What To Do: You DonÍt Want Kids at your Wedding

Allow kids to come to your wedding, or not. That is a sensitive topic for many grooms and brides planning the most special day of their lives. It’s your wedding and your party, you have the right to have it play out anyway you see fit – even if that playing is in a kid-free zone. Think of it as a wedding present to yourself. While many children can be quite well-behaved, it seems that at a wedding all bets are off. Often this is because the pint-sized partiers actually do have a reason to fuss, if you think about it. They are constrained in uncomfortable and fussy clothing, they are up way past their bedtimes (missing naps, too) and they are not being served the chicken nuggets and peanut butter they are accustomed to munching on. But, if you have pressure from the bride or friends and siblings who all want to bring their kids, don’t worry, there are tactful ways to say “no” and also creative alternatives to allow a few rugrats in. Drop the hint in the invitation. If you do not want children to attend your reception, specifically indicate that on the included RSVP card. Spell it out in plain English so that your guests aren’t confused – this is no time for detail-sparing diplomacy. The RSVP card could read something like this, “Two seats are reserved in your honor” instead of the traditional “_____ guests will be attending.” Yikes, the later implies that an infinite number of people could come! Also, instead of addressing the envelope to “The Smith Family,” specifically use the Mr. and Mrs. salutations without any reference to a “family.” Write the message and addresses with one of our favorite groomsmen gifts, a fancy silver pen that adds significance to every message. Drop the hint in person: When speaking to your friends, family and guests; reiterate the plans you and your bride have for a “fancy adult evening.” Of course, if pushed, you could say that children are welcomed at the ceremony, but the reception is adult-only. Blame it on the venue, appear apologetic! Typically, if parents are going to get a babysitter for the reception, they will hire that sitter to come early for the ceremony too. It’s just convenience. Exceptions: Of course, there will be exceptions. Even if people have been clobbered over the head with the “kid-free” communication, they still may bring their children. Plus, some of your guests have to travel from afar, and of course will have their progeny in tow. We know you’re not going to turn them away at the door, so have a contingency plan in place. Teenagers that you’ve invited to the wedding can be paid a nominal fee to watch the youngsters in an adjoining room. A room where the rascals will be free to run around, create mayhem and eat animal crackers and raisins to their hearts’ delight. This is where the flower girl and ring bearer can hang out after they’ve finished their respective jobs, posed for photographs, and charmed everyone with their cuteness. Don’t forget to treat these two little wedding helpers with ring bearer and flower gifts as a show of your appreciation and affection. Also, prepare wedding favors for the children in the babysitting room that will keep them productively busy. Good choices are crayons, activity books, personalized yo-yos, small toys, a pocket knife and whatnot. Err; perhaps the bride will be better suited to execute this task. So, as you can see, there is some tact involved with children and the wedding reception. I mean, it’s pretty callous to turn away a nursing newborn, but at the same time, you don’t want to hear screaming in the background of your wedding video. Plus, it can be expensive to have a lot of children in a wedding, often the “per-head” cost is the same as an adult and we all know that the tykes aren’t going to appreciate the harp player and caviar bar. But, on the other hand, relax. Weddings are family affairs and there are always children in some branch of the family tree. You may have once been that obnoxious brat that screamed out in the middle of the vows that “I want candy!” Oh wait, that was me. So, do you have any suggestions for our readers on how to handle this “childish” situation? If so, let us know in the comments below.

Read more

Weddings and Office Politics Tips for the Groom

Most guys would prefer not to invite the boss and random co-workers to his wedding. While a few guys from the salt mine might actually have become close friends, the majority of the cubicles and hallways are populated with people you’d rather not see when the whistle finally blows. Sure, Dave from the Graphic Design department is really cool, but Howard from Accounting is as far from hip and happening as one could get. So, what’s a guy to do? You could try not inviting co-workers and just sneaking off to a destination wedding in order to avoid the awkward inter-office politics. However, this plan has the potential to backfire, and usually does. Remember the episode of The Office where Pam Beasley and Jim Halpert announced to co-workers they were just having a small destination wedding? But of course, the completely inept and oblivious-to-dropped-hints branch manager, Michael Scott, solved the dilemma. Without permission from the bride and groom, the boss simply gave the entire staff two full days off and had everyone drive up to Niagara Falls for the big day. So, how do you handle inviting or not inviting the office to your wedding? Feel free to tell us your ideas in the comments below. One option is to invite those in your department, or if the department is large, just your circle of colleagues that you work with on a day-to-day basis. This also includes your immediate boss. You can’t invite the department and not the boss. Another option is to just invite that small handful of employees that you’ve really connected with; the guys that you hang out with after hours. However, in order to prevent hurt feelings, make sure that wedding invitations are not distributed at the office, but sent directly to home addresses. If you are planning to have men from the office serve as your groomsmen, more power to you. Either you work in a family-owned business where your boss is a brother or you’ve really bonded with these guys over the trials and tribulations inherent to your workplace. Don’t forget to give these men groomsmen gifts as a gesture of your thanks and appreciation. Groomstand.com has a wide selection of groomsmen gifts that will appeal to co-workers such as business card cases that can be personalized with their initials. Other great gifts for groomsmen that hail from the office include engraved flasks (for impromptu 5 o’clock happy hours) or fine leather goods such as leather portfolio for taking notes (or doodling) at all those Monday-morning marathon meetings. If the guys are sporty, there are plenty of other groomsmen gift options that will score big! Our personalized putter will be a hit with your best man, he can close the door to his office and brush up on his skills in order to finally beat you the next time you hit the links. Don’t forget your new father-in-law; he would love to have one of these personalized golf gifts that can be personalized with all sorts of text, such as a name and date, favorite verse or other special sentiment. Now, taking another point of view, if you are a wedding guest from the workplace, you’ll need to bring a thoughtful gift for the groom. You can’t show up empty-handed and expect to chow down on the buffet and drain the open bar. You’ll need to arrive with an appropriate gift that represents your level of familiarity with the groom. If you are buddy-buddy, you’ll probably know exactly what wedding gift to bring. But, if the groom is more of a friendly acquaintance (and you just got invited by default), a useful executive gift he could use in the office is a great choice. So, how are YOU going to handle either inviting or not inviting offices acquaintances to your wedding?

Read more

Man-centric Spending Strategy for a Wedding

The average wedding budget in 2011, according to a recent survey conducted by The Knot, costs a whopping $27,021 _ and this excludes the honeymoon. Do you know how many beers this would buy? According to our calculations, you could buy 18,000 cases of Budweiser¬ (at $15 dollars a pop) which equates to 43,300 cans of icy, cold goodness. If you consider 55 years to be the maximum beer-drinking lifespan of a man (from age 21 to age 76), that comes out to be 785 beers a year _ or a little more than two beers a day! Would you rather have an ñaverageî wedding or be guaranteed two beers a day until you kick the bucket? Gee, thatÍs not a hard decision for us guys, but trying selling that on the bride. Here are some other interesting wedding budget comparisons that may make you want to evaluate how you are spending your hard-earned money. Wedding Planner: Sure, a wedding planner may help reduce a little stress in setting up the perfect soiree, but at an average cost of $1,753 per wedding, is it really all that necessary to strive for perfection? After all, we think itÍs some of the little unanticipated events that pop up that make the wedding even more memorable. We say, make some computer spreadsheets for the bride to check her way through and then use the extra savings on some really cool groomsmen gifts. Fine cigar humidors or top-grain leather wallets will really make a great impression when given as groomsmen gifts to those friends who would never, ever notice the fact that some wedding planner had matched the exact shade of the periwinkle flowers in the reception centerpieces to the color of the brideÍs eyes. Reception Band: Plan on spending an average of $3,122 to hire a band to entertain your guests. Even just a DJ to play songs comes in at $923. Why not just make an awesome playlist and hook it up to the speaker system and save enough money to put a down payment on that Harley youÍve been eyeballing. If the bride says no, you can at least hang onto the ñwhat could have beenî memory with a personalized sign for your man cave _ we love this man cave sign with a biker bar design. Reception Venue: Where you party down after the ceremony is probably the most expensive line item in the wedding budget, coming in at a heart-palpitating $12,116 for the average wedding in 2011. Of course, food and drinks are included, but this is still big bucks if you consider that the average wedding has 141 guests. This comes out to be about $86 bucks per guest. I guess thatÍs not as bad as the total sounded, but when you consider you can get a McWedding in Hong Kong for $400 for 100 guests, it makes you think that maybe pizza delivery or a few buckets of chicken might be the better way to go. Another idea that is totally on trend right now is to hire food trucks to come out and serve at your wedding, a much more cost-effective way to serve guests. Hey, food is food right? If you save even half of the 12 grand, you could be looking at a really nice vacation to celebrate your first anniversary. So, are you planning to have a no-expenses sparred wedding or are you planning a more frugal festivity? Either way, you never want to forget to be generous with the friends who have supported you through the process, namely the best man, groomsmen and ushers. Check out our large selection of groomsmen gifts that will fit any budget and may be personalized for that one-of-a-kind gesture money canÍt buy.* Budweiser is a trademark of In-Bev.

Read more

How to Keep a Groom From Vomiting at the Altar

What’s the worst that could happen at your wedding? As the groom, you could bumble through your vows, maybe forget to put gas in the getaway car, or realize that an uninvited ex-girlfriend was brought as someone’s date. But, what if you vomited at the wedding; right there kneeling at the altar alongside your bride, with the entire congregation looking on? Ah, fun times. That exact thing happened to the turning-green groom in this video and probably thousands of other grooms out there have had near miss situations. This is no way to start off a lifetime of happiness, so read on to find out how to keep from puking your guts out at the wedding ceremony. Don’t get wasted the night before. You’ve heard it before, but we’re saying it again. Don’t have the bachelor party the night before the wedding, it’s just asking for trouble. It gives you no recovery time to bounce back from too many drinks . . . or have that tattoo laser-blasted off your head. If the logistics of having your party posse come in from out of town necessitates a night-before shindig, then you’ll need to pace yourself on the drinking. Avoid consuming hard liquor shots and mixed drinks (remember the saying, liquor’s quicker) and drink a full mug of water in between each alcoholic beverage. As a reminder to everyone, get the guys personalized beer mugs (filled with water, natch) as their hydrating groomsmen gifts. Cure your hangover quickly and thoroughly. If you do wake up with the dreaded hangover, hopefully you don’t have a morning ceremony to rush of to. If the event is in the late afternoon or evening, you’ll have some time to work on bouncing back from your queasiness, dehydration and pounding headache. First, you’ll want to keep drinking water, preferably even an electrolyte drink, throughout the day to get your body back in balance. Keep water by your side at all times in a refillable container, like our personalized water canteen. By the way, these vessels make excellent groomsmen gifts with hangover prevention in mind. Next, take a shower to wash off the debauchery and jump-start your day; use cold water if that’s what it’s going to take to liven you up. A shave wouldn’t hurt either. Next, eat something healthy, not that greasy hamburger and fries that you crave. A fatty diet will churn up your gut for a potential disaster. Finally, if the nausea continues try an herbal remedy. Peppermint and ginger are both known to combat queasiness. Make tea with one of these natural helpers or at least suck on a hard candy until your stomach is feeling better. Get over your nerves. Doctors back the fact that excitement and anxiety can make a person puke, even though it’s usually just little kids who vomit with this type of anxious anticipation. However, getting married is probably one of the biggest life changes a guy faces in his life to date, and that can make you revert to unexpected behaviors. To calm a stomach that is flip-flopping and freaking out due to anxiety, there are a few tricks to try out. Engage in a little exercise like light jogging or a brisk walk. Exercise releases endorphins, those feel-good neurotransmitters that will help regulate hormones and reduce adrenaline to control anxiety. Deep breathing is another method that can help reduce any stress that may be causing your discomfort. Take slow, controlled breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth; by the end of 10 breaths you should be feeling better. Finally, eating something light and healthy will keep your stomach digesting properly and feeling up par on your wedding day. The worst thing you can do is skip a meal because you are nervous, this will only worsen the way you feel. Are you getting anxious about your wedding? What are you doing to stay calm? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more

Freak Out Your Bride With These Wacky Wedding Ideas

If you’re recently engaged, the bride may have already started the hand-on-hip, saccharine-coated, finger-waving accusation, “You need to be more involved in the wedding planning, honey.” But, honestly, these details can be a little too fussy and detail-oriented for most of us guys. We have a brilliant way for you to get out of the chore without being booted out of the door. Suggest some of the craziest, wackiest ideas for a wedding that you’ve ever heard of and she’ll quickly stop insisting you help out. It’s genius, and all you’ll have to do in the end is pick out the tuxedos and groomsmen gifts. Get married naked. Nothing wrong with hanging out in your birthday suits, actually it’s quite enjoyable in the privacy of your own bedroom. So why not take this notion for nudity one step further and get married sans clothing! One free-spirited couple did such a thing, getting hitched wearing nothing but wedding rings, a “painted on” dress, and a strategically placed bridal bouquet. Take the plunge, literally. If you consider yourselves a couple into extreme sports, exchanging your wedding vows is just so boring at a chapel or the county court house. Start off this new stage in life by jumping off a bridge, bungee-jumping your way to a lifetime of bliss. After doing just that, one pair of newlyweds in the UK wowed guests with a sit-down breakfast that had everyone strapped down into chairs while floating on a platform hung 160 feet in the air. Get a gazillion groomsmen. Show the bride that you’re into this wedding thing by organizing a super-sized squadron of wedding attendants. We’re not sure what the Guinness World Record is for the most groomsmen in a single wedding, but we know that it’s 110 gals for bridesmaids. Yes, you’ll have to buy a lot of groomsmen gifts, but isn’t it worth it to bring together all of the friends you’ve had in your entire lifetime. Say “I do” to a side of fries with your bride. Fast-food loving couples have been getting hitched in their favorite burger, taco and chicken joints for years, but it seems to be getting more popular – maybe it’s the terrible economy, or just an artery-clogging attraction. In Hong Kong, McDonald’s actually markets a “McWedding” service where for about $400 US you get a package that includes the ceremony, reception, wedding cake and catering for 100 guests. I’m lovin’ it . . . but not sure if your bride will be! Exchange homemade wedding rings. Save the planet and a buck in the process by skipping the big diamond engagement ring and gold wedding bands. My brother actually made a pair of wedding rings, one for himself and one for his new wife, from a quarter. So, in the end, he was just out 50 cents and a little elbow grease. Do you think your bride to be would go for a homemade quarter wedding ring, why not find out? In the comments below, let us know the most unusual wedding ideas you’ve heard. Would your bride be on-board, or totally say “no way”!

Read more

Tips for Making Surprise Groom Dance a Video Hit

If I had a dollar for every viral video IÍve watched, IÍd be able to retire and do something worthwhile with my life. Seems like every bride and groom are trying to make it big by putting out a funny video based on the proposal, walk down the wedding aisle or at the reception. Recently I stumbled upon this reception video where the groom planned a surprise dance for the bride. Set to an eclectic mix of songs declaring his love like ñBaby, Babyî by Justin Bieber and Motown classic ñAinÍt No Mountain High Enough,î the video is just so fun and crazy, I couldnÍt resist. So after watching it through to the hokey end (it is actually pretty entertaining), I decided to give you the top tips for making sure any stunt you pull like this dance is a video success. Drinks for everyone! No matter how good a dancer you are, the production will be much more entertaining if the bar is open and everyone is feeling good. Plus, youÍll be a little more loosened up for your big dance floor debut if youÍve snuck a few sips out of a groomsmen flask. Set up the bride with a glass of champagne in an engraved toasting flute to make sure sheÍs on board and ready to boogie. Get a good song. Make sure the song is ones your audience will be familiar with, reflects your personality, and shares your feelings for the bride. We thought the song mix the groom had in this video was brilliant because it combined current songs with old-time golden oldies; guests of all generations will be tapping their toes. Enlist the groomsmen. DonÍt be a one-man act. Of course, youÍll be the star attraction (as any groom should be during his moment in the spotlight), but enlist the help of your groomsmen to be the backup dancers. Whether they are awesome dancers or donÍt have that gene, theyÍll provide support, comic relief, and share in the laughs. If your buddies are reluctant, do whatever you have to get them in on the gig. Promise them some of the best groomsmen gifts ever, like a personalized golf putter or a first-class cigar humidor. You are what you wear. You and the groomsmen are going to be dressed to the nines (hint, give the guys engraved cufflinks as groomsmen gifts), but consider adding extra props like sunglasses, crazy wigs, or wild socks that will be seen with every high kick. At some point in any good surprise groom dance, a PG strip tease gets the audience riled up and the bride blushing. At least slip out of your tuxedo jacket, spin it around your head, and toss it over to the bride. Add stunts and tricks. We have every confidence your dance moves will be enviable, but ensure the performance gets a standing ovation by adding stunts and tricks. If you can break dance, walk on your hands, leapfrog over the best manÍs back or some other doozy, add it in to the routine! Practice, practice, practice. At least a month before the wedding start memorizing and practicing the routine at least one time per week. If anything, itÍs a good reason to invite the guys over to the man cave for a few last hurrahs before bachelorhood ends. If some of the guys are out of town, dial in on Skype and get the dance party started. Post it on Youtube.com. Assuming the surprise groom dance was a success, post it on youtube.com and keep your fingers crossed it goes viral. DonÍt worry about any snafus that happen during the execution of your routine; those funny mishaps will make the video even funnier. So, in the comments below, let us know if you are planning and special surprise dance for the bride at your wedding reception. Or, share the link to one of the funniest wedding videos youÍve surfed across on the internet.

Read more

When in Rome - Ancient Wedding Traditions

They say ïwhen in Rome, do as the Romans do,Í and weÍre all for that, especially when it comes to eating gelato and watching gladiators battle each other. But, when it comes to wedding rituals, weÍre not so sure that we want to mimic some of the unusual goings-on that took place before, during, and after the marriage ceremony in this ancient civilization. It seems like every culture has its strange wedding customs, and here are the weirdest I found for the ancient Romans. Got Guts? You might consult your friends, a pastor or your long-term ñlife planî to decide on the best time to get married. If youÍre really ñout there,î you might even have your palm read or visit an astrologer. Heck, even our pocket watch compass combo could point you in the right direction and get you there on time. However, the ancient Romans went about things a little differently, studying a pigÍs entrails to figure out the best day to wed. In the south, weÍd just throw the entrails on the grill and call them chitterlings. Okay, maybe thatÍs just as weird. Ready to Rumble! A tradition that still stands today, Roman grooms would always stand at the altar with the bride positioned to the left of him. Why? Well, this stance was taken so that the groomÍs right (and usually dominant) hand would be free and available to fight off suitors. WeÍre wondering if he was holding an all-out sword at his side or did he carry a more discrete weapon, perhaps something like one of our pocket knives. Those ancient dudes are crazy, especially if the bride is some sort of goddess. IÍd hook up all the men in the party with their own knives (give ïem as groomsmen gifts) to make sure they had my back. ThatÍs Nuts! After the bride and groom finished the marriage ceremony and then feasted with guests over dinner, a procession escorted the bride from her childhood home to her new husbandÍs home. Upon arrival at the brideÍs house, the groom acted out ñtakingî the bride from her motherÍs arms with faux force. Then to celebrate the walk back to his house, people in the procession would throw nuts at the newlyweds in the same way we through rice today. In some ways, I think throwing nuts is awesome, so much more edible than raw rice, especially if a hammer or nutcracker has been presented as a groom gift. But, what kind of nuts are we talking about here? An unshelled walnut or Brazil nut could knock a guy out, especially if thrown by one of the brideÍs spurned suitors. Out Damn Knot! After the procession, the bride was escorted to the marriage bed and the new husband and wife were alone for perhaps the first time ever. Before the vows could be consummated, the man would have to untie a very elaborate knot on a rope that was securely fastened around the waist of the brideÍs wedding tunic by her mother. Ancient Romans called this the ñKnot of Hercules;î think of this as less intrusive version of a chastity belt that was only to be unknotted by the groom. Forget about unhooking bras, weÍre sure the nervous groom must have been praying for a mother-in-law that didnÍt have Herculean strength. In your situation, hopefully one of the groomsmen gifts (like a personalized flask) was offered by one of the guys to the brideÍs mother to create a diversion from her rope-tying skills. In the comments below, tell us the strangest ritual youÍve seen at a wedding, from the mildly weird to the all-out wacky.

Read more

Never Say These Five Things to Your New Wife

Guys, IÍm here to say that you need to put a filter on what you say, if you want to keep your marriage alive and well. There are certain things you never, ever want to say to your wife under any circumstances. There will be unpleasant repercussions, some of which you may have already learned by trial and error during the engagement period. You might get a good laugh out of this list; but trust us, she wonÍt. Say these things and she might cry, storm off, or freeze you out for months. WeÍre not telling you to lie. But, if you get put on the spot with a seemingly no-win question like, ñdo these jeans make my butt look bigî, just re-evaluate how your answer of ñnoî really is the truth. I mean, ñnoî those jeans donÍt make your butt look big when compared to a 300lb guest on the Jerry Springer Show. Keep that last part to yourself. Here are some other things you should never mention to your Misses. ñI donÍt.î or ñI wonÍt.î This is the ultimate no-no when it comes to ñwhat not to sayî to a woman, especially if youÍre standing at the altar with her. So, assuming that you said ñI doî and the wedding went on, make sure to always answer her queries in newlywed life with a ñyesî. Yes, I will pick up my socks off the floor. Yes, sweetie itÍs okay if your mother comes to visit this weekend. Yes, I can clean up my clutter of sports magazines. ArenÍt all of these ñyesesî building your case for having a dedicated room to serve as your man cave. Yes! "Your best friend is hot." Even if sheÍs a super model and your wife talks about how gorgeous she is herself, this is not a topic for you to comment on. Saying, "Oh really, I never noticed," does come off as a load of BS, instead just turn the conversation to the beauty of your wife. ñWell, her hair and eyes donÍt compare at all to yours, honey.î Honestly, one of the best gifts from the groom to the bride is a lifetime of sincere compliments. Then you can just gawk on the sly. ñI can only see your mustache when you stand in the light.î Never suggest that such a beautiful maiden should use your razor and badger brush; you will be badgered for a lifetime. ñYou have a hair sprouting out of your chin,î is only something one woman can say to another. A solution, buy a magnifying glass and feign interest in a weird mole that has popped up on your neck. Inevitably, she wonÍt be able to resist the mirror, will take a peek, and discover the wayward whiskers on her on. "You are exactly like your mother." Even if her mother is the most awesome lady on the planet, no daughter wants to hear these words leave her husbandÍs mouth. There always seems to be some issues in even the best mother-daughter relationships; hearing that sheÍs picked up her annoying traits is going to tick her off, even if itÍs true. Also, never compare her to your mother as in ñyou should really learn how to make my momÍs lasagna; itÍs better.î ñWhere do we keep the (soap, scissors, or whatever).î It seems like asking such a simple question shouldnÍt be a big deal. However, experience has shown that your wife is probably going to get mad if she has to tell you where everything is all the time. This will be especially inflaming to her if itÍs asked in a way where youÍre secretly trying to get her to go find it so you donÍt have to be bothered. If you need to stay organized, invest in some of our leather catch-all trays that we sell as groomsmen gifts at GroomStand.com. So, ïfess up? Have you ever said anything yet to your bride-to-be that you wish you could have taken back? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more

Money Clips, Credit Cards and Paying Incidentals on the Fly

Money clips have long been a popular choice in groomsmen gifts. This quintessential menÍs accessory carries a certain cach_ and that cach_ is cash! If you are planning to give your wedding attendants a money clip, itÍs still an excellent choice in gifts for groomsmen. But, of course, youÍll want to take into consideration all the other financial tools a man has to carry around on a daily basis, specifically a bunch of credit cards. Today, more than ever, credit cards are the primary means for transacting money. Payments traditionally only made with cash can now be made available on credit cards, thanks in large part to technological advancements in the industry. Companies such as Square, Intuit and PayPal have been marketing small credit card readers that fit on the top of smartphones and this has expanded the number of vendors that can accept plastic payments. So does this affect the groom and his groomsmen? You betcha, youÍll be surprised at how many ways credit cards can now be used to pay for incidentals that might come up during the bachelor party, wedding weekend, honeymoon and beyond. So, if you are planning to give money clips as best man gifts, groomsmen gifts, and even as a gift for yourself, make sure that you pick a style that also has room to carry your MasterCard, Visa, American Express or what have you. Here are some interesting ways to use your money clip or wallet on wedding related purchases: Pay parking meters. Many big cities are using credit card readers with their parking meters. No longer will you have to worry about rummaging up change to feed the meter when you need to run downtown to attend to those wedding-related errands like picking up the marriage license, passports, or tuxedos. Not only is it easier for you, itÍs easier for the city that now doesnÍt have to hire employees to handle the physical cash. Post bond. If the bachelor party reached the tipping point of inebriation, you and the guys would decide it wasnÍt a good idea to drive home. Taxis would be called, but if your cars were left on the street and penalized with a traffic ticket you have new options. Certain cities will now let you use a credit card as collateral on this type of ticket and other minor traffic violations. Some municipalities will even let you post bail to get out of jail with a credit card. Make sure those credit cards are organized and ready to go in one of our money and card holders or leather wallets; they are great mens gift ideas for nearly every event. Do a good turn. Feeling like life is going so well that you better pay it forward to keep the good karma going? You can now whip your credit card out of your wallet and make a donation at a Salvation Army kettle or purchase Girl Scout cookies at your front door. No more fishing around for the exact change. Purchase Vending Snacks. Are you running wedding planning errands with the bride and itÍs taking forever? If hunger strikes while you are waiting for her to try on shoes or pick out flowers, you can now hit the nearest vending machine and pay with plastic. Likewise, if you and the guys are making a connection at the airport after a Vegas weeked and donÍt have time for the food court, you can load up on Snickers, sodas and other snacks to keep you energized. Are you looking at leather wallets or money clips to give as groomsmen gifts? The average guy holds 3.5 credit cards in his name, how about you? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Read more

Viral Video: Groom Sings His Wedding Toast & Tips for Yours

Okay, this British guy, Tome Fletcher, has made it really tough for all of the future grooms out there. As the lead singer and songwriter for the popular European band, Mcfly, Fletcher admitted to the wedding guests that he wasnÍt any good at making speeches, but he did know a thing or two about crafting a tune. So, cleverly, he gave his toast in the form of a ballad and, of course, uploaded it to YouTube like any other 20-something creative guy would do. Entitled, ñMy Wedding Speech,î the video performance has gone completely viral and shot up to about 8 million views in just one week. Most viral videos seem to be mainly of meathead guys doing stupid and silly stuff. But, this groomÍs video puts a heartfelt and sweetly romantic spin on the wedding toast. IÍve written a groomÍs toast in my day, but this groomÍs speech is really, really good _ and heÍs singing it! Starting with a light-hearted ditty that soon turns sentimental, Fletcher thanks everyone involved in the wedding day including his ushers and groomsmen, the bridesmaids, his sister and new sister-in-law, both sets of parents and finally to the bride, Giovanna. Warning, itÍs a long video (like 15 minutes!) but well worth the watch. Also, if you get choked up easily, youÍll want to keep a box of tissue nearby. WeÍre pretty sure that after viewing, youÍll get a few ideas for your own time at the podium during the wedding reception. If you are planning to give a wedding toast as the groom, here is the rough game plan. Follow the suggestions below, but make it your own and youÍll be just fine up there. First, as a collective, thank the guests from near and far for attending and how much their love and support means to you. Next, youÍll want to talk about the bride and all her splendidness; she is after all now your official wife. You want the guests and her family to know just how much you love her and that sheÍs made all your dreams come true. And, regarding the bride; donÍt ever, ever say anything embarrassing about her or make any salacious illusions. SheÍll freeze you out on the wedding night; that is, if she doesnÍt kill you right then and there. YouÍll also want to thank the in-laws for parenting such a wonderful girl and for (most likely) footing the bill for the glorious celebration. Refrain from humor, sarcasm, questionable stories and other risky dialogue. Sincerity is the only way to go when it comes to addressing your new in-laws. YouÍll also want to briefly thank your own parents, but not in a way that overshadows the brideÍs mom and dad. But enough to let them know how special they are to you on this milestone day of your life. If you didnÍt make a toast to them at the rehearsal dinner the night before, you can lengthen this part of your speech. A light-hearted and playful plug for the bridesmaids is always appreciated as well as thumbs up for any ring bears and flower girls who helped out. And, finally, the ñfunî part of the groomÍs toast is a little roasting and toasting of your best friends. Goodness knows theyÍre going to do it to you! Just keep it G rated, please! YouÍll also want to have lined up unique groomsmen gifts to give your buddies as a tangible thank you for their support. GroomStand.com has nearly every type of groomsmen gift you can imagine including sports gifts, personalized flasks, money clips and numerous other man gifts. YouÍll certainly find groomsmen gift ideas that will please the varied personalities of your friends. Finally, speak to your bride directly again, and seal the deal again with a sweet kiss; the crowd always likes this. DonÍt worry if you seem a little nervous or choked up. Unlike in business, this peek into your sentimental side is viewed as a positive. Now, if youÍre totally stumped for ñhowî to say these words, you can always ask a trusted friend or family member to help you craft the words or you can hire a professional service such as ThePerfectToast.com. Let us know! Have you written your groomÍs toast yet? Would you consider hiring a professional to do it for you? WhatÍs the most embarrassing thing youÍve ever heard a groom say in his speech? Prying minds want to know. Answer any or all of these questions in the comment section below.

Read more

Raise the Bar at Your Reception

Grooms, you can leave all the frilly, girly decision for the bride. Really, who cares about the exact meaning certain flowers connote, if the canap_s should be served with a cocktail fork, or what style of bridesmaid dress would best suit a wide range of body types? Most grooms we know primarily concerned with what beverage is going to be served at the reception (as well as at the bachelor party, rehearsal dinner and groomÍs waiting room). If your lovely bride-to-be has appointed herself the decision-maker of every wedding detail, make sure you speak up and let her know what you think about the drinks _ or forever hold your peace. The drinks, just like every other aspect of the wedding, reflects to your guests a personal style that youÍll want to have a say in. Otherwise, you may end up with skinny margaritas, sangria, hibiscus iced tea or some other ladylike libation. Beer: As one of the oldest beverages humans have ever produced (dating back to the 5th century), beer is also one of them most consumed drinks in the world coming in third behind water and tea. Adding beer to your reception bar is a no-frills and accommodating way to speak to the other men folk there. The groomsmen, fraternity brothers, and those good-ole-boys you met at that summer job for a housing contractor will all appreciate having an icy cold beer to enjoy after suffering _ er, sitting, through the wedding ceremony. If the bride wants to put a fancier spin on the suds, you call always offer premium imported beers in the bottle along with that no-fail keg of Pabst Blue Ribbon. At GroomStand.com, we stock a fine assortment of beer-related groomsmen gifts including personalized beer mugs that will be used with your good taste in mind for years to come. Champagne and Wine: Even if itÍs not being served at an open bar, many wedding receptions served each guest a glass of champagne when itÍs time for the wedding toasts to commence. If youÍre looking for wedding gift ideas for the bride and groom, a pair of champagne toasting glasses that can be personalized with an initial makes a thoughtful gesture. They can even be brought out every year to share a bottle of bubbly on the wedding anniversary. If you are serving champagne for the toasting portion of your wedding, consider offering sparkling water or sparkling fruit juices to children and those guests who choose not to drink alcohol. Wine is popular libation served at wedding receptions; the history of letting the vino flow in marriage celebrations is literally biblical. You may choose to serve either red wine or white wine based on the type of entr_e you are serving for dinner, or you could even make an ñeventî by offering a wine-tasting bar that serves small portions for guests to taste. This idea actually can help reduce your wine tab as people will often stop after several different small servings and tend not to leave unconsumed glasses behind. Cocktails and Signature Drinks: Some grooms like to offer a full open bar for their guests. This is an option, but often an expensive undertaking stocking all the different libations or hiring a professional service. However, serving one ñsignature cocktailî can reflect your style and theme for the wedding while cutting down on expense by limiting the shopping list. For example, for a sophisticated, retro, Mad Men kind of wedding, you could serve martinis in the classic martini glass. Or, for a morning wedding you might choose to offer Bloody Marys or grapefruit and vodka. At Groomstand.com, we have all the appropriate barware to serve different drinks in. ThatÍs good news for your wedding style and for giving as gifts for groomsmen. IÍm sure the guys would love to go home from your shindig with a set of personalized shooter glasses, beer mugs, or even groomsmen flasks. Have you started thinking about what youÍll serve drink-wise at your wedding reception? Do tell, do tell! Let us know how youÍll drink and make merry in the comment section below.

Read more

Top Reasons a Guy Should Get Married

Becoming a “married man” doesn’t mean a lifetime filled with sitcom stereotypes. Television often portrays guys in a traditional marriage situation as those poor saps who have lost all the passion for life since trading his bachelor days for honey-do list days. Even those bachelor friends who haven’t settled down yet will endlessly tease a married man about the ball-and-chain and how much better it is to be flying solo. But, in reality, married men have many reasons to embrace their status as one-half of a couple. Here are just a few: Live Long and Prosper: According to a multitude of studies, men who get married live longer than their single counterparts. Heart disease, infectious disease and fatal deaths all occur at a higher rate among single men. In addition to living longer, married men are more prosperous, primarily because they are happier, healthier and have extra years tacked onto their total years of earning potential. And, instead of women draining a guy’s budget, a mate to share household expenses with (especially is she also works) actually provides him with more discretionary income over time. Hello big screen TV and golf gear. Plus, being married gives you other prosperous incentives like tax breaks from the federal government – now that’s an awesome gift for the groom from Uncle Sam! Fatherhood and the Family Tree: When you get married, you’ll have a chance to expand the family bloodline by having children. If you don’t pass on the family genes, who will? Of course, while you can have kids outside of wedlock; the traditional mom-dad-two-kids-and-a-dog family is still considered standard operating procedure. Starting a family and becoming a father is a milestone of manhood that most men aspire to at some point in their lives. Plus, just imagine the thrill of teaching your own little guy to play baseball with a personalized bat (like the ones from our groomsmen gift collection). More Sex and Happiness: Numerous studies have supported the claim that it’s actually the married men, not the single guys, who have sex more frequently. This is something you can brag about as you dole out the bachelor-oriented gifts for groomsmen. The Kinsey Institute has reported that 23-percent of single men have had a ones-year dry spell compared to a mere 1-percent of married guys facing such a sex shortage. Plus, there isn’t as much wining and dining involved, although it’s always a nice gesture to bring her a personalized wine glass filled with her favorite vino once the kids have gone to bed. It’s also been said that married men have intimate relations more frequently on a weekly basis and that those relationships are more fulfilling in a long-term committed relationship. This isn’t the only way married men are getting lucky. Overall, married men are happier than single men, reporting a high level of happiness 135-percent more than bachelor men on an Australian study. Be a Better You: Finding a partner for life will help bring out the best in you. In a healthy relationship, your wife will become a best friend who isn’t afraid to share her insights, onions and give you an honest appraisal that you may not be able to give yourself. In the end, you won’t be the same man as you were before – you’ll be a more thoughtful, loving and willing-to-compromise version of your previous self. You’ll be a better you! So what do you expect to “get” out of marriage, what benefits do you foresee? Are you envisioning three home-cooked meals a day or someone to bring home the bacon? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read more