Groomsday - Wedding Blog for Grooms

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Groomsday!

2011-12-12T15:51:00.000-05:00

We hope all of you well during this Christmas and holiday season!

Forget My Two Front Teeth...I Want Jennifer Aniston In The Buff

2011-12-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Aniston rockin the pages of GQ from a couple of years ago...wow.

A Man's Worst Nightmare

2011-11-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

Ouch. Guy asks for a girl's hand in marriage in front of an entire mall food court, guitar sere-nation and all, and she bolts out of there like Kris Humphries after spending a vacation with the Kardasians in Bora Bora.

If that happened to me, I run over to Chick-fil-A and throw myself into the nearest fry-o-lator.

Advice: Never Take a Wedding Picture on a Rickety Old Pier

2011-11-17T14:33:00.000-05:00

I'm cringing watching this video knowing what's going to happen, even before it starts. I wonder why THEY couldn't see that.

The photographer kind of needs to make a call there when the pier is making noises that you can hear from afar and say, "Ah hey, people...don't panic, but can everyone please start walking towards the dock...calmly but quickly." I mean...it's pretty obvious that thing is gonna go down.

Using Pinterest To Help Select Groomsmen Gifts

2011-11-10T13:17:00.000-05:00

There's a great new social sharing website called Pinterest that is awesome for finding great ideas for groomsmen gifts. You can browse through tons of product images and build a 'Board' of products and ideas to use when you move on to your buying phase. The website is easy to use and you can start building your profile very quickly.

We've created a 'board' of groomsmen gift ideas that we love, which you can use as a starting point. Happy 'pinning'!

Men's Christmas Gift Ideas

2011-11-08T15:28:00.001-05:00

It's almost that time of year again. Yes, it's Christmas time. Well, at least according our local shopping malls it is. I went to my local mall on Nov. 1st and the halls were decked to the gills with xmas decorations - even Santa's Village was in full effect with the man in red himself.

Yes, it's alarming that Christmas begins soooo early these days, but I guess businesses need it. I personally love Christmas, but only about a week of it. Two months is nutty, especially with the barrage of music, etc.

With the holiday season comes gift buying. Oy. And for men, that begins and ends on Christmas Eve. For many women, it's about that time now. So, let me point you to a sale we're having for personalized Christmas gifts for men. There's a good variety of gifts that should appeal to just about any guy's tastes. For example, there's a Rawlings baseball bat that can be engraved, which is pretty damn cool. Or how about this Nappa leather duffel bag for hinting a stint back at the gym after a solid holiday food binge. Personalized drum sticks make a nice stocking stuffer for the musician-type.

People Falling Down At Weddings = Guilty Humor

2011-11-07T22:21:00.000-05:00

Why can I NOT laugh at people falling down...especially during serious moments like a wedding ceremony. I try and I try, but it just makes me giggle like a little school girl.

If this happened to me I'd be mortified, but to other people...fuggedaboutit.

Best Wedding Dance Ever

2011-11-04T13:54:00.002-04:00

I asked my wife if we could do this for our traditional wedding dance. The 'kicker' for us was to have done it in syncronization. This lady was good, but it was just her. She really should've gone all out and had her husband in there, too.

New Dance Move..."The Slap"

2011-11-04T13:48:00.001-04:00

This guy seems to invented a new dance move that includes a quick 1-2 slap of his wife.

Not sure what country this is from, but if I did that to my wife she'd give me a roundhouse kick to the head followed up with a sleeper hold until I either begged for mercy or passed out...and then she'd shoot me.

Top Selling Groomsmen Gifts of 2011

2011-11-02T14:40:00.000-04:00

Here's a short list of our top selling groomsmen gifts to this point in 2011.

1 - Personalized Glass Mug
2 - Torrance Leather Flask
3 - Silver Personalized Beer Koozie

A mug, flask and beer can koozie top the list. It just shows that alcoholic beverages clearly haven't lost popularity over the years among young men getting married.

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian Divorced? Probably Not.

2011-10-21T11:03:00.001-04:00

I have to admit to a little bit of self-gratifying hyperbole for the title of this post. Honestly, I have no idea if this is even remotely true, and this is totally based on today's article from the Daily Mail.

Tabloid stories like this are not usually my cup of tea. I find it funny how one picture can start a whirlwind of rumors, noise or whatever. Maybe it's true. But just because a guy walks out of his house without his wedding ring, doesn't mean he's divorced. It simply means he walked out of his house without his wedding ring.

Case in point, my wife and I recently traveled to Turks & Caicos, which we loved BTW. I managed to lose my wedding ring in the beautiful white sandy beaches of Grace Bay within the first few hours (I partially blame the rum punches floated with extra rum which I started on before I even unpacked my luggage). So I walked around the entire rest of the vacation without my wedding ring (as an aside, my wife would occasionally not wear hers to match my non-ring wearing status, thinking it would potentially send a bad message or other times to punish me on some level). It didn't mean I wasn't married, or even not in love with my wife. I'm just an absent-minded bonehead - which is a trait I possibly share with Kris Humphries.

Hey, at least I might have something in common with a young, good-looking, talented, rich, pro basketball player...besides of course a beautiful wife!

Good Deals from Boston Wedding Vendors

2011-10-20T11:45:00.002-04:00

I personally haven't seen a wedding-themed set of deals from any Groupon-esque companies, so this is a first and much-needed boost to stimulate the wedding biz going into the slow season. Brides and grooms in the local Boston area can take advantage of a couple deals from Gilt City Boston. Check 'em out...

Boston Bridal Lounge is a local wedding planning company that seems to have their shit together. They have an offer for a deal on wedding planning at their boutique-style office in downtown Boston. Cool stuff. More for the brides, than grooms, but if you keep the bride happy, you keep yourself happy.

Scratch Weddings - Is a national DJ company that offers 40% off a six hour DJ'ing event. Sweet!

M. Flynn Accessories - Get a deal on wedding jewelry...$75 Credit and $50 Gift Card. Here's the kicker for weddings...get an additional $200 credit toward a wedding band if you spend $200! Hey, might as well jump on that.

Hillary Hogan Photography - Engagement and wedding photography from a talented local photopgraher..."60-minute engagement session with six prints and a bonus $500 credit toward wedding day photos."

Make sure to READ THE FINE PRINT on any of these deals...just sayin'.

4 Great Destination Wedding Locations

2011-09-21T22:38:00.000-04:00

Getting married is such an important event in your life there is little that gets overlooked. That's why some couples choose to get married at a romantic and fun destination. It's an easy to have a honeymoon and fun wedding and is sure to give you a lifetime of fond memories.

And not only will you have a wonderful time with your soon to be bride, these locations also offer lots of fun activities for your groomsmen also. If you don't mind having your bachelor party close to the wedding date, you can have a killer bachelor party in paradise with your best buds.

Las Vegas

It goes without saying that if you want to have a glitzy and glamorous weddings that is packed with non-stop action and fun, Vegas is the place. There is plenty of nightlife for your friends and you while your bride to be treats herself to any of the hundreds of day spas around town. Everyone lets loose in Vegas so throw caution to the wind and have a wedding here.

Fiji

If you had to pick a place that most resembles paradise, Fiji would be it. From the bluest waters anywhere one earth to white beaches, this country has it spades. You can have it all here - secluded romance with your lady and fun in the sun with your groomsmen. Who wouldn't want to spend a day on the ocean, fishing and drinking beers while sailing some of the best seas around? And of course your bride will be well taken care of with a resort setting, so what's not to love?

Hawaii

Like Fiji, Hawaii brings a tropical flair and ocean touch to all its visitors. But in Hawaii's favor it is easier to get to and has more amenities for all budgets. Your friends will definitely love hanging out with you or doing any number of outdoor activates here. Just watch out - few people can go to Hawaii just once!

Antigua

And not to be outdone, Antigua is a strong contender for an excellent destination for your nuptials and to kick it with your groomsmen. With 365 beaches there is literally no reason to not spend the days soaking up the rays, boating, parasailing, and partying with everyone. Perfect for small groups where everyone gets along, this island nation in the Caribbean might be perfect for your day.

This article is from WeddingHangerShop.com, your source for bridal hangers for your wedding.

Paul McCartney Declines a Pre-nup...Again?

2011-09-16T14:09:00.002-04:00

What is Paul McCartney thinking? Didn't he learn from his last marriage to Heather Mills that even though a marriage can start off great that it can lead to divorce? This is a hard pill to swallow for outsiders looking in, but maybe he knows something we don't. I hope so. Hopefully, this is the 2nd coming of Linda Eastman, because it would be tough to watch him go through another bitter divorce. But I guess he's old and rich enough to lose a couple hundred million and still be OK.

Love is blind, but it can be expensive if you're not careful.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

What Did Kris Humphries Get His Groomsmen?

2011-08-22T11:13:00.000-04:00

With all the hoopla surrounding the Kardashian/Humphries wedding, one thing that peaks our interest here is what the groomsmen received as gifts from the millionaire basketball player. The answer is not public, from what we've found, but we're guessing they were anything cheap. Based on his salary and the wedding gifts they registered for, we're guessing they could be anything from luxury men's accessories to vacations. In fact, anything luxury can be thrown into the mix for ideas, but my guess is an expensive watch.

This brings up a great question: What would you give your groomsmen if you had millions in the bank? Some fun ideas we came up with are:

- Weekend vacation with groomsmen to Vegas, including gambling money
- Season tickets to their favorite sports teams
- A Harley-Davidson
- A Rolex
- All of the above, if you're Larry Page

For the rest of the population, we can stick with the proverbial engraved pocket watch or beer mug. At the end of the day, it's not about the price tag...it's the thought that counts (NOT!).

What Would You Grab If Your House Was Burning Down?

2011-07-15T16:28:00.001-04:00

There's a great article from www.freemanbrand.com that I had to post about. It poses the question of "what five to ten things would you bring with you if your house were burning down"? It's a question I occasionally think about, but never want to actually experience.

The article gives you ideas of potential items around the house you'd scramble for by adding some really cool photos. While they omit 'live' things like pets or wives, they do include some essentials - like your laptop, a bottle of gin, shades(gotta look cool when you casually walk out of that blaze-of-a-house you once resided in with the mac and bottle of gin), etc.

I Tweeted that I'd jokingly go for those aforementioned items, but most likely I'd be screaming like a little girly-mahn jumping over the pets and wives to jump out the nearest window...so long as it was on the ground floor, of course.

The Proposal: Getting It Right the First Time

2011-07-14T17:08:00.000-04:00

Many elements come in to play when it comes to planning and executing the perfect proposal. It may be the location, what to say, when to say it, and even the weather matters if you’re looking to propose outdoors. There are as many ways to ask the big question, but creativity is not everyone’s strong point. If you need a little proposal inspiration here are a few ideas to get you thinking outside the box:

• Hire a skywriter to spell out your proposal for everyone to see
• Take your fiancé to be out on a boat and let her find a ‘message’ in a bottle
• Create your own podcast proposal and sneak it onto your significant others’ iPod!

Proposals can be a daunting and overwhelming so it’s best to get all of your ducks in a row with wedding and proposal planning software like the WeDo Wedding Planner. You don’t want to overlook asking for her father’s permission or not have enough money saved for the ring your girlfriend really wants.

It’s best to do some ‘fishing’ and test the waters with your fiancé to be and find out what they feel is romantic and special. Even if the engagement is to be a surprise you will need to know meaningful information that can be used in your proposal such as a favorite love song, restaurant or poem. There’s nothing worse to kill a romantic mood than bad food and loud music – unless that’s what you’re into!

When it comes to the ring do some window shopping. Don’t buy the first thing you see; there are literally thousands of rings online that you can browse and in-store rings that you can check out in person to get a real feel for. You can even download the WeDo Wedding Planner to help you find color, cut, and carat of a diamond ring within your budget. If you have no idea what your significant other would like check out her jewelry collection, is it vintage, fashionable, simple or extremely over the top and extravagant? A small amount of research on your behalf will go a long way to picking the perfect ring.

There are infinite ways to propose marriage, but what really matters to your girlfriend is that it comes from the heart.

Swimming In Beer Is Good For You

2011-07-12T10:16:00.002-04:00

Could there be anything better than a true-life pool of beer? Probably not, but apparently it's actually good for you, as in healthy. I'm guessing that anyone who swims in a pool of beer will consume at least some of it, and they're going to 'feel better'. So whether the health benefits are actual or perceived, it's still pretty damn amazing to actually float around in a sea of fuzzy goodness.

Two questions immediately come to mind when I read this, though: 1.) Is the beer cold? 'Cause shivering in a pool of beer might not be the most fun thing in the world. Plus any guy with shrinkage concerns may have an issue. 2.) Isn't it going to be a little sticky? Maybe so, but hell, it's still a pool of beer and it's got to be all good.

Here's a link to the "Beer Myth Resort" in Austria. Love the way they add the word 'myth' in there.

Can Flowers Make Good Groomsmen Gifts?

2011-06-22T21:09:00.001-04:00

Apparently, flowers can make for good groomsmen gifts, according to an article from ProFlowers back in March. Who knew? If I bought flowers for my guy friends they would laugh so hard they'd pass out...just sayin'.

Destination Wedding in Istanbul

2011-06-22T19:57:00.000-04:00

Istanbul is a rare combination of a modern metropolis like city, and deep historical roots, making it the perfect location for your wedding for both you and your fiancé. You can simultaneously guide Istanbul and enjoy the city, while planning your wedding. This unique city can be reached by land, rail, sea, and air. The historical city is built next to the Bosphorus Straight, and sits on the seven hills of Istanbul. Despite the city’s unmatchable beauty, there is a consulate of almost every country in the world, which makes it very convenient as they handle the official paperwork for the ceremony.

House your guests and hold the main even in a hidden gem in Istanbul The A’jia Hotel, a distinguished boutique hotel, is a beautifully restored Ottoman mansion that rests on the shores of the Bosphorus in the Ottoman mansion. It only has 16 guest rooms, but each offers an elegant view of the European shore. Each room is uniquely decorated in a contemporary style.

With this hotel comes the A’jia Restaurant. The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences awarded the A’jia Restaurant and its Mediterranean cuisine a ‘Five Star Diamond Award.’ The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating right on the shores of the Bosphorous. Eating outside in the summer months on the terrace offers an exceptionally splendid experience. This venue is perfect for weddings because of its intimacy and uniqueness. A’jia Hotel is an excellent choice to get away from the busy pace of a big city.

Outside of this magnificent destination, lies the stunning city. Mysterious and mesmerizing, Istanbul tourism stands out to even the most devoted travelers.

Throughout the city you can be pampered in many ways for the big day. The Çırağan Palace Kempinski & Sanitas Spa located in the Beşiktaş district provides a luxury experience for couples.

An Istanbul wedding will not disappoint you, every new discovery in the city of Istanbul will add to the beauty, history, and charm that you will discover.

2011-05-27T10:52:00.000-04:00

One of our friend's has this amazing store that sells wholesale balinese products from Indonesia. They have all sorts of handmade furniture, crafts, gifts and things from Bali. Their stuff looks to be lots of handmade but affordable, which is always a great combination. While they're strictly a wholesaler, check them out if you're looking for something exotic for your groomsmen.

Nefarious Napstealers Make Terrible Groomsmen

2011-05-19T13:43:00.000-04:00

You may be struggling about how to select groomsmen, but there's a few easy choices to avoid. One in particular would of course be one of the Nefarious Napstealers. I mean these guys are really the pits, and they're typically very stinky. Even if it's your brother, your best bet is to stand clear of these fellas. Checkout their Twitter page to get a feel of what kind of wretched villains they can be. @NefariousN

Top 5 Foodie Groomsmen Gifts

2011-04-15T14:37:00.006-04:00

Guys, there are a lot of bad groomsmen gifts out there. Shaving products. Sports caps. Scented candles. Cufflinks. Yet another deck of cards. Don’t be the groom to give these terrible gifts to your buddies.

Instead, give them something they can use. How can you be sure? Give them something they’ll eat. The gift of food says, “Hey, I know you don’t want throw-away gifts, and I know you’re a dude with a healthy appetite, so enjoy this awesome food.”

The average groom spends about 50 bucks on each of his groomsmen for gifts, so make it worth the cash. Check out these five foodie gifts for the hungry man at your wedding.

1) SlantShack Beef Jerky Gifts. SlantShack makes all-natural jerky made to satisfy the hungriest meat-eaters, and their gifts packs make for one excellent groomsmen gift. For just 30 bucks, the “Perfect Gift” package includes three different flavors of wild and beefy jerky.
2) Mr. Beer Premium Edition Beer Kit. That’s right, mate, your groomsmen will go home well-equipped to make their own beer. It’s a gift they’ll love to toy around with before poker night, and with any luck, a gift you’ll reap the benefits of, as well. At just $41.95, you’ll be giving your buddies the gift of DIY beer.
3) Bacon is Meat Candy Sampler Pack. Is it candy, or bacon? It’s bacon—candied. Coming from the meat-obsessed Bacon Freaks, this shipped gift will arrive at your groomsmen doorstep delivering bacon candy and smiles (plus, maybe a little heartburn). At a higher ticket price of $69.95 per pack, it’s well worth the cost.
4) Personalized Flask and Zippo Set. This really needs no explanation. Typically, engraved gifts are left to the “throw-away” category, but if we’re engraving booze flasks and killer lighters, they get bumped up to the “Keep forever” category. At $49.99 a pop, you’re right on budget.
5) Tiffany Classic Beer Mug. Finally, something from Tiffany & Co. that’s made for the guys. Each hand-blown crystal beer mug fits 16 ounces of your fave beer, and they’re a deal at $35 apiece. Just don’t cheers your glasses too hard, guys.

Kim S, writer
Photo: Bacon Freak

The Groom’s Cake: A Wedding Cake by Men, for Men

2011-04-04T11:27:00.003-04:00

We’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that you’ve never heard of the groom's cake. Don’t feel bad, very few grooms have actually heard of this phantom cake, and fewer still have had the pleasure of enjoying one at their wedding.

The groom’s cake was created as a means of honoring the all-too often second place winner in the wedding ceremony, the groom. While it isn’t commonplace at traditional weddings nowadays, the groom’s cake makes an appearance at most wedding celebrations in the south. Leave it to the ever-cordial southerners to have invented a ritual that provides all parties of a wedding with a bit ‘o’ hospitality and good love.

So what the heck is the groom’s cake? Simply put, it’s a cake for men. Nothing manlier than a cake, that’s for sure. This is the groom’s chance to have a cake just for him (and his groomsmen) that honors his role in the wedding—as most standards wedding cakes are picked by the bride and with the bride’s personal favorite flavors in mind. Forget white roses and vanilla, forget pink sateen custards, and forget lace made out of edible pixie dust. The groom’s cake is made with the flavors the grooms and his men prefer, and in the shape and style they prefer.
Groom's cakes are often shaped into sports themes, such as football fields or soccer balls. Their flavors are often simple and bold: chocolate. The cakes are often served during the rehearsal dinner or at the wedding reception itself, alongside the traditional layered wedding cake. His and hers.

There are few times during the course of a wedding that the groom has a chance to get his—and only his--say on any decisive logistics, so the groom’s cake is your chance to speak up. Now you can have your wedding cake, and eat it too.

Here’s the most radical groom's cake we’ve come across yet: the entire food spread is composed entirely of cake. Now that’s manly.

As seen on groomsadvice.com/2011/01/28/grooms-cake-inspiration-for-bbq-lovers/

Written by Kim S.

The Perfect Gift: Personalized Chocolate Bars!

2011-03-11T20:27:00.003-05:00

Chocolate and caramel. Awesome. Chocolate and pecans. Also awesome. Chocolate and orange pepper? Chocolate and jalapenos? Potentially very awesome but I’ll let you try them first. Literally billions of unique and delicious combinations of flavors are offered by the first ever design-your-own online personalized chocolate bar company, CreateMyChocolate.com.

Originally launched in Germany in 2008 as chocri, the once small operation has since expanded from the continent to the US. Their acclaimed chocolate and innovative flavors have popped up in premium magazines such as GQ, Shape, Self, InStyle, Maxim and Cosmopolitan. Not only is the world in love with chocri, everyone can indulge in their chocolate guilt-free. Each eco-friendly bar is made with organic, vegan, kosher, Fair Trade Belgian chocolate. Despite their wildfire success, the founders proudly maintain the intimacy of the small business experience by forging relationships with their customers. After all, they get to know you pretty well when you repeatedly order white chocolate with wasabi peanuts, gold flakes and sprinkles.

Ordering from CreateMyChocolate.com is genius for weddings! Each chocolate bar can be customized so every person on your gift list can know exactly what you think of them, I mean (ahem), how well you know and care for them. There are four base options-- white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate and a special combination of white and milk chocolate. From there you can add on a combination of fruits, spices, nuts, and miscellaneous toppings ranging from the expected (bourbon vanilla?) to the unexpected (cayenne pepper?). You can also browse their recommended creations and see recent and popular orders.

If you’re still looking for the perfect groomsmen gifts, perhaps consider the Anti Hangover Chocolate Bar. Yes, it exists. Believers swear it is the perfect antidote to bachelor party shenanigans. This wonder bar with a base of milk chocolate boasts a remedy recipe of ginger, banana chips, ground coffee beans and sea salt. With so many possible combinations and extraordinary ingredients, CreateMyChocolate.com is fascinating to explore and too mouth-watering to ignore.