The Origin of Smashing the Wedding Cake

It's arguable that after all the grief and torment the bride puts everyone through leading up to a wedding, there is no better groomsmen gift than seeing her face being pummeled by a piece of $300 wedding cake. The only thing that's more messy than frosting on your face is the line of logic it takes to explain this GroomStand wedding origin story. The Wedding Cake Wasn't Always Eaten The first part of this origin story is one of those things like the diaphragm; it just doesn't make sense anymore. Back in the Roman Empire, certain grains like Wheat or Barley were believed to be a symbol of fertility. Originally, it was common practice to shower the newlyweds with pieces of wheat cake, sometimes it was from above, but mostly it's described as something similar to the tossing of rice as a couple leaves the church. The odd part of the practice is how young unmarried girls were encouraged to pickup and eat the disregarded wheat cake bits to ensure their own betrothals - similar to today's bouquet toss. Over time, the Roman bakers changed the policy on throwing cake at the couple by creating what we'd now think of as the inspiration to the cupcake. Bakers would prepare a massive batch of the small sweet cakes, and stack them in a pyramid shape as high as possible. It was then believed to be good luck with a dusting of great fertility if the couple could lean over the stack of cakes and kiss without knocking anything over. That's Cake in Your Face You can already guess that if you have a short bride, it was nearly impossible to successfully kiss over a mountain of cakes. After frosting was introduced during the reign of King Charles II, it was more than common for the bride and groom to get a face full of cake and frosting on their wedding day. Nowadays, it costs too much to take the risk of toppling over a wedding cake, so the face-full of frosting is simulated by the bride and groom smashing a piece of cake into each other's faces.

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The Origin of Jumping Out of the Cake

One of the all-time best gifts to the groom during the bachelor party is the sexy lady jumping out of the cake. Cake is good. A hot stripper is good. The combination of the two is extra-double good. If you've ever wondered who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to unite these two forces of awesomeness to make the greatest of groomsmen gifts, you're in luck! Welcome to GroomStand's exploration of crazy and bizarre wedding traditions with our take on groomsmen origin stories. Animals jumping out of cakes Surprisingly, this story doesn't start out with a nobleman's perverse sexual fantasy of forcing naked women to escape from giant pastries (that came later). Back in the 17th century, bakers and pastry chefs showcased their best work at banquets for kings and noblemen (think of an old school version of Ace of Cakes). One of the ways they used to show off was by concocting awe-inspiring pies filled with living animals. When an unsuspecting patron cut open this pastry, it was common for them to find a flock of flying birds and an army of frogs plotting their escape. Women jumping out of cakes This whole idea of beautiful women jumping-out-of-the-cake-routine didn't actually start until 1895. At a bachelor party for architect Stanford White, a photo of a woman popping out of pie surfaced on the front page of a New York newspaper. This cover story exposed some of the quirky party tricks practiced by the upper echelon of New York's wealthiest. The story then made infamous when the jealous millionaire husband of the beautiful cake jumper later shot Stanford White point blank in the face at a musical in Madison Square Garden. Surprisingly, there is no validity to the notion that women used to jump out of a "real" cake. All the accounts through history seem to talk about women or animals jumping out of pie crusts, and the only cakes strippers are popping out of these days are not very edible. Either way you go about it, when people or pets are jumping out of cakes, it's the sign of a good party. Make sure your party animal friends take a party sign home with them with groomsmen gifts of this personalized pub sign as a moment for memories that will last for years.

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The Mad Men Guide to Groomsmen Gifts

You may not work in a glossy Madison Avenue ad agency, but other than that you and your buddies are pretty much identical to the guys on Mad Men. You drink. You make risque jokes. You're totally brilliant yet critically under-appreciated. If you are at a loss for what to get your guys as groomsmen gifts, take a cue from AMC's surprise hit show Mad Men. Not only can you get great gift inspiration, you can bill your hours spent in front of the tube as "groomsmen gifts' research." Roger Sterling would be proud. Speaking of which, let's read on..... Groomsmen Gifts for the Roger Sterling of the Group Every groomsmen posse includes a wizened elderly mentor who regales his younger cronies with war stories of fast times, beautiful women and daring brushes with danger. The groomsmen look up to him. The bride has her doubts about the so-called "wisdom" but can never help but squelch a smile over the old guy's charm. For the Roger Sterling in the group, it's all about iconic groomsmen gifts that pay homage to his classic bachelor status. (On a marital note: did you know the actress Talia Balsam that plays Roger's wife Mona on Mad Men is his wife in real life too!? Awww...) For Roger, only these elegant monogrammed drinking tumblers will do! Add elegance to your buddy's liquid lunches (is there any other kind?) with these refined personalized groomsmen gifts. Groomsmen Gifts for the Ken Cosgrove in Your Group Next up, what else to get for the golden boy but a gold-plated golf club? Ken Cosgrove ("I'm Ken!") is arguably the most All-American of the Mad Men bunch. Cosgrove is the smooth-talking account manager with all the swagger that natural athletic ability provides-although his writing success does suggest hidden depths. For the all-around "good guy" in your group, you can't lose with sports groomsmen gifts to remind him of his favorite pastimes. Unless you're Salvatore, in which case you'll probably want to get him this pen to remind him of his more...."literary" side. Groomsmen Gifts for the Don Draper in the Group From the golden boy to the dark horse! There is only one brand of groomsmen gifts that work for the enigma that is Don Draper. They have to be classic, dapper, and not-to-personal. When it comes to groomsmen gifts for the man in the gray flannel suit, there is only one choice. We speak of course, of the ever classy, ever ubiquitous personalized Zippo lighter. From the second Don lights up in the Mad Men pilot "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" it's hard to tell through the smokescreen what drives this mysterious, occasionally compassionate character. The lighter is the perfect present for such a smoldering guy, and the personalization will be a helpful hint when he's stealing identities. If you've got a man with a past in your groomsmen party, a guy a little more strong and silent than the rest, classic smoking groomsmen gifts are a good non-invasive choice. Groomsmen Gifts for the Salvatore in the Group For the man who watches Jackie Kennedy's fashion with anything but abject boredom, only personalized grooming accessories will do. Salvatore may be suffering the repression of the not-yet-swinging sixties, but that doesn't mean he can't appreciate beauty and pampering in his own home. For your buddy who's cool with "manscaping" and who doesn't mind a little good-natured ribbing about his Planet Beach membership, grooming groomsmen gifts are the way to go! Follow these instructions, and your groomsmen gifts can also be a surprise hit! Shop Groomstand for personalized groomsmen gifts for the whole cast.

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The Intrepid Groomsmen

Your intrepid groomsmen, led by the most intrepid of all, yourself (well it is you that's getting married!), are going to be there for you through all of your adventures and explorations. Basically that "all" boils down to the occasional couples vacation where the ladies are present too. That steam that comes off though is the result of some good old camping with the guys. Nothing is more relaxing and fun than the forest with close friends, regardless of the activities. Guaranteed though your groomsmen and you will be out having fun and, at least for them, using their groomsmen gifts. This is of course relative to the foresight you had when choosing their gifts. It is safe to say that this hasn't happened yet with you being here, but why not check out some options for the outdoors. Two of the most essential components to outdoor functioning are a solid compass and steel multitool. Knowing direction and being able to interact with things are important while out camping, making this gift the perfect mix of the two. No matter where you go with these gifts though your groomsmen and you will be glad for your camping companionship. Tags: groomsmen gifts, groomsmen, gifts, camping, adventure, personal,

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The Importance of Wedding Coordinators

Interesting story out of the McClatchy - Tribune recently. Apparently there is a way to ensure your wedding gifts don't get stolen and you don't run out of ice. The article talks about the importance of wedding coordinators and how it basically ensures that most weddings only end up with tiny glitches at worst when they've brought in a qualified (check references, people!) wedding coordinator to handle the brunt of the responsibility load, i.e. the boring stuff that doesn't involve planning your bachelor party and buying cool groomsmen gifts. That load, by the way, includes securing the location up to a year in advance, handling all of the check distribution to all the plethora of vendors. How awful to be the groom and have to be in charge of picking up the groomsmen gifts, paying the DJ, the caterer, the flower guy, the cake and the list goes on and on and on. As the Tribune reported - a coordinator, Teresa Hutchinson also makes sure she has in her trusty handbag, a safety pin, scissors, a lighter (for candles), a pocketknife, mints, an extra cell phone and tissues to pass out to weepy guests. Now that woman is on her game! We'd like to add one more responsibility to the coordinator and that is to house the many valuable groomsmen gifts that are going to bring big smiles to the boys' faces. In order to really ensure that Teresa and all good wedding coordinators really have the right item in their purse, they should consider adding this awesome three piece cigar and flask kit. Because you never know who is going to burst into tears, and you never know when you're going to run into a nervous groom who is going to need a last minute drink and smoke! Technorati Tags: flasks, groomsmen gifts, puppy, wedding coordinators

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The Groomsmen Shot Glass Collection

When you see your groomsmen's shot glass collections, do you ever wonder why you have an automatic reaction to it? Perhaps it's euphoric. Remember that wonderful Halloween party where you dressed up as a really hot woman, and for some weird reason every hot chick there was trying to hit on you. With your personalized shot glass, you've never had so much play before or since. Or perhaps your reaction is to cringe a bit. The shot glass collection reminds you of a poor ass game of quarters and, let's just say it was a long night and the groomsmen gifts are sort of a bribe so your buddies won't talk about it. The great thing about looking at shot glass collections is that they always make you think or feel of something, be it good or bad. Keep the great memories alive with a Personalized Shot Glasses for giving as groomsmen gifts. Every time you see the elegant etching, you'll be reminded of that one last crazy weekend in Honolulu sometime back. Hmmm, where was I? Ah well, I'll save that story for another time. Sigh...good times, man...good times.

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The Groomsmen Cometh

Coming soon to a theatre near you: The Groomsmen. No, I'm not kidding. Screening July 6 at the Learning Annex in NYC, and opening nationwide July 14. The motto? "There's a difference between getting older and growing up". Here's a snippet of the story line: "In one week's time Paulie (Ed Burns) will be married to his beautiful fiance, Sue (Brittany Murphy). She's about to have a baby. But with his four groomsmen getting together for one last week of extended adolescence before the big day, it's Paulie that is going to have to grow up, something that guys find hard to do." Groomsmen gifts for growing up? We're not sure about this one, but you can see a preview and other goodies at thegroomsmen.com. Technorati Tags: movies

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The Groom's Wedding 'To Do' List

You finally asked her to marry you. Now, all you have to do is figure out how to marry her. Deep breath - and relax. Just follow our lead with this step-by-step groom planning guide by wedding expert and guest blogger Genve McNally from Dreamgroup Productions Inc. EIGHT-TWELVE MONTHS PRIOR: Decide on who's paying for what (e.g., bride's family might pay for the food bill, the bride's attire, and the flowers & dcor, while the groom's family may take on the liquor bill, the hosting of the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding day transportation) Create a budget and stick with it (if you end up spending more in one area, find another area(s) in which to cut back some costs) - Just be sure to start off with a realistic budget -- expecting 15K to cover wedding costs for 200 people is not practical! Do the math first... take the cost of an average evening of dinner and drinks, times it by the number of guests expected and double that figure to get an average and realistic working budget. Assist with selecting your marriage officiant; referrals are a great resource. Create your guest list (don't forget to allow for your family's inclusions) Choose your groomsmen (and no, you don't HAVE to have the same number of groomsmen as your bride-to-be has bridesmaids, unless she's very adamant about balance... you then may be forced to make some new friends fast) Plan the wedding night and honeymoon (not all couples need to travel to Hawaii or Europe to celebrate their union... check out local hideaways and spa retreats) Check that passports and travel papers are up-to-date (if applicable) FOUR-EIGHT MONTHS PRIOR: Purchase the wedding rings and arrange for engraving (one couple wrote the first words the groom ever uttered to his bride, "come here often?") Select what you will wear by referring to The Groom's Guide to the Tuxedo and arrange for a fitting Confirm reservations for the honeymoon Arrange a special rate at a local hotel for your out of town guests; they're always appreciative of this gesture TWO-THREE MONTHS PRIOR: Acquire your marriage license Make reservations for the rehearsal dinner (if your parents aren't taking care of this) ONE-TWO MONTHS PRIOR: Buy a special gift for your bride on her wedding day (anything from a strand of pearls to a lovely bouquet of long stemmed red roses accompanied by a sweet note is acceptable... hopefully you know what will make her smile) Purchase your groomsmen gifts (something like an engraved flask is nice - perhaps golf, dinner, or even spa certificates are also well received ) Review all vendor contracts and make sure all required payments are made Re-Confirm honeymoon and reservation details (once is not enough) ONE WEEK PRIOR: Confirm the time and place of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner with all your groomsmen and anyone else you think needs to "be in the know" Pick up wedding rings -- make sure you check the engraving before leaving the store! Pick up your formal wear Give the best man marked envelopes with payments that need to be made on the wedding day (e.g.: officiant, musicians, photographer, etc.) Pack for the honeymoon Event Planners in Vancouver, BC. Geneve and her business partner, Sarah Shore, created DreamGroup in the Summer of 2004 and are now considered one of the top planning companies for a Vancouver wedding, executing over 60 Vancouver weddings and special events annually. In her "spare" time Geneve teaches Wedding Planning at Vancouver Community College and also writes for several local publications. She is happily married and the proud mother of two year old son, Harrison Law.

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The Groom's Guide to the Tuxedo

You can Rent or you can Buy Either way, picking out a tuxedo is tricky. If you're like most guys, donning formal wear is not part of everyday life. Why is a tuxedo different? What color does it need to be? Will I look like a penguin? What groomsmen gifts can I get so my buddies don't look like they just rolled off the couch? These are all important questions to ask. Prepare to watch your step because GroomStand is dropping some straight tux tips. What is a Tuxedo? The tux is used for semi-formal to formal events. Sometimes it's called black tie, and in Britain, it's called a dinner jacket. If you want to pull off the look of 007, the tux will need these elements: A dinner jacket with silk facings (that means the lapel is shinny) Trousers with silk braids matching the lapels A white dress shirt with a stiff cotton or pleated front Engraved cufflinks (silver square or silver oval are a classic touch) A black silk bow tie Black dress socks Black shoes, either patent or high polish leather Black cummerbund or low-cut waist coat (this isn't a make or break rule) Jacket Tips Since a black jacket shows hues of green under artificial light, the only other acceptable dinner jacket color is midnight blue. Don't pull a Father of the Bride moment; if everyone is wearing black and you wear blue, you will stand out. Otherwise, guys can rock the white dinner jacket in warm climates during the summer months. Stylin' Groomsmen Gifts As for your groomsman, they need to make a good impression too. Sometimes you only look as good as the friends around you. If they follow this advice and they're dressed to the nines, make sure you've got their back with stylin' groomsmen gifts like personalized money clips or flasks to go with their tux. The rules of a tuxedo are a little ridged, but it's for good reason. If the groom wears a tux, it is to look good, but not better than the bride. This is her big day, and she gets all the attention. So when all eyes are on her, keep these tips in mind so you look your best when her eyes are on you.

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The Groom's Guide to Bachelor Parties

Months before you find a tux, groomsmen gifts, or sometimes even before you crown the best man, your groomsmen will start bachelor party planning. Be honest: Does the thought of lap dances and body shots fill you with dread? Or have you been planning a salacious stag night since you turned thirteen? Here's how to get the bachelor party you really want. Guide your Groomsmen Despite popular belief, you're not at the complete mercy of your merciless groomsmen. Tell them your expectations and your fiance's code of conduct. Be direct and firm. Do you want a quiet poker night or a wild shindig where hopping a boat to Mexico is a definite possibility? If you want to break tradition, suggest thrilling alternatives to the sleazy bachelor parties of yore: paint balling, canoing, rock climbing or sky diving. Your gentlemen will be relieved that they don't have to engage in hazing acts better suited for college students. If you take the laissez-faire approach to bachelor party planning, your last hurrah could mean you get the heave-ho from your fiance. Who Invited that Guy? Give your guys some direction when it comes to the guest list. Make a list of undesirables: The guy most likely to pee his pants after drinking too much; your stern boss who, perhaps shouldn't see you make-out with a blow-up doll; your future father-in-law who won't be able to erase morally altered you from his memory....you get the idea. Limit invitations to trustworthy best buds. Avoid trouble makers and whistle blowers. Bachelor Party Dos and Don'ts: Do tell your bride-to-be about your bachelor party. This gives her license to unleash her wild inner child. Honesty is a great way to start off a marriage. A covert-ops bachelor party leads to Very Bad Things. Do celebrate. Even if it's just a small gathering with buddies and beer. As time passes it gets increasingly difficult to spend time with friends. Years later when you're sitting on the couch - paunch, receding hairline and all - you'll regret not celebrating your last night of singledom. Do break the code. You don't have to give your fiance a play-by-play account of everything that went down. But don't leave out the devilish details or her imagination will run wilder than a frat-boy at homecoming. Do survive the night. Get crazy. But not so crazy that you'll be jailed or end up on a milk carton. If you make it through stag night, give your guys our survival party badge tees as groomsmen gifts. Don't have it the night before. Sure, the night before your wedding is truly your last night as a single guy. But unless you want to stagger down the aisle hungover and reeking of booze, throw the party a week before your wedding. You'll need time for last-minute wedding duties, like shopping for groomsmen gifts. Do thank your best buds for the best bachelor party ever with groomsmen gifts from Groomstand.com!

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The Germ Free Groomsmen Gifts Flask

Yes, that's right this Personalized Black Leather top of the line flask is completely germ free (Not FDA approved). That means that your groomsmen can take this handsome and VERY upscale flask and share it with their friends and have virtually no risk of exchanging cooties of any kind (Note: there is no scientific proof for or against this claim). We would even go so far as to say that you could fill this baby with your favorite gut rot bourbon and share it with the local homeless man hanging outside the liquor store in a tent and even after passing it back and forth several times exchanging swigs you'll not catch that enormous cold sore that he's got growing out of the side of his mouth (Good god, please don't try this at home!). All right, perhaps we're pushing it a bit by suggesting that giving gifts of this lovely personalized flask will suddenly turn you into a super hero and leave you impervious to all viruses and bacterial infections, but we think it's pretty cool and we're certain your favorite groomsmen, best man and everyone in your wedding party will feel the same way. Technorati Tags: flasks, groomsmen gifts, gifts for men

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The First Dance

This article will make you want to buy your boys groove lessons. WSJ Online wrote an article called, "The First Dance Spins Out of Control" which is all about brides, groom and occasionally wedding party attendants that do these well thought out and intricate dance numbers. My first thought was, if I was a groomsman and the groom-to-be told me I needed to rehearse for weeks to get proficient in the Thriller Zombie dance, I would be like, "dude, I'm going to stand next to you, give you two a gift, so why don't you bust out the groomsman giftfor me so we can move on with our lives?" - Now that, of course, was until I actually saw the Thriller dance wedding videos that were highlighted on Good Morning America. All right, it was pretty cool. I'll even go beyond that and say it was shockingly cool. How about nearly 2 million YouTube views already? That'll tell you a little something about how high the interest is in being a voyeur and a wedding crasher of sorts. We are and will continually be fascinated with new love and the union of two people starting their lives together. I would write more, but I just got my new M.J. Thriller CD from guyville.com - gotta practice my moves. Technorati Tags: groomsmen gifts, michael jackson, youtube

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