Wedding Party Guide

It’s the object you hope the groomsmen use often, and in doing so remember you and the great time they had at your wedding party. But with millions of options, what does one choose? Here are three tips for getting the right gift.

1) Consider what the groomsmen have in common. This is easier if all the groomsmen are the groom’s buddies, but there’s usually one or more outliers – the future brother-in-law maybe. However, most guys share many things in common like drinking, sports or employment. The monogrammed beer stein or shot glass is a sure crowd pleaser. Don’t be shy to ask the brother-in-law’s sister or mother if he’d like what you’re thinking of buying.

2) Be practical. You want the gift to be used daily, if possible, but you don’t want to make it easy to lose or require maintenance. A pen might seem like a great idea but pens travel and are easily lent or lost. I’ve lost my share of pens to carelessness and theft. Similarly, my desk drawer is full of pens for which I never bothered to buy ink refills. Consider buying something that sits on a guy’s desk like a letter opener or a paper weight. A personalized wallet is a great practical gift choice as well.

3) Consider his hobby. Be careful here, he may already have a few of what you’re thinking of buying. However, nothing says “I really gave this some thought” like when you buy a hobby related gift. Speak to someone with the same hobby about what they’d like to receive.

Some don’ts: Don’t be tacky, you’re sure to alienate some and possibly insult others. Don’t forget to run the gift idea by the bride. She’s likely to support you but remember it’s a gift from both of you. Don’t break the bank. Some of the most expensive gifts one can get are also the most impractical – how much usage can someone get out of martini mixing set. On the other hand, some of the most beloved gifts are the least expensive, like a golf divot tool or a monogrammed Swiss Army knife.

A last point to consider. The mens gifts decision shouldn’t be rushed. This is a special time and you want the special few you’ve chosen to be your groomsmen to remember you. If the gift is forgetful so too will be the memory. Choose wisely and make this a gift to remember for a lifetime.

If you are planning your wedding, then one of the biggest questions in your mind is likely going to be your choice of wedding venue. The place where you are to be married and perhaps another place where you will celebrate often cause brides and grooms the most headaches. So to help you get started here are a few things to consider.

First, your venue should be accessible to all your guests. If you have guests flying over or traveling over, then you must have a venue that is near to airports or other transport links. This will minimize travel time and your guests will appreciate your forethought.

Secondly, think about how many people you are inviting. Your chosen venue must not be too large or too small for your guests. Consider your possible seating arrangements as the chances are not all of your guests will know each other. Try to maximize their enjoyment and comfort by avoiding situations for example, where an adult has to sit with a group of teenagers that they might not identify with.

After you have addressed the two questions above, there are a few more points you want to consider before committing to a venue. How much money do you have? If you don’t have much, then you have to be creative. You can get a venue at your college, a restaurant, or theater. Setting up your wedding at your old college or a theater will ensure that you have a sound system already in place, thus cutting costs. When you setup your wedding at a restaurant, you will save money because you don’t have to worry about the wedding reception. Find creative ways to get the venue of your dreams without blowing all of your savings in one go.

In a celebration like this, alcohol is a natural part of the occasion. So make sure that the place of your wedding party and reception each have a liquor license. With that said, never allow your guests to drink and drive so make sure you have adequate hotel and taxi services in the area.

If your guests will be bringing their cars, you also need to have adequate parking. And lastly, you must not forget that your wedding venue should have adequate bathroom facilities for both men and women.

It will take a lot of patience and planning before you can agree on your dream venue. Don’t lose hope and keep on looking at various places until you find it. Who knows, you might stumble upon a place that is a real hidden gem.