Weekly WTF: Angry Divorcee Gets Virtual Revenge

Hell have no fury like a woman's scorn. These days, not only do you have to protect your assets, you have to protect your avatar. This weekly wtf comes from MSN.com. A 43-year-old piano teacher's sudden divorce from her online husband in a Korean game called "Maple Story" enraged her so much that she logged on and killed his digital persona. "I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," she said. According to the article, the man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead. Did he find another avatar to love? What's the back story there? We suspect an avatar affair. The article states that she was charged with illegal access onto a computer and manipulating electronic data. She could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000. Read the full article here. Will Virtual Weddings Replace Real Weddings? In a virtual world like Second Life or Maple Story, brides and grooms can get married without the hassles of a real wedding. No buying groomsmen gifts, renting tuxes, or figuring out the seating arrangements. No meddling in-laws or obnoxious vendors. But grooms miss out on the open bar and cake. And you're not legally married on Second Life or Maple Story. The verdict is in: a real woman beats an avatar any day. Whether you plan on getting married on Second Life, Maple Story, or (hopefully) in the real world shop for groomsmen gifts at Groomstand.com.

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Weekend Getaway

Submitted on Oct 24, 2007 Written by Sarah (fiance): When I got home from work on Friday, Will had our suitcases packed and sitting by the door. He told me that we were going on a surprise weekend getaway. He had already arranged for the dog to be picked up, so we left about a minute after I got home. We took off driving (I had no idea where we were going), and he said we were going to be in the car for a long time, so maybe we could stop in Nashville for some dinner. So after dinner in Nashville he turned the wrong way out of the restaurant- when I pointed this out he said he was going to turn around, and turned into the parking lot of one of the nicest hotels in Nashville- The Lowe's Vanderbilt Plaza. But instead of turning around he valet parked! He explained that Nashville was the place where we met each other (when I was at Vanderbilt) and so he wanted to bring me back here. He then led me up to one of the best suites in the hotel- I felt like such a high-roller! We even had to enter in a special key card to make the elevator stop on our floor! The suite was awesome! It had a separate sitting room and bedroom, and was one of only 4 rooms in hotel that had a balcony, and of course, ours looked out onto the Nashville skyline! Sitting on the table in our room was a bouquet of calla lilies and roses that Will had delivered. The card read " Je t'aime", which means I love you in French. The special part about this message is that it is the same message that was on the very first bouquet of flowers that he sent me over 5 years ago! He also had champagne and strawberries with chocolate sent up! The next day (Saturday) he had massage therapists come up to our room and give us both massages (awesome!). Meanwhile, everyone in the hotel knew who he was- the kept greeting him by name everywhere we went, and we also had the car brought around to us every time we wanted to go out - It was so cool! That night I was looking for something to wear for dinner and since Will had packed my bag for me, I had nothing nice to wear. So when I asked Will what I should wear, he said that jeans were fine, and I didn't need any makeup. In my head I was thinking "where in the hell is he taking me for dinner??" After driving around Nashville, he pulls up to the South Street Original Crab Shack and Authentic Dive Bar- the place where we had our first date! I understood now why I didn't need to dress up!! So we walk into this totally laid back place where they don't accept reservations and where everyone is dressed in jeans and t-shirts, drinking beer, and eating oysters on their wooden tables. Up on the second floor there was one table that had a fancy black tablecloth on it with Pinot Noir, wine glasses, and candles (all stolen from the nice restaurant next door). About this time, I was beginning to get the sentimental picture- he brought me to Nashville because it was the city we met in, we stayed in the Lowe's Vanderbilt Hotel which is across from the where I lived when we first me, he sent me flowers that had the same message as the first bouquet he ever sent, and now we were at the place of our first date.... I never knew a man could be so thoughtful! Unbeknownst to me, the waitress was in on the whole surprise, and Will had given her my camera..... so while we were walking out of the restaurant and crossing the street, Will stopped in the middle of the road, and grabbed my hand, got down on one knee, pulled out the most beautiful ring I have ever seen and said "I love you, Will you marry me?" Of course I said yes! I was so flustered I forgot to give him my hand so he could put the ring on! He had to remind me to put out my hand! Apparently the waitress had told everyone in the restaurant the plan, so now the entire two floors of the restaurant were cheering for us and clapping. So then the waitress came out with my camera and I realized that Will had arranged for her to take pictures of the whole thing!! :) To top the whole night off, when we got back to the hotel, we went to the lobby bar to celebrate, and Will had arranged with the musicians to let him sing a song, so as I sat down at a table, Will went up on stage and took the guitar from the musician and said "I proposed to my girlfriend tonight, and I am going to sing her a song because I love her" He then sang the song "Forever" by Ben Harper. It was awesome! The next day (Sunday) we were going to have lunch and then head out of town. Will had planned one last surprise and had some of our bridal party that lived in TN meet us for lunch -his sister, Jera (my matron of honor), his brother in law, Kevin (groomsman) and our friend Matt (groomsman)- the guy we met through! It was a fantastic weekend! I am so proud that Will is going to be my husband! It means so much to me that he went through all this planning and trouble to carry out a wonderful weekend! Think you've got what it takes to win the title SMarrying Man of the Month? Submit your story today!

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Weddings-Go-Healthy?

Apparently Korea is having a little revolution on wedding gifts, or more specifically the alcohol that they gift. The popular drinks to consume, and thus gift, are/were whiskey and soju, a hard liquor distilled from grains and potatoes, but with people looking to show a little more class and make a healthy drinking alternative they are shifting over to wine. It is making a huge upsurge in corporate and wedding gifts and has even become popular enough that a gas and energy company is offering a free bottle of wine for every 650,000 won ($690) they purchase. This increase in wine doesn't stop in Korea though, it is a global increase. Perhaps it is because of better harvests or maybe just an increase in people's attitude of sophistication. Whatever the case wine is being drunk and there is sure to be groomsmen that wouldn't mind a nice personalized gift to do with that vine candy. Maybe a glass or a whole set or as a really nice groomsmen gift you could try a picnic accessory, a wine presentation case. However you go about your gifting make sure to keep in mind that wine is the classy drink, extend that class.

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Weddings on the Web

We at GroomStand love talking about cool groomsmen gifts, but we love unique proposal stories too. The newest trends in entertainment thanks to the YouTube boom are outrageous proposals caught on tape and broadcast online. The Wall Street Journal Online recently told a story of a couple who were jogging when the boyfriend "tripped" and twisted his ankle. When his girl came to his aid she turned to see him on his knee with a diamond ring in his hand. The entire emotional moment was caught on tapeand broadcast to many thousands of viewers on their website and on YouTube. So how did weddings go beyond nuptials, a big party and groomsmen gifts? It's very simple, really...in our new world anyone can become a star at any time, and anyone with a digital camera can reach anyone with an internet connection. It simply brings out the inner ham in all of us. I know this all too well. I've never aspired to be an actor, yet whenever I post a video and people (other than my mommy) say, "man you really are funny, you should be in front of the camera." I almost begin to believe them. I said almost 'S I'm still not doing video groomsmen gifts, my stand-up isn't worth that much. Well, let's raise a glass and toast all the goofballs past present and future that we can laugh at online. Technorati Tags: groomsmen gifts, online weddings, youtube

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Wedding Traditions You Can Leave at the Alter

What makes your wedding day special? Think about it. What was going through your mind when you thought me + cute girl = awesome wedding? (Trust me on this one; it's still a good idea... I'm going a different direction). Hopefully, you came to the conclusion that your wedding is a day to celebrate your commitment to the one you love. But sometimes it's not all celebration. Sometimes you get bogged down with all of these antiquated wedding traditions. It's as if we are spoon fed all our lives the idea of what a wedding should be - which is a valid point of view. While weddings are a set of century old traditions, our values and priorities change over time. We don't want to stomp all over wedding traditions; we just want you to think about what's most important for your special day. Father giving away the bride The best example of antiquated wedding traditions is the father giving away the bride. Obviously, this tradition started before women had rights. Then Boom! Women's suffrage hit (which doesn't sound like a good thing, but totally was), and now women are not just property traded from the father to the groom. Here are some options for your own traditions: No one gives away the bride. If she's in her early twenties, she's probably been doing her own thing for a while. Plus, no one gives away the groom. Now it's even. Give a nod to both parents. It's true that this tradition recognizes the passing of the bride into a family of her own, so why not acknowledge both parents for making the bride into who she is today. Bride and groom walk the aisle together. Maybe you're hell bent on the bride walking with someone. Since many couples live together way before marriage anyway, walking down the aisle together can symbolize the new family bond. Paying for the wedding Mommy wow, you're a big kid now. If you're big enough to get married, you should be big enough to pay for the wedding, groomsmen gifts, venue, tux and all. This is a great rule to live by because when you're paying for it, you call the shots. If the parents or in-laws want to pitch in, by all means, let them. Be forewarned, the more they spend means the more they get to vote with their dollar. Make sure you make clear boundaries so no one oversteps your special day. Wedding food If you're going to hold a day-long party, you should have some food. However, food shouldn't have to break the bank. Maybe your favorite dates with the fiance were at the local Mexican joint. No one will criticize you for serving your favorite food at the reception (although you should keep presentation in mind when it comes to the enchilada). If you're not cake people, go with pie instead. Invitations Sending out wedding invites is a big hassle. With all of its tissue paper, tassels and RSVP compartments, there is a good possibility that the only thing you understand is the price. This is weary territory for the frugal. If the hand-crafted wedding invitations are a must, figure out who is most likely to save your invites for years to come. Otherwise, know your audience, and try online Evites as a free invitation option for your age-appropriate friends. Your groomsmen will not be heartbroken. They might even thank you when they can pull up the details whenever they want on their iphone. Choosing the best man Dude, you can do what you want when it comes to this category (see Can Fido be Your Best Man?) If you don't want to single out one buddy over another, say they're both best men. In fact, the best tradition you should stick with is grabbing great groomsman gifts from https://branddepot.com/collections/groomstand/ Your groomsmen are planning a sweet bachelor party and they're shelling out some dough to rent a tux, the least you can do is set them up with a stainless steel flask with cigar holder for all their trouble. Remember, wedding traditions are a right of passage, but that doesn't mean they're set in stone. Some people believe it's good for the bride to rip her dress and get a pin prick by a bridesmaid. I guess sometimes it's bad luck to believe in silly superstitions. Make your wedding day special by borrowing or invent traditions as you see fit.

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Wedding Thrills

Now a question you probably wouldn't ask yourself, but is getting asked now is what reason would Michael Jackson have to be at a wedding that wasn't for children? Too soon? Well he wouldn't, except in spirit. A little thriller spirit that surely gave that day another reason for remembrance: Nice huh? You and your groomsmen could do something like this too if you wanted. It just takes a little practice but with it you'll have fun entertainment..for free! Dancing always looks better when it's smooth though and some loosening up might be in order for your groomsmen and you, wherever it needs to happen. A little creativity at the wedding will be sure to make everyone happy. Tags: groomsmen gifts, groomsmen, gifts, dance, original, fun, gift,

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Wedding Solutions Episode One

After spending some time reading stories from brides and bridesmaids and mothers and any other woman that can possibly be involved in a wedding, it seems there are a lot of party poopers out there, specifically women in these stories, that can't seem to get across the fact that two people are celebrating one of the most important days of there waking lives. Maybe it's a need for attention or maybe they just aren't that cheery a person to be around. Whatever the case there are solutions. Solution One: They need attention and you just need to show them (hopefully just once) that they are important in the wedding. A quick talk or a nice gift with a little note will probably solve that up quick. Solution Two: They aren't cheery and you realize this is the reason for groomsmen. Hopefully you've got them gifts that are able to carry a friendly intoxicant we like to call liquor. After enjoying their friendly gifts they'll probably be likely to approach Ms. Unruly and get a little something going. If their charm still can't seem to penetrate the rusty mood, and once all the guests are a bit tired of her, then hopefully by that time your groomsmen will be willing make a few sharp comments. You'll probably have to deal with an angry face and a few tears at first, but after that she's either gone or in a much better mood. Problem solved. Thanks groomsmen! Tags: groomsmen gifts, groomsmen, gifts, groom, unruly, guest, solution,

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Wedding Party Gifts for the Little Ones

There's going to be a ton of people busting their butt to make your wedding day a success. You know you've got to appreciate the hard work of your groomsman with awesome groomsmen gifts from GroomStand.com, but what about the little guy? That is just a metaphor, he doesn't have to be little or a guy for that matter. However, there will be children on your wedding day you'll need to remember. Here are some quick, easy and inexpensive gifts for the ringbearer and flower girl so you can recognize everyone (not just the groomsmen) at your wedding. Wedding Gifts for the Ring Bearer We can start with the real little guy of the wedding, the ring bearer. The job of the ring bearer is a little antiquated because traditionally you give the rings to the best man. The Wikipedia article on the ring bearer says that you should give him fake rings sewn onto a satin pillow, and I guess if you know what's good for you, it's not the best idea to give the kid a chance to lose the real rings. In any case, the ring bearer looks cute roaming down the isle. Set him up with a Rawlings Min Baseball Bat or a Personalized Steel Harmonica for adding the great Kodak moment to your big day. By the way, the harmonica adds an extra special treat for the ring bearer's parents on the car ride home. And it also makes a fun groomsmen gift! Wedding Gifts for The Flower Girl As for miss cutie-patootie flower girl, this wedding will go down as a big-time childhood memory. She might be too young to understand that when everyone's eyes seem to be on her, they are actually looking past the bow on her head to the beautiful bride. It's like going on stage right before the Beatles... but hey, someone's got to be the opening act. Make sure the little girl glows as she walks down the isle by giving her a Personalized Heart Necklace, or you can be her big hero by giving her the Personalized Crystal Petals Flower Girl Set. Wedding Tip: The best way to make your wedding a success is to make sure everyone involved feels like it's their special day too. Don't just thank your all-important groomsmen with groomsmen gifts - pamper your littlest party members with presents and don't forget a gift for the bride.

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Wedding Master of Ceremonies - A Robot

Life in the Fast Lane, a site that reports on unusual, offbeat news and weird science reported a story on an unusual robot, Tiro, that performed the master of ceremonies for Seok Jaeto and his new bride Daejeon, 78 miles south of Seoul, South Korea. You can bet this groom gave remote control cars as groomsmen gifts. Tiro the Robot MC'd the wedding and apparently the groomsmen were additional small robots who handled the duties of seating people as well as provided performances for the happy couple, and the whole thing has us wondering aloud...what exactly do you think would make suitable groomsmen gifts for robots? A can of oil, perhaps? A bag of nuts and bolts? We don't pretend to have the answer to that groomsmen gifts question, but we find this article fascinating. The only thing that has us a little nervous is at the bottom of the page they announced that the Korean government unveiled a high-tech, machine gun carrying sentry robot that would help troops along the border. Didn't they see Robocop? Those things go haywire and kill people...lots of people! Darn that O.C.P. with the ED-209!! Technorati Tags: gifts for men, puppy

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Wedding Fail: Jr. Groomsmen Down

Here's a wedding video that made us chuckle. It's not a hoax. This poor jr. groomsmen goes down in a thud, falling backwards off the bottom step like a domino. We hope he got some super sweet groomsmen gifts for his valiant (albeit clumsy) effort. What made him faint? Was it a whiff of the bride's perfume or did he not want the couple to get hitched? Shop GroomStand for groomsmen gifts and everything else you'll need on the Big Day (hopefully not a cast).

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Wedding Dance Hall of Shame: Baby Got Back... With Dad

The father-daughter dance should be one of the most special moments of a wedding. Appropriate songs for the father-daughter dance include: "In My Life," "Butterfly Kisses" or "My Father's Eyes." Inappropriate songs include anything you'd hear at a night club. This father-daughter dance takes a sickening turn when the DJ turns on Baby Got Back. We love Sir Mix A Lot, but this song should be ban from weddings all together. When it starts, the bridesmaids (big bottom or small) jump to the dance floor with delusions of dancing grandeur. And ultimately, one of them bumps you with their hip and you fly off the dance floor in a flurry of embarrassment (ahem). GroomStand Hint: Grooms, if your groomsmen gifts happen to be bridesmaids, now would be the time to get your friends on the floor and start working as the wing man. The cardinal rule of Baby Got Back is that you NEVER dance to it with your male relatives! And under absolutely no circumstances with your dad. Not funny. Not even remotely cute. Everyone knows the lyrics (it's also a popular karaoke song), so the guests must have been mystified or totally creeped out when they heard this. And where is the groom? We half expected him to show up and steal her away in the middle of the song. That would have made more sense. Now that we burned your eyes out with that video and feel really bad, how about some groomsmen gifts for the holidays? Shopping for groomsmen gifts has never been easier. We hand-picked the Top Ten Holiday Gifts for Groomsmen so take a peek. And check back with us periodically for horrendous dance videos, holiday happenings, and a gaggle of groomsmen gifts.

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Wedding Dance Hall of Shame Returns!

6 difficult months, 20 excruciating days, and the longest 12 minutes of your life, and finally the GroomStand Wedding Dance Hall of Shame is officially resurrected from the graveyard. When it comes to Thriller, there's no shortage of shameful wedding dance videos. This video is another example why zombie dances and weddings don't mix. If we awarded points for effort, these guys would easily have earned their groomsmen gifts for this performance. You can't knock 'em for trying, right? They even perfected the slumped zombie crawl from the Thriller beginning. But, we don't give out free passes at the Hall of Shame. They get an A for effort and an F- for song choice (yawn) and pitiful performance (gag). Watch the fair-haired guy front and center. He's the unspoken leader in this groomsmen break dance. As his moves fizzle into awkward spasms, his back-up dancers look like newly born fawns. There's no question Michael Jackson's Thriller brings out the best and worst in choreographed wedding dances. Watching yet another group mimic Michael Jackson might send us into convulsions, but we won't see an end to Thriller anytime soon. Is this the groom's way of making the party earn their groomsmen gifts? Or is he just another Thriller zombie? Comment below and let us know what you think of these dance-fevered groomsmen. Do they need groomsmen gifts certificates for dance lessons? Or do you find their impersonations endearing?

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