April 2007: Marriage Proposal in the House

Marriage Proposal in the House When two history buffs find love, only a history-making proposal will do. When Mr. April, east Texan Cody Terry wanted to propose to his girlfriend, he decided to combine the couple’s love of history and government with their love of each other - by giving the first marriage proposal ever in front of the entire House of Representatives. Terry knew only the most special proposal would do for his special lady. "Three days after we started dating, I could sense that she was the one," he said. Our Marrying Man of the Month made his dream proposal happen with a little help from his friends - who just happened to include his boss, Representative Hughes of Mineola, Texas. On the day of the proposal, Terry stood in front of the House of Representatives as Representative Hughes said that Cody had a very important question to ask. The rest, as they say, is history. "I hit the knee, I open the box.and I told her ‘I love you and Kendra, will you marry me?’" Terry recounted. Kendra was surprised, but after she pulled herself together she screamed yes, and House Speaker Craddick announced to the Members that they’d just all witnessed a first in the House. "I wanted her to be able to have a story that was unlike any other," said Terry. The couple weds in June. https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand congratulates them and suggests groomsmen gifts of handsome cufflinks - perfect for the sharp-dressed man with political sensibilities. Submit your story today to be considered for Marrying Man of the Month.

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A Better Bachelor Party Guide

Want to ensure good groomsmen gifts this year? The key to gaining great groomsmen gifts' karma is to shine in the centerpiece of groomsman duty: the bachelor party. Indeed, when determining your overall groomsmen gifts grade, the bachelor party you put on to send your best friend off into married bliss will definitely be one of the most heavily weighted factors, so plan accordingly! To prepare a perfect bachelor party for your guest of honor, it pays to consider his personal preferences. While speed-dialing your favorite strippers and cashing in another pizza coupon may seem like the no-brainer route to bachelor party heaven, a little more thoughtful approach will actually score you more points with your engaged amigo. After all, you want more than the usual scratch tickets and six pack for groomsmen gifts, so set the tone by going all out and planning your friend a unique bash he'll be bragging about for years. Consider his favorite hobby. Whether it's fishing, golf, or stamp collecting, find a way to work his favorite pastime into the big event. An all-day fly-fishing lesson is a great elaborate gesture, but something as simple as having on-the-green dyed beer is a touch that brings something special to an otherwise stereotypical occasion. Who knows, he may return the favor with personalized putters as groomsmen gifts! Find an unconventional way to celebrate his "last day of freedom." Sure, a lap dance is the traditional send-off for a single man, but trust us, there are plenty of other things he won't be allowed to do once he's married. On that note, why not try celebrating the end of singlehood in a less contentious, and just as fulfilling route? Stay up all night, wear your shoes in the house, drink milk straight from the carton, howl like monkeys in the yard..you get the idea. You will still have a great rebellious time without worrying the bride is at home pouring kerosene on your groomsmen gifts. Location is everything. A bachelor party in a bar is so pedestrian, but setting up a grass shack on a golf course or creating a tiki bar in a childhood tree house just smacks of personal style and flavor. Nine times out of ten, location is what separates a history-making celebration from a tired clich, so choose wisely. You could end up receiving your groomsmen gifts on a beach in Hawaii rather than at the local dive bar. Skip the life-risking antics. Even more disturbing than the misogynistic use of women is the increasingly dangerous "hazing" activities a soon-to-be groom is forced to endure to prove his ready-for-marriage mettle. Jumping off bridges, drinking disgusting concoctions, being dragged out into the forest.it's all a bit harsh a price to pay for getting engaged, and we think it's time to reign it in. The fact is, activities like that aren't fun, and they don't honor the groom in the joyful, respectful spirit that makes for a good bachelor party. Remember, you want your groom around long enough to actually give you those groomsmen gifts and that heart-felt toast. Stock up on stories. Although we think life-threatening activities go too far, that doesn't mean we don't think a healthy amount of embarrassment on the Big Night is appropriate. A hearty roast (preferably accompanied by a gong) is a bachelor party staple, so be sure to summon all your most poignant, hilarious memories of the groom to share in mischievous fashion. After all, these motley anecdotes are what brought you close, and once he's married, he will savor the memories of such high-spirited single adventures. Writing them in a book and burying them to be dug up ten years from now is a special touch that guarantees a future reunion. Remember, no amount of groomsmen gifts compares to the promise of lasting post-marriage friendship!

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10 Reasons To Get Your Gifts Personalized

You have to learn his middle name eventually, so isn't it best if you can find it out under the guise of getting his groomsmen gifts appropriately initialed? The noble end might even make up for the fact that you're going to be calling him by his embarrassing middle name for the rest of your lives. Let's just hope it's something truly great like Francis or Ashley. If he still lives with roommates, he probably has to live with the unmanly struggle of sharing pilsner glasses or beer steins. Make sure he always has a glass of his own to help pound down the brewskis by getting these groomsmen gifts personalized. Ladies love a man in cufflinks. Ladies also love a man committed enough to gentlemanly dressing to have his cufflinks engraved. Combine the two for personalized groomsmen gifts to effortlessly get him the attention he wants. Nothing says classy like "if found, please return this flask to the appropriate drinker." It's easy to mistake one iPod for another - that's why you should get Personalized iPod Holders as groomsmen gifts, so your groomsmen don't have to deal with coworkers "accidentally" hijacking their back pocket record collection and wearing out the battery listening to U2's Greatest Hits. People are more likely to return a lost wallet stuffed full of cash if it's personalized with your groomsman's name, right? Right. They're only bachelors once - get them personalized pub signs as groomsmen gifts now before they get married and the wife decides the décor needs to be turned to all "shabby chic," whatever that is. Personalization makes groomsmen gifts unique, even if you're simply adding to his collection of humidors. At least he doesn't already have a humidor with his name on it! Is there anything sleeker you could give a guy than a personalized silver flask? Sure. You could give personalized groomsmen gifts of a Silver Flask and Zippo Lighter. That's right, Steve McQueen - back up. You are the one that gave him that stupid nickname in the sixth grade that's stuck around for the last fifteen years - you owe the guy some personalized groomsmen gifts that don't read "Trash Can Stan" (don't ask).

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Your Name in Lights

Everyone knows the expression, "you oughta be in pictures." Let's face it, there's a little bit of Hollywood in each and every one of us, right? We all have that buddy that sees the World Series of Poker and his eyes light up at those guys on screen. A pack of wild dogs couldn't pry him away from ESPN. I know you know this guy. Yeah, the one who wins a local poker tournament for a thirty thousand dollar prize, but he's still down eighty grand for the year. When you're shopping for groomsmen gifts, there is truly only one gift to give this particular 'playa' and that's the personalized Royal Flush Poker Wall Art. This is the best of poker-related groomsmen gifts (other than a pre-paid entry into the world series of poker), the one he absolutely shouldn't be without. In one gift giving instant you say to him, "hey I feel your passion, brother. Even if you're going to lose your family, your house, your car and your sanity...I know what makes you tick and I want to recognize you, my friend." What can say I care about my palsy walsy more than that? It's a gift for any occasion, really? It's perfect for groomsmen gifts, birthday gifts, Christmas presents or Arbor Day offerings. The artist that creates this personalized art has an entire process of photographing the image, then transferring the image to canvas via his paintbrushes and air brushes. He adds the personal touches of each individual order and voila! Perfect groomsmen gifts are born. Don't let another Flag Day go by without honoring this poker prodigy.

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Would You Change Your Name For Your Marriage?

You name is your identity. It's how people know you're you. Even after you're dead, you'll still have your name. Nevertheless, would you make the sacrifice of losing the only name you've ever had for the sake of your marriage? Joining last names at marriage is an important step in unifying the family. That's what Josiah Neufeld believed when he decided to take on his wife's last name when he got married. Josiah's essay in The Globe and Mail shows how much he thought about the affect of his name change would have on himself, his family and even his gender. "I did it because I love Mona - because I wanted her to know that I didn't expect her to become anyone other than herself. It mattered to me that we shared a name, so I reasoned I should be the one to offer mine up. And a combination name like Neufeld-Thiessen would only solve the dilemma temporarily. Eventually a child of ours would bring this unwieldy last name to his or her own marriage - most likely to another hyphenee," says Josiah. I've always given this situation some thought since I'm a victim of such a crazy last name (it's got w's that sound like v's, and people always emphasize the wrong syllables). Since I also believe that it's important to keep the same name in the family, it might be cool to even the playing fields with a completely neutral and legendary last name. Have you ever met Mr. and Mrs. Awesome, and their kids Totally and Freakin'? Let GroomStand know if you'd be willing to change your last name. Would You Change Your Name For Your Marriage?(answers)

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Worst Backhanded Compliments to the Bride

"It's not awkward, unless we let it be awkward," is not an awesome explanation you want coming out of your groomsmen. We all have good intentions when we say those little quips in an applicative tone, but sometime you can feel like you just slapped someone across the face with a gut wrenching critique. Disguising insults as praise is an easy inadvertent gaffe, so use this list of wedding backhanded compliments as a groomsmen gift to help your buddies abide by proper etiquette. Top Ten Backhanded Compliments to the Bride You clean up much better than I expected. That dress does wonders to hide your figure. Wow, I didn't know how great you look in white. I thought you were going to wear a different color. It's amazing that someone from the trailer park could throw a party like this. How on earth did you learn the Macarena so well? Those blackheads aren't that bad, they form the cutest design. Your makeup is wonderful, it really makes your nose look smaller. What I like about your decorating is that it says, "I've got better things to spend my money on." A strapless dress. You must have tons of confidence in your inner beauty It's incredible. You don't look pregnant at all!

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World Series For Groomsmen

The World Series is just about here and that means one thing is on everyone's mind, the wedding. There's no time for baseball hi-jinks and hooligans! You need to be planning and making calls and reservations! Of course you'll get those done, but you need another plan other than how to guarantee the best bachelor party. To the groomsmen places! That's right, a little World Series escape with the guys so you can unwind and get things set up more efficiently the next day. And what better way to thank your groomsmen than with personalized baseball gear. Whether it's just a mini bat or a personalized baseball, or maybe you went all out with an Engraved Hall of Fame Baseball Bat, they'll be happy to know that they are appreciated for everything they did for the wedding. That's including the game, but you can go ahead and keep that on the down low. Tags: groomsmen gifts, groomsmen, gifts, baseball, world series,

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Wordless Wednesday: Shrek Wedding Cake

Shrek Wedding Cake from Madamn Flick. See another weird Shrek Wedding at the Daily Mail.

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Wimbledon Themed Groomsmen Gifts for the Summer Wedding

While Murray fights to become the first British male to qualify for the finals at Wimbledon in over 70 years, be sure to show your support for the game you and your groomsmen love by gifting these handsome pub signs.   If they follow the game on and off the court, the Racquet Club Pub Sign will be a cherished groomsmen gift that'll fit your summer wedding perfectly. For another spin on the tennis-themed groomsmen gift, consider this Vintage Racquet Pub Sign. Both of these elegant items are sure to be gift favorites for your groomsmen this summer. Not only will they put these vintage signs up as wall decorations for their home or office, but each time they gaze up at their sign they'll remember your wedding day.   Whether you'll be attending Centre Court this week in person or just plan to watch the action from the comfort of your own home, https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand has the gifts for groomsmen that guys really want. Shopping for bridesmaid gifts this summer and don't have a clue what to buy? Take a look at our ongoing sale here. Not only do we have the bridesmaids gifts that women adore, our prices make shopping for wedding favors easy on the wallet. For a unique yet beautiful bridesmaid gift idea for the summer wedding, gift the Personalized Wide Cuff Bracelet. Just remember, these sale items are discounted for a limited time only, so get them while you still can.

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Will You Marry Me? Five Dazzling Holiday Proposal Ideas

Once She Says "Yes," Come Back for Those Groomsmen Gifts! Shopping for groomsmen gifts when you haven't even popped the question? Shame! 'Tis the season for proposals. Glittery snowflakes, whimsical elves, marriage and merriment -- it's the perfect time to pop the question. Yule time? No, it's jewel time. Before you propose, pony up and get a ring (proposing with an empty box like in "Knocked Up" is so not cool). Despite what that jewelry salesperson tells you, a giant rock doesn't guarantee a "Yes." No matter how dazzling the ring, if your proposal flops, she'll have to fib to her family, friends, and grandchildren for 50-plus years. No woman wants to make up a proposal story. Take our holiday proposal tips and once she says yes (she will) come back and see us again when its time for groomsmen gifts. The GroomStand Take on Five Classic Holiday Proposals: You'll need personalized wine glasses for the celebration afterwards, and possibly a rose and tuxedo. Holiday Proposal 1: Buy personalized Christmas ornaments (those glittery globe ones) and have the message in the ornament read "Will you Marry Me?" Wrap it up and as she opens it, get down on one knee, ring in hand. GroomStand's Romance Scale: 5/10. She's likely to say yes, but only if you're wearing a tuxedo and have a rose between your teeth. Holiday Proposal 2: Take her on a drive to look at Christmas lights around town. When she's ready to go home, say "I have one more thing to show you." Take her to the top of a hill (if you can find one) where you have Christmas lights that spell out "Marry me." Great idea. But we've never known anyone capable of spelling out words with Christmas lights. You could end up tangled in the lights like Clark Grizzwald. And this proposal takes a cheesy turn once the the groom-to-be writes out "Merry Me." GroomStand Romance Scale 8/10. There are too many factors that could foil the plan. What if an annoying younger cousin begs to go on the ride? Or some mean neighborhood kids take down the lights? But if you can pull this one off - it's nearly perfect. Holiday Proposal 3: Hang the ring box like an ornament from the tree. After she opens the last present, tell her there's one more she needs to find on the tree. When she finds it and opens the box, be down on one knee. GroomStand's Romance Scale 7/10. This proposal lacks a little creativity. She'll know what's up as soon as you say, "there's another present hiding in the tree." And what if the cat decides to swipe the ring-box ornament? Or what if it simply disappears within the evergreen branches? You do realize millions of ornaments go missing in trees every year. And do not use this idea to present an earring set or necklace. If she sees a small gift box in the tree, she's going to assume it's a proposal. Holiday Proposal 4: If your long-distance lover plans to travel to your place for the holidays greet her with a proposal. Have friends and family hold up signs spelling out "Will You Marry Me?" as she waits in baggage claim. You should hold the "me" sign. GroomStand Romance Scale 4/10. Sure, it sounds romantic. But most people don't want to be greeted with a surprise proposal after they've been in flight for the last four hours. She wants to look her best in those proposal photos and would rather not be caught on camera with drool or eye boogers. If you're going to to do an an airport proposal like this, leave the camera at home. Holiday Proposal 5: Write down your most memorable moments with your sweetie - choose about five or six (hopefully you have that). Get a gift and write a sentiment that reflects each one. Arrange for a different person to deliver one present to her every few hours (Santa Clause, some Elves, an estranged uncle, future groomsmen - use your imagination). Deliver the last gift (duh, the ring) yourself and say: "these gifts symbolize the memories we've already made. This next gift marks the promise of memories yet to come." GroomStand Romance Scale: 9/10. It's a lot of work, but this proposal practically guarantees a yes! And you can give it your own personal twist with the gifts. Congratulations on your up coming engagement (fingers crossed). If you use any of these ideas, let us know how it went over. And when the time comes, shop for personalized groomsmen gifts at Groomstand.com.

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Why It's Called Golf

Why is golf called golf? Have you ever wondered that? Well the old joke goes that golf is called golf because the word f__k was already taken. While that is always good for a few yuks, mostly because they are both four letter words, it does remind us of the frustration that often seems to accompany the greatest and most difficult sport known to man. Look at these fantastic athletes that have mastered their own sports (think Jordan, Barkley, Sugar Ray Leonard) but are barely average in golf. Heck Barkley is such a head case that he freezes and hitches every time he swings now. There is a cure for these golfing blues that we often face and we hold the cure in the palm of our hands. Our cure comes in the guise of a Leather Golf Bag Accessory Caddy. They don't call this finest of groomsmen gifts a caddy for no reason. It's called a caddy because not only does this beautifully designed leather gift hold our tees and markers, which are must haves for the game, but it also holds the other must have for this crazy game...a two-ounce stainless steel flask, which makes it even better for groomsmen gifts. I really don't think that golf was meant to be played sober. Heck didn't the Irish invent the dang game in the first place? You know whoever did invent it didn't come up with the idea of whacking a little ball around a field and into a hole while they were sober. They were probably pretty good at it too. Remember, the more you drink the more holes you see. Give groomsmen gifts that give back. They'll need the help. I know Barkley does. Technorati Tags: golf caddy, groomsmen gifts, guy gifts

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Why Is There A Difference?

Vanity gifts for groomsmen are a good way to reclaim the groom's rightful place in the wedding. Having read multiple articles on couples' weddings and all of their fancy and unique details one thing stands out the most, why do they only describe the women in detail? We'll do a super brief mock description of a bride: blah blah wedding dress from blah, custom tailoring, lace and pearls, roses, earrings, all jewelry. You guys get the idea though and that's where you and your groomsmen come in. When you dress for your wedding you'll probably have a nice tux or suit, something clean and sharp, but what about your little accessories? Guys don't usually go deep into grooming accessories, but nothing is stopping them. You can help yourself and your groomsmen too. Their gifts can still be personal, but they can also be the stylish little accessories such as personalized cufflinks or, if you really want to win at accessorizing, personalized tie clip. However you go about your wedding though keep in mind that the ladies will love the style. And your friends will thank you for buying these gifts so they have an excuse to wear them. Tags: groomsmen gifts, groomsmen, gifts, style, cufflinks,

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