to prevent any dirty flies from falling in during the Black Plague), but today the term stein covers mugs in all shapes and materials. They are generally hefty, hold a heck of a lot of beer, and have a handle for easy swigging. Their sturdy structure makes a set of personalized beer mugs ideal for the burly groomsman who enjoys clinking bashing glasses with his drinking buddies. The Pilsner or Weizen Glass A tall, classy beer glass, the Pilsner does it all. It retains a beer's foamy head. It rockets the beer's aroma straight into your nostrils. It showcases a beers Three C's: color, clarity and carbonation. In a Pilsner, a beer will sparkle and demand to be appreciated. It is typically 12 oz and sometimes only 8 oz, so a set of personalized Pilsner glasses will be best suited as a groomsman gift for the refined beer drinker. The Ferdinand Mug A glorious combination of the beer mug and the Pilsner, this 18 oz personalized Ferdinand mug makes the supreme groomsmen gift for a beer gulper with a hint of sophistication. It has the sturdiness of a well-built stein, but with a touch of the debonair in its sleek form. The Can Can't get the college boy out of your groomsman? Kick up his class by gifting personalized leather beer caddies. In any event, his Miller Lite will stay refreshingly chilled, right?

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GroomStand's Black Friday & Cyber Monday Specials

Tis' the morning after Thanksgiving, and you're fast asleep. You'll find your groomsmen gift specials without making a single peep. Just click on Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials - oh, what will you find? Great specials on personalized bar signs just in the nick of time. Sit back. Relax. GroomStand's shopping specials are finally here. Now that you've found the perfect groomsmen gifts, reach in the fridge and crack open another beer.

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10 Wedding Themes That Are Worse Than Yours

Themes are tricky. And they usually aren't your idea, we understand. But no matter how roped in you are to your fiancee's vision of a butterfly tea party garden wedding, be comforted. We have compiled some of the worst wedding themes that have actually happened -- for real. Tea parties suddenly don't seem so bad, do they? The Hunting Wedding The epitome of redneck celebrations, a hunting wedding runs the gamut from camo tuxes to animal-head decorations, fluorescent- orange accents to mossy centerpieces. For the hyper-dedicated, you can incorporate antlers into the bride's tiara and tie shot-gun shells to the back of a four-wheeler as you drive away to your honeymoon in the hunting lodge. Hey - stop liking this idea! It's not cool. Best groomsmen gift ideas: smoked venison jerky, personalized trucker hats.   The Vampire Wedding I hate to say it, but with every lady absolutely bonkers for Twilight, the realm of vampire weddings is evolving... in some ways for the better. Gone now are the coffins, black lace, frilly shirts, and Gothic candelabras, replaced by a hunky, youthful aesthetic. On the other hand, you will be forced to whitewash your face and cover yourself in glitter. And forever be held to the standard of a teenage vampire who doesn't really exist. Best groomsmen gift ideas: vials of your own venomous saliva, black satin capes.   The Clown Wedding This is really only acceptable if you are actually a clown in an actual circus marrying another clown in a circus during a circus. Otherwise leave the over-sized shoes and clashing patterns at home, in your closet. You're traumatizing your guests. Best groomsmen gift ideas: flowers that squirt water, a dog trained to hop on one foot.   The Duct Tape Wedding There were always those screw-ball kids at the high school prom who sought to reject the conventions of expensive tuxes and, well, fabric for the more subversive use of tape. You will notice that none of those kids will grow up to repeat this at their weddings. Because they realized twenty minutes after donning their tape attire, they were sweating, chafing, and couldn't really bend over. Because it's tape. And tape doesn't breathe. Or move. Best groomsmen gift idea: individualized duct tape wallets.   The Naked Wedding I promise, promise, promise nobody wants to see that. Save it for the honeymoon. Best groomsmen gift ideas: body oils, personalized dumbbells.   The Bagel Wedding The tale began one day in a Yahoo Answers forum: A couple met at a bagel shop, so they decided to have a bagel-themed wedding. And not just serving bagels at the reception, which is a perfectly acceptable and a cool way to bring personality to your wedding. They are decorating with bagels: bagel centerpieces, bagel napkin rings, bagel wedding favors. Bagel wedding rings? Best groomsmen gift idea: a lifetime supply of flavored cream cheese.   The Medieval Wedding A wedding theme for those stuck in the past... way in the past. To make your wedding as authentically medieval as possible, try not showering for the three months leading up to the ceremony. Have your guests squat over latrines rather than modern bathroom facilities. Eat your turkey legs with your hands! It's so romantic! Best groomsman gift ideas: personalized scabbards, codpieces, ale tankards.   The Pirate Wedding Johnny Depp did it (kind of...) so it must be okay, right? Eyeliner, satin vests, and long beards with dangling beads a delightful wedding make. Especially if you are on a boat. The only problem? Unless every single one of your wedding guests is also as into pirates as you, there is a pretty good chance that you will be dressed like an idiot and everyone else will look normal. And they will laugh at you. Best groomsmen gift ideas: gold hoop earrings, personalized eye patches.   The Cartoon Wedding The problem here is that you have to convince two of your guests to dress up in full Disney costume. You had better get your best man a groomsman gift to beat all groomsmen gifts for this one. I mean, seriously. He is dressed like Mickey. Best groomsmen gift ideas: Disney autograph book, personalized hip flask. The Compromise Wedding Sure you think you are being very mature when you and your fiance decide to make each other happy and combine wedding themes. And maybe you are being mature. But your wedding is going to end up ridiculous. Best groomsman gift ideas: whatever you want. You obviously think your ideas are the best. Congratulations - your wedding is totally normal! Embrace the butterflies, rejoice in the gardens. And find tones of awesome groomsmen gifts at https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand

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Wedding Crashers and Scammers - Beware!

Wedding planning may not be your forte. You got "awesome groomsmen gifts" checked off your to-do list, and frankly, the argument between lilies and freesias for the bridal bouquet can stay between your fiancee and her mother. However, not bearing the brunt of at least some of the Big Day planning leaves you at risk for a lot of flack for your lack of participation from the bride-to-be. Volunteer to hunt down those wedding scams and stay on top of wedding security - not only does it boost your bad-ass image, it will also help protect your wallet. Wedding Crashers Syndrome The story: First comes Vince and Owen, then comes Tareq and Michaele, then comes... random dudes trying to cash in on your big day? Forget about it. Wedding and party crashers make for comedy gold on-screen, but fact is, with each of your guests costing you on average $100 to $150. Two slackers are the last thing you want to shell out for. Besides, as an incentive to your groomsmen (in addition to those awesome engraved NFL pint glasses as groomsmen gifts) you guaranteed them full flirting access to the bevy of bridesmaids! Crashers only add to the competition. What to do: If you wedding is a small and intimate affair, you probably won't have to worry - crashers stick to events where they won't stick out as impostors. But if your reception is going to be a well-publicized raucous party with your fiancee's entire college sorority present: Put together a guest list and have an intimidating buddy play bouncer. Have the doors closed and locked after the first hour to prevent party prowlers from sneaking in undetected. If you suspect a jealous ex will burst in mid-ceremony, pass out his or her picture to your groomsmen and make them work for those groomsmen gifts! They will be in charge of eliminating the threat (just like in a Bond movie.) When Invited Guests Go Wild You know who they are. It's that uncle who after a few too many feels the need to show off his pecks. It's the best friend from college who can't control herself once the music starts. And while you may feel guilty for calling them out on their (not-so) secret partying flaws, assign someone to keep an eye on known instigators once the alcohol begins to flow. You'll be thankful when everyone keeps their pants on for the wedding photos. Hidden Costs That Sneak Up On You The Band Your wedding band or DJ might not mention his or her extra equipment fees if your reception is going to require extra speakers, microphones, and cords. Photographer Overtime Fees Keep in mind your photographer is only being paid for a set amount of hours. If the fun don't stop until the break of dawn,you will be hemorrhaging money as you Chicken Dance the night away. Rental Transportation Getting 200 folding chairs from point A to point B can ding you up to $500 dollars if transportation costs are not included in rental fees. Cutting and Corking Fees Bringing in booze and baked goods from an outside company is a good excuse for your wedding venue's staff to charge you for their added troubles, like serving and washing dishes. While some of these costs might be unavoidable (taxes are taxes), if you don't like what someone is offering, shop around until you find a deal that satisfies you and your bride. Knowing ahead of time what you wedding will cost means you can budget the celebration a little better. At the very least, you won't get any nasty surprises in your bills as the honeymoon glow fades away. Say Scram to Scams Your wedding is costing you enough as it is. Don't let a wedding vendor take advantage of your star-struck pre-wedding distraction. Be vigilant of bridal and tux shops that pass off cheaply made garments as designer items, or jewelers who lie about the quality of your dream diamond ring. Photographers can hold on to your pictures for more money, florists might deliver less flowers than advertised, and a limousine driver may never show up.What to do? Take a peek at vendors' records online on the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has a history of scandal. Also, getting a contract in writing will ensure everything and everyone will show up as agreed.

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Engagement Ring Tips: How To Pick a Good One

It could be one of the most memorable moments in your life. You pull an engagement ring out of your pocket and ask the love of your life to be your wife. You desperately want her to say yes... and to fall in love with her ring. But how do you make sure that happens? Guys who have successfully navigated this step in their relationship share some tips. Use a Fake Ring Mike Vietti, of Washington, D.C., wanted his fianc_e's engagement ring to be a complete surprise, but had no idea what she would like. So he decided to use a fake one for his proposal and take her shopping later. "I thought it was brilliant," said Emily Vietti. "I love surprises, but I couldn't imagine wearing something for the rest of my life I didn't love. It was the perfect solution." Consider Her Taste and Style Make sure the ring fits her existing jewelry collection, said Kevin Saghy, of Chicago. "I realized all of my fianc_e's jewelry is very clean and simple, like one large pearl on a string or a clean trail of diamonds on a necklace, so I chose a three-stone engagement ring that looks simple but impressive. It has gone over really well." Get A Little Help from Her Friends "My wife found a drawing of the kind of ring she would like and gave it to a friend to hold - under the condition that the friend would not tell her when she gave it to me," said Andrew Brown, of Detroit. "She was totally surprised the day the exact ring she wanted was given to her." Shop Together Randy Holmes, of Atlanta, was overwhelmed by the number of options he faced when he started to shop for his fianc_e's ring, so he asked her to join him. "It was great to have Lauren involved," he said. "It was romantic and took a lot of pressure off." Do Your Homework Erik Mason, of Boston, did a "ton of research" on diamonds before he even set foot in a jewelry store. "I think most guys believe as long as they're familiar with the 4Cs, they're all set," he said. "I was surprised to find that was only half the story you should be thinking about." Mason spent almost five months learning about the 4Cs - color, cut, clarity and carat weight - and how that translated to his budget and girlfriend's taste. He used online resources, visited retailers and flipped through fashion magazines to get a sense of what she liked. "I got a great learning experience and another connection to our marriage through a spectacular piece of symbolism I understand inside and out," he said. You can learn all about diamond engagement rings and the 4 Cs at the Gemological Institute of America, and you'd better bone up! Because after the engagement comes picking groomsmen gifts. We'll be here when you're ready.

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