Wedding Toasts

Studies have shown a majority of people would rather have a root canal than speak in public. Getting up in front of a room full of friends, family and total strangers can reduce even the strongest of men to a quivering and feckless dolt. The same flatulent windbags, who can natter on endlessly about sports or alleged sexual conquests, all of a sudden turn into public flatulent windbags. At one point in your life, you may be called upon to deliver a wedding toast. This is a skill too few men possess, yet, is one every man should have in their arsenal. Fear not. There is no reason any man shouldn't be able to deliver moving, intelligent, heartfelt wedding toasts in exchange for nice groomsmen gifts. Follow my advice, and in a short while, you'll be toasting and roasting with the best of them. GOOD IDEA: Preparation Pre-wedding preparation is a good idea - no, it's a must! Do not jot down some random notes while taking a dump the morning of the wedding! Give yourself a few days and organize your thoughts. Writing them down is always recommended. You may even want to practice. I realize standing in front of a mirror holding a wineglass may make you feel like a schmuck, but remember you were selected to give the toast. It is an honor! Remember, you're getting decent groomsmen gifts out of this deal, so don't screw up. CRAPPY IDEA: Winging It "Hell, I'll just wing it." There is nothing quite as painful to watch as the "off-the-cuff guy" yammering on in a semi-coherent manner about some random adventure he and the groom took when the entire fraternity ventured off to the Bambi Club in Tijuana. Review above: Preparation. MOVING IDEA: When Boy Meets Girl Tell the guests the story behind how the Bride and Groom met. Every couple has an amusing story of their early courtship, and this is the perfect opportunity to share it. You're guaranteed to get plenty of "aahhs" from the group as well as a hug from the bride and a pat on the back from the groom. ADDED BONUS: If you're a single guy delivering the toast, the likelihood of shagging one or more of the bridesmaids after the wedding goes up exponentially with the increased sensitivity of the toast. If your groomsmen gifts were great, consider this a bonus gift of sorts. SORDID IDEA: The Groom's "Little Black Book" Stories Don't tell the assembled how the Groom nailed three woman on that Spring Break trip to Cancun. Obvious as this may seem, I've been at several ceremonies where the wedding toasts included references to the Groom's sexual escapades. This kind of information is not for public consumption. That is what the bachelor party is for. Groomsmen gifts are sort of like a bribe to keep quiet. While we're on the topic of "sordid," wedding toasts should be kept as "PG" as possible. Again, I have been at weddings where vulgarities, slang, and expletives were liberally sprinkled throughout the toast. Keep in mind, this is a wedding not "Def Comedy Jam." Grandpa and Grandpa are present. Read this word twice - D-I-S-C-R-E-T-I-O-N. Now exercise some. DRY IDEA: No Tequila Shots Before You Begin Lay off the booze until after the toast. What worked for Dean Martin will only make you a babbling idiot. WELCOME IDEA: Mr. & Mrs. Always remember to speak of the Bride. Two people are getting married. If you are a family member, welcome her into the family. If you're a friend of the groom, talk about how she's made him a better person, or how they've grown together. It may seem sappy, but after all, this is a wedding. Sappy is what the crowd is looking for. SHORT IDEA: Get To The Point Don't ramble on. A few well-chosen words will suffice. 'Nuff said. FUNNY IDEA: "Did I Ever Tell You The One About..." It's not open mike night at the Laugh Factory, and, more importantly, you're probably not as funny as you think you are. Humor is always appreciated in wedding toasts, when it's done in good taste. Cracks about the "end of your life," or "the old ball and chain," are about as fresh as a Dudley Moore flick. Jokes are not always appropriate. BOTTOM LINE: With a little practice and some simple common sense, your wedding toast can be one of the wedding highlights. Remember a lot of weddings today are video taped, and embarrassing wedding toasts will come back to haunt you for years to come - and aren't your groomsmen gifts worth more than that? Cheers!

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Buying an Engagement Ring

For the average guy, popping the question is hard enough. You worry about whether you'll sweat too much, your voice will crack, or your special occasion tux pants from the junior prom will split when you get down on one knee... There are a million things to worry about when plotting the big proposal. The ring shouldn't have to be one of them. But for many non-metrosexual men out there, to whom jewelry is a foreign concept in the first place, buying the ring is one of the hardest parts. Like, what's the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding ring? And when do you buy each ring? How much should you spend on a ring? And how do you know which ring is better than another ring? With all these questions swirling around, buying a ring can seem really confusing, so here's a few pointers on the particulars of engagement rings, wedding rings and ring buying in general. And don't forget to consult friends and married groomsmen for advice - they've done it before, so they'll be glad to help you out, just promise great groomsmen gifts in exchange. The engagement ring and the wedding ring are two different rings. Pre-proposal, the groom is only technically responsible for buying the engagement ring. This one is the big, sparkly salary-busting rock that is supposed to make her scream "I do!" so spare no expense when picking the perfect diamond engagement ring. We recommend most grooms just stop there in terms of solo jewelry shopping. Though one-stop shopping is tempting, and there are bridal sets out there that include an engagement ring and matching wedding band, we do not recommend this course of action. For one thing, bridal sets are not like Big Mac Value Meals. There's usually no discount for buying the combo, so it's just as well to wait and go ring shopping with your bride, rather than risk buying two rings when she hasn't even said yes to one. Plus, it is our experience that most women dream of ring shopping for wedding bands since they are little girls, so why deprive them of the experience? This trip is also a good chance for the bride to have her engagement ring sized, and ahem, re-selected if your particular rock wasn't exactly to her liking. If she does exchange it, don't take it personally. The engagement ring is being evaluated as a gesture on the groom's part, not for the jewelry itself, so as long as she says yes to the gesture (your proposal) it's her prerogative to amend the jewelry to her liking. Nevertheless, you are obligated to give engagement ring shopping the old college try (the whole gesture thing again). So in order to get an A for effort at least, here are some tips for buying the perfect engagement ring. Bring a friend. Not yours, hers. A girl's best friend is an invaluable ally when facing the puzzling world of platinum and pear shapes. Chances are, your fiance has already had countless conversations with her friends about what kind of engagement and wedding ring she wants, maybe even flipping through magazines or pointing rings out in store windows. Trust us, you may be clueless as to what your lady might like in terms of jewelry, but if you innocently go for the oval diamond, rest assured her best friend will be right there, protesting emphatically "No, no Patricia's much more of a Princess cut." The mystery of these words needn't matter to you at this point. All that counts is that you are buying the perfect engagement ring for the love of your life. Snoop. This is a risky one, but could help you hit the jewelry jackpot. Many women keep their secret wedding wishes filed away in a journal, memory box, or desk drawer, so some (cautious) pawing around in your lady's personals could give you clues to her jewelry preferences. To avoid being too invasive, just shake her journal to see if any pictures or clippings fall out, and thumb through drawers to see if any ring-like depictions catch your eye. We know it's a bit invasive, but imagine flipping through her diary and coming to a page labeled "My dream wedding ring" with a corresponding magazine clipping detailing the price, location, and diamond details. Bingo! You get to sneak off, buy her dream engagement ring, shock your fiance with your taste and style, and convince her once and for all that you two are totally perfect for each other! Size matters. The stealthy acts continue with your attempts to secure her ring size. This can call for some serious James Bond type maneuvers, but they will only add to the clandestine pleasure of the ring-buying mission. Some tried-and-true capers include filching one of her other rings and indenting it's shape into a bar of soap, or tracing the shape of the ring onto a piece of paper to bring to the jeweler. Another method is to push the ring down on your own finger and make a dot with a pen where it lands on your own hand. These stealthy acts will have a big payoff when you deliver your fiance's perfectly sized ring. Nothing kills the proposal buzz quicker than an awkward ring finger tug-of-war. Haggle. Of course one obstacle on a potential groom's mind when buying an engagement ring is the price - after all, hopefully you'll need to save money for the wedding and groomsmen gifts. Buying a quality engagement ring is a costly and significant investment, and needs to be carefully considered. But if you're sure she's the one, rest assured, most modern brides don't require the old 'two month's salary on a ring' rule. If you have that kind of cash stashed, go for it, but if you don't, it is possible to get quality jewelry at a more reasonable price. One way to do this is haggle. It can be intimidating going into a fancy jewelry store, but remember, jewelry salesman are just like drug dealers, but with diamonds. They're out to make a profit, they know making some money is better than making no money, and they're willing to cut you a deal if you look like you got street cred. But even if you don't, you can fake it. Throw around words like "color, cut, clarity and carat" and you'll be in the inner circle in no time. In the jewelry world, the sticker price is just the starting off point for negotiations; so don't be intimidated to haggle for a lower price. This isn't being a cheapskate, its just being a good businessman, and surely your drug-we mean diamond- dealer, will understand that. Do a background check. All diamonds are not created equal, and neither are all jewelry stores. To avoid getting hustled, go to a trusted family jeweler, or someone recommended by a friend. If you have no such connections, just make sure the store you buy from is accredited by the Jewelers of America or the American Gem society. Otherwise, the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau may have pertinent data about the jewelry store in question. Go with your gut. Research aside, if the jeweler seems like a sleaze ball, take your business elsewhere. The jeweler's attitude toward the staff, the customer service quality, and the company's return, repair and replacement conditions are all things to look for when deciding whether to shop at a particular store. If you're still unsure about a certain ring, reserve the right to get an independent appraiser's opinion. Any bona fide jewelry store should have no problem with that. Making the grade. For high quality diamonds (one carat and larger) you should receive a diamond-grading report. This report will include all the details of the diamond, from the four C's, to the ring's designer, to whether it was handcrafted or custom made, anything that affects the quality of the ring. This report is a certificate of authenticity and worth, and is as important as a show puppy's pedigree papers. Now that you have memorized these ring buying pointers, there's nothing left to do but conquer your fears and start shopping! Remember, your fiance has no doubt put herself out for you on many occasions, venturing into the world of car parts, sporting equipment, and possibly even electronic gadgets in order to make you the devoted man that you are today. Do your part by purchasing her the best diamond ring you possibly can, knowing it will all be worth it when you open that box and make her the happiest woman on earth! Some info taken from theknot.com and askmen.com

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A Guide to Spotting Wedding Crashers

On the Big Day, a groom's gotta protect his groomsmen gifts, his Grey Goose fountain and his girl from the predatory hands of wedding crashers. Unfortunately, now that a sequel is being made to the summer movie that started all this crashing brouhaha, it's going to be harder than ever to weed out wedding interlopers. Luckily, Groomstand's got your guide to doing just that! Read this clever primer and you won't have to worry about strapping your groomsmen gifts to your hip (unless of course, it's a nifty flask like this one.) Step 1: Look for unnaturally attractive wedding guests. Fact is, you and your crew have always been suspicious of pretty boys. While your own friends aren't ugly per se, they certainly aren't the type to request body waxing and man-icures as groomsmen gifts. Ipso facto, the first thing you can do to weed out wedding crashers is to scan the crowd for inordinately good-looking men and have them removed from the premises. Hey, clearly they're wedding crashers or "old friends" of the bride-either way, ejection is in order. Step 2: Give out tasers as groomsmen gifts. Not only are tasers awesome, these little stun-buttons will make it easy for your groomsmen to double as bouncers, even if they are built more like bean bags. If you see a guest engaging in questionable behavior: chatting up bridesmaids, balloon-animal construction, dancing with Granny, your groomsmen can quickly zap the perpetrator using their new-found groomsmen gifts and haul the suspect into a reception hall room for questioning. Step 3: Sniff out suspicious family associations. You can bet your weight in groomsmen gifts that if there are wedding crashers in your midst, they came fully prepared with some cock-and-bull story about being childhood paper boys or third cousins thirty-times removed. There is a simple way to handle this: Instead of a simple guest book, opt for a guest video. Under the guise of creating a nostalgic keepsake, you'll earn yourself a handy interrogation camera that you and your groomsmen can take turns scanning for shady stories throughout the night. As added incentive, let the groomsman who catches something fishy keep the video camera and spare tapes as groomsmen gifts. Step 4: Watch for ladies man versus guy's guy syndrome. Have your guys fully talk up their groomsmen gifts: golf clubs, baseball bats, poker sets. If a man in the group doesn't join in the dugout war stories or slips off to the single lady guests, there's a good chance you've got a wedding crasher on your hands. A man who doesn't appreciate the worth of on-the-green groomsmen gifts is clearly just there to pick up girls, and such behavior smacks of wedding crasher status! By following this guide carefully you should be able to guard your groomsmen gifts, protect your girl's bridesmaids, and keep the reception dance party invite-only! Well done, groom.

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Tuxedo Guide

So you missed your senior prom, managed to miss out on groomsmen gifts by side stepping your way out of attending weddings and have not been selected as a nominee to receive the Pulitzer Prize award yet. Now you're engaged and it's time to wear your first tuxedo. Can you keep this string of luck alive and side step your way out of this one too? Nope. Get prepared. The tux might be the most important element of the wedding process for grooms (followed by choosing the right groomsmen gifts. Hey, you only have so many responsibilities). You want to look good, giving off an air of calm and coolness as the beads of sweat trickle down your temples. Do your research. Be patient and have a game plan that is flexible before you meet with a tuxedo sales person. Have patience trying on various styles. No tuxedos fit the same, just as no body type looks the same. Just because it looked good on Fabio in your fiance's Modern Bride magazine, doesn't mean it will look good on your five foot eight dumpy frame. Hey, this is your best chance to make you and your boys look like studs. To help you get started, we've prepared a brief overview of tuxedos. Tuxedos History 101: Tuxedos first came to America around 1886 when James Potter brought the look from England. He began wearing his new jacket to the Tuxedo Club in upstate New York. Other men quickly followed, going to the their local tailors and asking to copy the jacket made popular by James at the Tuxedo Club...and so the tux was born. The 1920's saw the introduction of the pleated dress shirt, and accessories such as cufflinks and the double-breasted tuxedo. Hollywood began promoting the tuxedo look during the depression era of the 1930's because black and white photographed well. The white dinner jacket also became popular with the growing popularity of warm weather resorts. Color television began in the 1950's, popularizing a variety of colorful accessories with formal wear designs such as red suspenders and printed handkerchiefs. The 1960's and 1970's saw a break from tradition as pant bottoms flared out, bow ties widened and putting one's personal signature on a tux became normal protocol. The 1990's have seen a turn back to the traditional tuxedo styles as cigars, classic cars, single malt scotch and jazz music are back in vogue. However, you can still put your personal stamp on the tuxedo with accessories and even the unorthodox sneaker look. Where To Go: Tuxedos can be purchased from three different kinds of retailers: formal wear stores, men's wear stores, and bridal salons. Avoid going to a shop that does not specialize in formal wear. You'll also want to be comfortable, so don't settle for something that's going to make you look like a mannequin. You'll want to give yourself at least two months before your wedding to make your selection and schedule fittings. Plan on making three visits to the store. The first should be with your fiance so she can help coordinate colors with the bridesmaids and give opinions on potential styles. The next visit should be with your groomsmen and ushers to pick out a specific style and to take everyone's measurements. The final visit is one or two days prior to the wedding when you will try on your tuxedos and take them with you. It's common to pick out a style for yourself that is different from the groomsmen, but make sure you all are coordinated, and if you're going high-end, consider buying the tuxes for your boys as groomsmen gifts. Keep an open mind about choosing tuxedos when you walk into a store. You might have a particular style in mind, but once you try it on, it might not suit you. Choose the best cut for your body type and the right color for your skin tone. This is key! After all, you don't want that god-awful greenish yellow tone to your face on your wedding day, making people wonder if you were trying to suffocate yourself prior to the ceremony...right? For out of town attendants, have them go to a local formal wear store to get their measurements. Formal wear retailers will provide this service at no charge as an industry standard and courtesy to other stores. The whole procedure should only take ten minutes. And, make sure everyone gets a final fitting a day or so before the Big Day! Tuxedos Styles: There are several tuxedo jacket styles to choose from. There's the single-breasted traditional look, three-buttoned fashion-forward style, and the six-buttoned contemporary look. Tails create a more formal look and should be knee length. Three standard lapel styles include the Shawl collar, Notch collar and peaked lapel. Neckwear options include the bow tie, a double-knot tie that folds over the chest called an Ascot, the four-in-hand formal tie that looks similar to a business tie or the button cover, similar to a large stud, worn over the top button. Vests or cummerbunds (a material used to cover your waistband) should complement your bow tie and jacket. Formal shirts are pleated, with either the classic turndown collar or the more dramatic wing look. Accessories such as studs and cuff links in black onyx or pearl are safe choices. The person handling the flower arrangements should pick out the boutonniere, usually one flower. The Cost: It is risky to shop for price alone if renting. What separates one place from another is the way the tux is cared for, the number of times it has been rented and how shop worn it is. In most stores, you'll find tuxedos from popular designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Perry Ellis, Bill Blass and Ralph Lauren. Prices will vary, usually ranging from $100 - $150 for each rental. You will be bombarded with various wedding specials, but they all basically net out to be the same - a free tux for you when you purchase at least five tuxedos for the wedding party. Keep in mind that your groomsmen are responsible for paying for their own tuxedo rentals unless you want to spring for the cost as groomsmen gifts. Buying a tuxedo is another option. A man will potentially wear a formal suit an average of 6-8 times over a lifetime. The prices generally range from $300 - $1,000, so in the end, it may be a wise investment (and hey, according to national statistics, there is a 50/50 chance you will need a tux for your second wedding anyway). Your Best Man: The best man has some key responsibilities when it comes to the tuxedo. He should help you get dressed on the day of the wedding, return your tuxedo the day after the wedding, as well as make sure the groomsmen return their tuxedos. Make sure your best man is "up-to-speed" on his duties. If he's busy hitting on the bridesmaids at the reception, feel free to remind him that his job description includes all of the above. In Conclusion: Start figuring out what you like. Do a little research through one of the search engines on the internet and check out the formal wear ads in the bridal magazines (Make your fiance buy them - you don't buy her feminine hygiene products, do you?). If that doesn't work rent a couple of James Bond movies for true inspiration! Keep in mind that May and June are typically the busiest months for retailers of tuxedos with the prom and wedding season kicking into high gear, so try to avoid these months if possible. Gentlemen, I wish you good luck and keep breathing!

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A Groom's Guide to Cost-Cutting

Happy-go-lucky grooms may think their work, expense, and effort is done after they buy the ring and pop the question. In truth, their expenditures, both emotional and financial, have most likely just begun. In modern times, the idea of a bride's parents paying for everything is about as old-fashioned as a guy giving a herd of cattle in exchange for his bride's hand. The days of dowries, hope chests, and arranged marriages are over. Tribes will not be united by you and your lady's nuptial acts, nor will epic battles be ended. Therefore, in the new world of just-you-and-me modern marriage, the expense of a wedding often lands primarily on the bride and groom themselves, with both sets of parents pitching in to some extent. Therefore, be advised grooms, it is a much better idea to involve yourselves in the wedding planning, lest your blushing bride wreak havoc on both your bank accounts. Rather, being the traditionally stingier sex, it is a groom's responsibility to be involved in creating and adhering to the wedding budget. But don't panic guys. There are a few simple ways you can accomplish this that doesn't require you attempting to superglue your bride's veil to her head. Here are a few non-emasculating, hands-on ways a groom can help save money during his wedding so there's enough money left over for decent groomsmen gifts. We'll call it a groom's guide to cutting wedding costs. One: Just say "when". One huge wedding cost-saver that doesn't involve hours of shopping in Brenda's Bridal Bargain Basement is simply expressing a desire to have a fall or winter wedding. To your bride, this suggestion will seem sweet and romantic. Little does she know you just saved a bunch of money by switching to a cheaper wedding season. Because spring and summer are peak popular times for weddings, there is much more competition for reception & ceremony sites, bands, caterers, wedding cakes, you name it. In the sunny seasons, costs skyrocket as couples vie for top notch wedding supplies, so save a little dough by having a beautiful wedding amid autumn leaves and pine forests, or frosty white mountains and barren snow covered fields. Bonus points for combining your bachelor party with Oktoberfest. Two: Location, location, location. All this talk of mountains and forests brings us to our second wedding cost-saver, choosing an inexpensive wedding location. Outdoor venues such as mountains, meadows, cliffs, and clearings make for beautiful natural ceremony sites, without all the extra costs. Factor in a fabulous wedding reception in a nearby lodge, barn or beach and you have the makings of a sensational and cost-efficient wedding, and there are no better groomsmen gifts than promising your buddies they won't have to drive far to get to the ceremony, especially in this day of pricey destination weddings. Three: Rehearsal "Party". One sneaky cost, traditionally paid for by the groom's parents, is the rehearsal dinner. Since it's your folks that are paying footing the bill, you are perfectly within your rights to suggest a few cost-saving alternatives to the traditional rehearsal dinner. Instead of a fancy sit-down affair after the wedding rehearsal, select another one of these super and significantly cheaper ideas, and label it a "Rehearsal Party". One way to do this is to tie your rehearsal event in with your wedding theme. If you are getting married in a barn, how about a rehearsal hay ride, with all the wedding party piling in for a fun-filled romp under the stars. Finish with apple cider and pumpkin pie at the groom's parents home. Or how about a rehearsal drive-in. Rent a big projector and invite the wedding party over to tailgate for a fun night of watching wacky wedding movies, like "Wedding Singer" or "Father of the Bride 2". Get your bride's annoying younger brother and friends to serve as waiters, handing out cups of gourmet popcorn and bottled cokes to your guests by bribing him with baseball cards or booze, depending on how old he is. These are a couple fabulous and financially manageable ways to save money on your rehearsal dinner and consequently, your wedding. Note: save the serious speeches, sentimentality, and stumbling drunkenness for the wedding night. The wedding rehearsal should simply be a night to relax, have fun and blow off some wedding stress. Four: Never say "Wedding." When shopping around for a tux, flowers, groomsmen gifts, cake, or honeymoon accommodations, it is in a groom's best interest to never say 'wedding'. This is a duty better suited to the groom, since ecstatic brides generally cannot resist blurting the details of their impending nuptials to anyone who will listen. Being the strong and silent man of few words that you are, it is the groom's jobs to cajole the caterer, intimidate the organist, and flatter the florist into giving you the best wedding deals possible, playing hard ball the way only a genuinely indifferent groom can. This is best accomplished by never letting on to these greedy salespeople, waiters, and entertainers that it is your wedding day you are planning. To the sales industry, a wedding is a perfect chance to exploit jittery fiances into paying much more than they should in order to ensure that their wedding is "perfect". Being the more cool-headed sex, it is the groom's job to casually inquire about "special occasion accommodations" and "banquet servers" never once mentioning the big W. If caterers think you are planning your son's bar mitzvah, they won't be as anxious to sell you on the 80-foot ice swan and ballerina-shaped butter pats. Five: Wholesale is your friend. Admittedly, this step of a groom's guide to cutting wedding costs does involve a little shopping, but it's the fun kind. Stores like Sam's Club and Costco sell wine, liquor, lights, food, and even flowers in bulk, which can save you big bucks on wedding expenses. Stock up on vino, sodas, snacks and more, then reward yourself with a stop in the electronics section for groomsmen gifts and something nice for yourself, too. If this sounds daunting, just imagine your bride's face when you come home laden with armloads of white votive lights and Lilly of the valley. Okay, so you might have to make a little room for the lilies in your walk-in lobster freezer, or clear out some Christmas decorations to make room for a thousand tiny tea lights, but hey, marriage is all about compromises right? Just as long as they aren't compromises to the wedding budget. Six: What to Wear? Many brides are catching on that there are great wedding attire deals to be had online, at consignment stores, and even at costume shops, and these new cost-cutting trends can apply to grooms too. Of course, renting a tux is the obvious money-saver, but what if you could buy a tux on Ebay for the same cost as a rental? Or maybe find an antique morning suit at a local thrift store for half the cost of a tux. If you and your bride are having a theme wedding, renting or buying wedding attire from a costume shop is often a cost-cutting and creative way to dress for the big day. Seven: Do it yourself (or get friends and family to do it). All men know when it comes to home projects, it is an insult to a man's pride to call in a professional when he is certainly capable of doing it himself. Try and adopt this manly attitude towards wedding planning, because way too much wedding money is often spent on the middleman. Forget the wedding planner, forget the wedding plan's assistant, forget the professional cake taster, and don't fly in the Chinese calligrapher that specializes in authentic Asian wedding invitations. No, groom, like so many things, the time has come to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. You might be surprised how much fun you actually have in the process. Have a blast with your bride, putting together a special CD mix of your favorite songs for the reception in exchange for great groomsmen gifts. Make your buddy's day by electing him as DJ. Spend a delicious day tasting cake with your loved one, and then consider finding a like recipe and having family members recreate the cake for your big day. Enlist your groomsmen to help with set-up and teardown of the ceremony and reception in exchange for great groomsmen gifts, and enlist the same pesky brother-in-law to valet with more bribes. By putting in a little personal elbow grease and getting some help from your friends and family, you can save significantly on wedding costs. By following these seven simple steps, you will save yourself post-nuptial financial ruin, and all the while your bride will be thinking what a sweet, thoughtful, and involved groom you are, and how adorable it is that you are finally bonding with her brother. Now, instead of worrying about how to repair the financial havoc wrought by your wedding, you and your new bride can focus on things much dearer to a groom's heart, like the honeymoon. Some cost-cutting suggestions courtesy of www.sideroad.com., www.suite101.com, www.weddinglocation.com

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Gifts for the Veteran Groomsman

Has he both been there and done there (multiple times)? You're bound to have groomsmen overlap in any group of good buddies, but if you've noticed that one guy in particular keeps ending up at the altar without coming back with a Mrs., you may have a case of a serial groomsman on your hands. And hey, he's your friend and it's not like he hasn't had the practice, right? You can't just leave out one of your good buddies, even if his collection of groomsmen gifts rivals the collection of phone numbers you have - er, had - in your Little Black Book. If one guy in your wedding party has seen more altar action than your local minister, you're going to have to get especially creative with your groomsmen gifts. We're talking about a guy who has all the basics already, after all. His dresser is scattered with cufflinks, he has more golf accessories than Tiger Woods, and you're pretty sure at least two thirds of his possessions are monogrammed with his initials. So how do you make your groomsmen gifts stand out from the crowd? One good thing about getting picture frames as groomsmen gifts is that even if he's gotten a nice frame or two before, you can at least guarantee you'll give him one with a different picture. This is the time to skip out on group shots of you and your buddies - slip in a nice nostalgic picture of the two of you in college or whenever it was you first met and you'll remind him of the good times, and why it's worth it for him to go through the groomsman game again. If he already has a lot of things related to what he's interested in (of course your other married baseball fan buddies got him an engraved bat already), offer up something to expand his horizons and/or totally blow his mind. Just make sure he's going to get some use out of it - for example, any man, no matter how un-handy, could probably get some use out of a 13 Function Army Knife, but you probably won't get too thrilled of a response if you offer up groomsmen gifts of a Personalized Leather Wine Accessory Valet to a guy who can name fifteen different foreign beers with no trouble but still isn't quite sure why the world needs both red and white wines. If you're absolutely in doubt of your ability to find groomsmen gifts he doesn't already have, just point your cursor at https://branddepot.com/ and keep an eye on the New Groomsmen Gifts selection right on the front page. We bet your groomsman doesn't have a Personalized Wine Bottle Stopper yet!

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A Boozy Guide to Groomsmen Gifts

What if we told you a good wedding is like a good pub? And that intimate knowledge of an alehouse is the key to perfect groomsmen gifts? Skeptical? Hear us out as we explore the historical rise of pubs, and why this history is good news for groomsmen... For starters, it is a well-known fact that for centuries, the pub as an institution has been a hub of community in villages, towns and cities. Over the years, the pub has become much more than just a bar. It's a meeting place where people mingle with old and new friends, colleagues unwind, strangers shoot the breeze, and business is discussed. The pub is a place of leisure, celebration, game playing and conversation. Hmmm, leisure, celebration, game playing and conversation - sounds like the elements of a great wedding to us! Lessons learned from pubs so far: a good wedding should take place in a convenient location, a pleasant locale where coworkers, old friends and new friends can all mingle in kind. A good wedding, like a good pub, should include a diverse enough range of activities and personalities present that everyone feels comfortable and entertained. But, we digress. Moving forward, we will explore how the progression of the pub actually mirrors modern wedding trends. Due to changes in English law, the pub has increased its historical hospitality even further recently by allowing entire families to come and partake in pub life. Pubs now serve fuller menus of typically greasy comfort food known as "pub fare." Many pubs still provide affordable accommodation, particularly in rural areas. In such locations, a pub may be a pub by night and a church or post office by day. Need we say more? Much like the new kid-friendly pubs, even the most head-in-the-sports-page groom knows that modern wedding trends include increasing family-friendly trends, like a babysitter and a kid menu, and that comfort foods like potatoes and mini hamburgers (read: pub fare) are replacing the fancy reception food of days past. Also (like the hospitable pub which accommodates its guests overnight) instead of jetting off to their honeymoon right away, couples are now encouraging everyone-including themselves-to drink and bond all night (pub style) then shack up and go to an after- wedding brunch. Unconventional locations, such as train stations and farmhouses, are also doing double reception and ceremony duty, just the way pubs and post offices used to. Needless to say, your wedding could take a cue or two from the local pub, cozy bastion of bantering, bartering and brawling, where everyone is equally welcome and one can never be bored. Pretty uncanny isn't it? By now you're probably wondering why we are telling you all this. The simple fact is that we have come up with some truly inspired ideas for groomsmen gifts, and we are methodically using historical data to convince you of its genius. So now you see the way good weddings mimic pubs. But how do you know these new ideas for groomsmen gifts aren't just some girly wedding favor? Enter part two of the history lesson: the manly connotations of the alehouse. As written in pub.com's A History of Alehouses, "Over the next few centuries, the social landscape evolved as invaders came and went. One thing every regime and conqueror seemed to have in common was a thirst for ale." Needless to say, a groom's life is full of challenges, and he and his groomsmen need liquid courage to stay strong. And, clearly, history shows ale is the beverage of conquerors. Therefore ale-related groomsmen gifts aren't just a nice gesture; they're a nod to your pals' masculine prowess. The same document reports, "As it turned out, some were better at brewing ale than others. All were particularly fond of ale, which was brewed using malted barley, wheat, and yeast. The primitive ale is sweet and often powerful, but soured quickly and didn't keep." Bottom line, ale brewing is a past time that requires finesse, skill, and instinct. It's basically a sport. Support your ale-brewing brothers by buying you and your buddies groomsmen gifts that applaud their brewing accomplishments. And the reasons for ale-inspired groomsmen gifts don't stop there. The history continues, "Three centuries later, King Edgar of Kent regulated the size of the ale drinking vessel. The cup was passed around and each person was supposed to drink to a measure marked by a peg, though few generally adhered to this rule." Obviously ale drinking has every element needed for a guy's good time. Like all good groomsmen gifts, it's ceremonial, communal, and consists of rituals that were made to broken. But that's not all: "The spread of Christianity did nothing to lessen the English thirst for ale. Many pagan drinking rituals and games were adopted by the Christian church. Ales were sometimes brewed especially for church festivals or to raise money," states pub.com's History. Needless to say, like your friendship with your groomsmen, like your wedding itself, ale drinking is pretty much a spiritual pastime. It's only right that your groomsmen gifts accommodate this divine element. Bottoms up! Still not convinced? Keep reading: "In the Middle Ages, increased populations and the rise of industry caused questionable water conditions. Ale became the only safe drink. Because of the increasing need for ale, alehouses became established fixtures instead of part-time gigs," reads pub's account. As history shows, ale is obviously safer to drink than water, and ale-related groomsmen gifts demonstrate utmost concern for their health and well being. Buy these safe groomsmen gifts, because water just can't be trusted! And here's the historical kicker: Apparently, there is leading evidence that ale could lead to permanent drunkenness. According to pub.com, the English Civil War, which began in 1642, led to the rise of the Puritans. The Puritans were basically a group of historical haters who forbade the excess of drink as part of their general fun-free lifestyle. They complained that the English were permanently drunk, and alehouses too numerous to count. Clearly, there is a direct correlation between frequent ale-drinking and permanent drinking. Buy our new groomsmen gifts to test this intriguing theory for yourselves. And last but not least, pub names were often used to commemorate historic events. According to pub.com, "In Uxbridge, an inn was used as a venue for unsuccessful peace talks in 1645, and was renamed the Crown & Treaty. The Royal Oak, refers to the story of Charles II avoiding capture, following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, by hiding in the hollow trunk of an oak tree." A pretty cool story, and one worth commemorating. Our guess is your wedding will be a pretty good story too, soooo... And here you have it, fellas. After the big historical build-up, here it is: our fresh new trio of pub-related groomsmen gifts: And here you have it, fellas. After the big historical build-up, here it is: our fresh new trio of pub-related groomsmen gifts: The first is a personalized alehouse stein! What better groomsmen gift than a personalized alehouse stein, designed in a style that suits your groomsmen's' individual tastes. Choose from racing, golf, poker, hunting, or "classic pub." Each of these hearty ceramic mugs hold 22 ounces of lager, malt, ale, or light beer. As you can see, life's already full of hard choices; choosing this awesome groomsman gift won't be one of them! For your buddy with the home bar, a personalized pub plaques may make the perfect groomsmen gift. Choose from a variety of traditional manly pastimes when personalizing this plaque for your pal. Each spiffy laminate design is printed directly onto the wood base for lasting quality. Last but not least, for the party king, personalized pub coasters make the best groomsmen gift. Your pal will be so amazed by his newfound fame; he might start to BYOC when he hits his favorite pubs. These boldly designed, waterproof coasters even come in a caddy for storage! Needless to say, it is a proven fact that pub and ale-inspired accessories are the perfect groomsmen gifts for endless nights of partying! And in regards to the lessons we've learned today, all we can say is, may history repeat itself! Bottoms up boys!

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Gifts For The Retrosexual

Oh, you know the retrosexual - whether he cops to it or not, there's always the one guy in every gang who wore a zoot suit to prom, stashes Louis Armstrong in his CD collection, and secretly wishes he were Clark Gable or James Bond (version Connery). It's not just the desire for an icy blonde on his arm; this guy is serious. If you can't identify this character by his pompadour, think back to your experiences with your groomsmen. Who always orders a martini when everyone else is doing shots? Which of your groomsmen actually already owns a suit? Bingo, you've found your retrosexual. Now, outfit him with appropriate groomsmen gifts. If your boy is a committed retrosexual, he probably already has a few pairs of cufflinks of his own. But if you're thinking now that it'd be nice for all your groomsmen to look as classy as this guy does, why not get cufflinks as groomsmen gifts for all? These Engraved Silver Square Cufflinks are that ultimate combo of flashy and classy, so your retrosexual buddy will be happy to pair them with his best suit and your other groomsmen will find them cool and interesting enough to wear out. Maybe he hasn't completely sold you on martinis yet, but let him keep trying - at least those suckers are potent. Drink up his gin or vodka when he has you and the guys over to put your groomsmen gifts of this Set of Four Personalized Martini Glasses to good use. Just make sure he stocks up on olives and keeps the dirty martinis coming, and don't let the guy make you try anything involving fruit juice - that just leads to Cosmopolitans, and no one wants that awkward situation. Speaking of the glory of living in the post-Prohibition era, help him celebrate the demise of rum runners and speakeasies with groomsmen gifts of an Engraved Textured Medallion Flask for him and the boys. Even if most of your boys favor nineties style over the vintage throwback bowling shirts your retrosexual buddy tries to pass off as a style quirk, when you give groomsmen gifts that involve alcohol or the transportation of alcohol, no one will complain. Want to make these groomsmen gifts extra special? Fill them up with everyone's favorite liquor and get ready for a great night out. Stubble just doesn't suit your average retrosexual, but he probably doesn't have much appreciation for electric razors, either. Get him the classy shaving set he deserves with groomsmen gifts of this Silver-Plated Matte Black Shaving Set with Mach3 Razor. Complete with a razor, badger brush, and shaving bowl, this set will let him pretend he's Cary Grant on his way to romance the ladies as he rids himself of that five o'clock shadow. Make sure your other groomsmen look just as dashing by giving these sets as groomsmen gifts to all your boys - after all, you can't have one guy outclassing the rest, no matter how much he wants to.

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GroomBob 4.0: Groom Bob 4.0: The Wedding Toast

By Bob As everyone knows, with weddings come out-of-town guests. And sometimes out-of-town guests bring unwelcome realizations. An old college buddy of mine, Jaime, had come up for the big day and was currently crashing on our couch. This was delicate in itself, given my fianc Jane, who thought the couch was her personal office, using it to run her internet consulting firm from home so she could work on the wedding plans at the same time. In addition to the couch, the two had generally started driving each other crazy, so Jaime and I went out to grab a drink and take the edge off. "So, Bob," Jaime said, on a commercial break from our sports-induced silence. "We go way back, and uh...I was just curious. Which of our buddies is your best man?" "Nathan," I replied, returning my attention to the Spurs game. "Nathan," Jaime choked, spraying Heineken all over the table. "Yeah, Nathan," I replied. What was the big deal? Nathan was my best buddy, the one whose dad taught us how to fly fish when we were little, who bought me an Eva Langoria poster every year for my birthday, the only person besides me who still thought Kevin Smith movies were hilarious. Nathan was the obvious choice. Jaime clearly felt differently, since he was now laughing so hard I thought beer would spurt out his nose. "What is so funny?" I asked. "Nathan's a good guy." "Oh man," Jaime said. "Don't you get it? Nathan's the one who makes the wedding toast!" Wedding toast? I racked my brain. Perhaps a delicious warmed bread consumed pre-wedding cake? "You really don't get it do you?" Jaime said, calming down. "The best man's the one who makes the big mushy speech, the one designed to bring the audience to tears of joy with his touching words of love, puppies, everlasting sunshine, etc," Oh yes, this was all starting to sound familiar. "And you," Jaime said, still snorting to himself, "picked Nathan. Don't you see? You needed Martin Short, and you brought in Dave Chappelle." "Hmmm," I thought about this, "does Jaime really have a point?" Admittedly, Nathan wasn't the most... eloquent of fellows. His oral repertoire consisted mainly of grunting, pointing, monosyllables, and vulgar humor. So he was succinct. "I know he's a little... reserved," I said. "But I'm sure he will rise to the occasion when necessary." After all, just because he wasn't Wordsworth didn't mean he wasn't still qualified to be my best man. He was my best friend. Wasn't that enough? "Whatever you say man," Jaime said, pushing back his chair. "I'm gonna grab another drink." The more I thought about it, Jaime's questions presented an interesting quandary of ethics versus etiquette. What if Nathan couldn't rise to the occasion? A wedding toast is a pretty big deal, and a poor one could ruin the whole reception. Not to mention really pissing Jane off. But he was my best friend. What does one do when their best man is indeed the best man for the job, but not necessarily the fountain of wit and wisdom needed for a wedding toast? I talked to Jane about it several times, and there was even a tense moment where I considered asking Nathan to step down. My other friend Jake was a writer for a local magazine, and no doubt would be a better toast maker. But Jake stole my girlfriend (curly haired Cindy Larson) in the fourth grade, and cheated in our fantasy football league every year. I didn't want Jake. I wanted Nathan. Again, my ever-resourceful fianc came to my rescue. Jane, sensing my depression, found a site online that actually writes your wedding toast for you. You just answer a few questions online, and then the program creates a personalized wedding speech for you. The site offers a custom wedding toast and an instant wedding toast, for the best man who's also a procrastinator. You even get to choose the tone of the toast, like serious, humorous, or 'not a dry eye in the house'. Pretty nifty huh? This wedding toast writer is perfect for Nathan, who may not be much of a public speaker, but he's memorized more sports stats than any guy I know, another reason why he's my best friend. And thanks to this wedding toast kit, still my best man. Saved by the (wedding) bells once again, —Groom Bob

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Gifts Spotlight: Flasks, Flasks, Flasks

Who knew picking a flask meant so many different options? You felt pretty accomplished, having figured out the groomsmen gifts for your boys, but now you have to pick the perfect flask from all your different options. If picking the first search result on the page isn't enough for you, consult this handy guide for more information on the types of flasks you have to choose from. You can't go wrong with a personalized stainless steel flask. The textured steel offers that classic sleek look so your groomsman will always be proud to pull it out of a finely-cut suit pocket. With up to ten letters of personalization, you can easily fit most names there, or go simple with initials. If you're a man with a true appreciation for class, offer the Dalvey Classic Flask, an elegant round flask, accented with a gold badge in the front. Groomsmen gifts this stylish will never be unwelcome. Want a variation on a classic? A leather flask is just as fine for the more outdoorsy type of guy. If your groomsmen would rather climb a mountain than make executive decisions, offer them up leather flasks as groomsmen gifts. For an extra kick, offer them this personalized flask with removable shot glass and cover all their portable liquor-related needs. Want to give something a little bigger? Depending on your groomsmen's proclivities, you can find the set that meets their needs. For the cigar aficionado, there's the Leather Flask Cigar Case Combo. Perfect for a long night out, it has room for up to 4 oz. of their chosen beverage, and room for 2 cigars, making these sets ideal as groomsmen gifts for guys who appreciate a good night out at the club. For the guy on the go, try the Stainless Steel Cigar Case/Flask Combo, which has room for one cigar and 1.5 oz. of their drink of choice. Do your boys like to have a little stress relief on hand at all times? The seven-piece mini to-go bar means that they'll always have what they need on hand, whether it's Jim Beam or Benjamin Franklin. For something slightly more subtle than a flask, try a Personalized Telescopic Cup Keychain. An unobtrusive round silver keychain at first sight, this cleverest of groomsmen gifts expands to become a shot glass! Your boys will never be caught unprepared for impromptu parties. Swigging from the bottle went out once you graduated college, so give your groomsmen a step up and a reminder of the good times with this keychain cup!

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GroomBob 6.0: A Vested Interest

By Bob A week before the wedding, I go for my tux fitting. After careful thought, I've decided to buy, not rent. Whether to rent or buy you wedding tux is a personal decision every groom must make. My verdict was reached when the salesman told me if I wore the tuxedo even twice, it would be more cost-conscious to buy the tux, rather than rent one multiple times. I'm not much of a tux man now, but Jane's always dragging me to her high-power, high-tech glitterati, and I have a feeling the whole sport coat and jean thing isn't going to fly once we're married. So I spring for the tux, and as a result have been to about thirty fittings a week for about three months. Nevertheless I go through the obligatory motions, stepping into the dressing room, expecting to feel the familiar sense of deja vus. I step into the pants, begin buttoning the shirt, and... wait a minute, something is wrong! The button won't close, won't budge, what the #@%! I looked down and noticed an unfamiliar bulge in my belly that I swear hadn't been there a month, or even a week ago. Looking back I considered what I had eaten that week: Gordito's Tacos with the guys, Jane's homemade lasagna, ice cream pie with the in-laws, midnight snack Eskimo Pie to ward off wedding stress... "My gosh," I realized in horror. "I am the victim of wedding weight." Wedding weight, much like the freshmen fifteen is a horrible affliction that occurs at an already stressful point in your life. As brides scurry off to the gym to look buff and sculpted for the big day, grooms are left with many stressful errands along with wedding fears and concerns they can't talk about to anyone. They figure they have found The One, so the apathetically consume whatever food is in sight to alleviate their stress. The result is wedding weight, and I was staring mine in the unforgiving dressing room mirror as I again tried to force the stupid, stubborn button into place. Of course the button popped off and rolled onto the floor with an accusatory ping! The salesman who had sold me the suit came to check on me. "Is everything all right sir?" he asked. "Oh yes, everything's fine," I replied hastily, trying to button the jacket over the offensive hole. It was no use. I looked like a J. Lo video and there was no way I was walking down the aisle in a peek-a-boo tux shirt. What was I going to do? "Why don't you step outside and show me how it looks?" the salesman said. "Aah, sure," I said, again attempting to button my suit over the humiliating gap. "Oh, my" said the salesman when I emerged with a good half inch of hairy gut hanging out Homer Simpson style over my tux jacket. "Are we missing a button? We can always sew it back on." I didn't have the heart to tell him if we sewed the button back on, the same problem would probably occur again. I had already paid for the shirt and tried it on multiple times. The arms were stretched out and it reeked off Aqua Di Gio, the fancy cologne Jane had bought me for Christmas. There was no way I could exchange it for a larger size. What could I do? My wedding was a week away. There was no time for a Benicio Del Toro diet. I was screwed. Luckily the salesman came up with a solution. Two hours later, after multiple twists and tucks, I was standing in the three way mirror, proudly admiring my wedding attire, now complete with an all-concealing classic groom's vest. The salesman assured me that groom's vests are in fact the height of fashion, and that no I did not look like Willy Wonka, and yes the vest hid the wedding weight perfectly. For any groom out there who finds himself the unexpected victim of wedding weight gain, a grooms vest is a handy solution. For a uniform look, suggest your groomsmen wear them as well. My groom's vest is light green (clover actually, according to the salesman) and actually looks pretty snappy with the charcoal gray tux, if I do say so myself. Best of all, my little weight gain will be carefully concealed, to be worked off on the honeymoon, naturally. And the salesman? Now an honored wedding guest.

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Berlin Blooms with Brand New Golf Courses

This striking travel article relates the seeming anomaly like this: "But let me offer a more mundane example of the way in which a visitor"s interests differ from those of an inhabitant. In Berlin I meet my friend Karin in a long narrow restaurant off Savignyplatz. It"s Saturday noon and I eat a late German breakfast of cheese and wurst and rolls, while she contents herself with a glass of champagne. She"s an agent and I"m a hack, and so mostly we talk books, what we"re reading, the things I"ve reviewed, the German novels she"s lately sold to American publishers. But we talk about Berlin as well, and she gives me a tip, something I should look into, something about Berlin that"s both new and not obvious. Golf courses." The article goes on to describe how Berlin was of course, not a golf playing city, not until 1989 commemorated the opening of the Wall and more land became suddenly available. But thanks to Berlin regaining the capital, and more well-known companies opening up international shops, golf courses are springing up all over the once desolate Brandenburg farmland. The author points out that while he was at first incredulous at the ideas of golf courses in Germany, he could reconcile it in his mind as a symbol of Berlin's reunification. On that note, why not do a little reunifying of your own when you plan a destination golf bachelor party in Berlin? If it's caught on somewhere as incongruous as Germany, no doubt the golf trend is truly huge. Celebrate the globalization of golf when you give our personalized golf putters as groomsmen gifts. The author of this article also describes the "cool Pilsner tingle" he equates with Germany. Pilsner and putters? If that doesn't spell awesome bachelor party, we don't know what does.

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