All posts in Groom

Men’s Wedding Bands: The New Classics

men's wedding bands

Is a traditional gold wedding band just not you? Don’t worry, many men are moving towards new styles of wedding bands that have a more modern sensibility and that reflect their own personal style and tastes more accurately. Here are three surprising styles of men’s wedding bands that are fast becoming modern day classics.

Black Wedding Rings

While 10 years ago the idea of a black wedding band would have been unthinkable, these days they are actually one of the fastest growing types of men’s wedding bands. Black wedding rings have a completely different look from wedding bands in traditional metallic hues like gold and silver, yet they’re still neutral enough to be worn on a daily basis. As an added bonus, most black wedding bands are made from budget-friendly materials like stainless steel, titanium, tungsten and ceramic. For guys who like black rings but don’t feel ready to commit to a completely black band, two-tone rings with black accents are a nice compromise.

Two tone men's wedding bands

Image courtesy of http://www.justmensrings.com

Wedding Rings in Contemporary Materials

Gold is no longer the “gold standard” of men’s wedding bands. Grooms are increasingly turning to wedding rings made from a range of contemporary materials including from titanium and tungsten to cobalt chrome. Not only are these materials infinitely more affordable than precious metals like gold and platinum, but they offer a number of additional benefits, like superior strength and durability. Men seeking wedding rings that are classic in appearance yet offer the advantages of contemporary materials, will doubtless find both cobalt chrome and white tungsten to be great options.

men's wedding band ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com

Diamond Wedding Bands

Diamonds: they’re not just a girl’s best friend anymore. More grooms-to-be are also choosing diamond rings as their wedding bands. Some men like having a ring that more closely matches that of their bride, while others simply want a ring that has a little more of an upscale appeal than a plain band. Surprisingly, men’s diamond wedding bands are much less expensive than one would think, mostly because they tend to use smaller stones than women’s diamond rings and can be set in affordable contemporary materials. While white diamonds are always a classic choice although many are also opting for stones in masculine colors like black or cognac.

wedding bands for men

Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com

There’s no reason for your groom to settle for a wedding band that doesn’t fit his own unique style and personality. Whether he chooses one of these new classics or a more traditional ring, there are more than enough choices on the market to allow him to find his perfect “forever ring.”

Author Bio:

Tanya Naouri writes for JustMensRings.com.

Stylish Groom’s Attire For Your Summer Beach Wedding

groom's attire

Image courtesy of http://www.lover.ly

While the bride’s dress is the centerpiece of any wedding, that doesn’t mean that the groom can’t also dress to impress when celebrating his big day. Plenty of men might be satisfied to just put on the traditional tuxedo, but there is so much opportunity to step out with something cool and different, it’s a shame to pass up.

Groom's attire ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.lockwoodstudios.com

Destination weddings are an increasingly popular choice, and lots of couples choose scenic spots in the Caribbean, Hawaii or anywhere else that combines warm sunshine with gorgeous blue water.

Beach weddings let you dress more casual than you would in a traditional setting. This also can make them a lot more appealing to men who are going to be nervous, as it is one of the biggest days of their life without wearing a rented, ill-fitting suit.

beach wedding attire

Image courtesy of http://www.lover.ly

Footwear, and feet in general, might be the most important part of a beach groom’s attire. For guys who laugh at the thought of a pedicure, this is the time to bite the bullet. Your bride-to-be is going to want everything picture perfect, and if your oft-blistered soles and dirty toenails are on display, you might not get invited to the honeymoon.

Simple, open-toed leather sandals will look good with most outfits and give you a bit of support so you don’t tumble down a sand dune. On the other hand, you’re at the beach, so there’s nothing wrong with going barefoot, especially if your bride is doing likewise!

While black is the suit color of choice indoors, white looks gorgeous on both men and women at a beach wedding. Guys can wear a simple white linen shirt with khaki pants or shorts to compliment their brides without taking away too much attention.

beach footwear for groom

Image courtesy of http://www.lockwoodstudios.com

If you’re a beach bum at heart, you can make your attire something fun, and deck the groom and his entourage out in Hawaiian shirts to capture the true flavor of the tropics.

Depending on the time of day, you’ll definitely want to invest in some good sunglasses, but don’t forget to take them off when you’re saying your vows.

groom wedding attire

Image courtesy of http://www.santorini-weddings.info

The most valuable piece of fashion for anyone at a beach wedding, and one the most often overlooked, is a healthy dose of sun block. Remember this in your first aid kit and you will keep yourselves from starting the honeymoon off in agony!

Author Bio:

A native of the great state of Texas, Nick Georgandis has been a professional writer and editor for 17 years, and managed to defy the odds and stay married to his better half for the last 3-1/2 of those. His great passions include science fiction, Texas history, beagles, and above all else, being Daddy to his gorgeous one-year-old twin daughters.

 

Involve Your Groom in Wedding Planning? Yes You Should and Here Is Why!

Bride and Groom in Church - Julie Kim Photography

Weddings are about two people and their commitment to each other. The whole day is about telling the world that you are in love and that you are a partnership, great friends, confidantes and support for each other! That should start right at the beginning of your married life. That means the wedding planning too!

Do I hear you disagree? Surely it’s the Bride’s job? Not anymore it’s not. Grooms are involved in weddings from day one! I can speak from experience. Over the last three years I have been planning weddings and I can categorically tell you that my Grooms have a big say in the whole process.

Helping each other plan your wedding will pay off big time. Not only will you have a day that you both want but the journey there will be much more enjoyable. Marriage is all about sharing and compromise so this is a great place to start to lay your foundations for the future.

If you want your Groom to help but you or he are not sure where to start read on.

 Image courtesy of Julie Dawson

Finance and The Voice of Reason

Nowadays many couples pay for their own weddings. They set the budgets and then produce the readies! This tends to focus men’s attention a lot. They are far better at staying on budget. When us girls become completely taken over by the “wedding pretties” and spending another £50 here and £100 there can very soon add up to £1,000’s. I kid you not! Men are great at making us look more objectively and helping give us focus. At the time you won’t like not being able to spend and buy everything you want, but I can guarantee the day after the wedding when your credit card bill is not delivered by a huge articulated lorry you will be pleased your lovely Groom helped you see the light.

Men are also better at talking money with suppliers. They are less emotionally involved when it comes to finance and can often get a better deal or more value for money. I find that with many of my couples I work with, it is the men generally who deal with the finance.

You may not believe this but three of my grooms also suggested using a wedding planner. They realised how hard it can be and expensive so use someone who can help make your money go further and get you better deals.

Image courtesy of http://www.lesleymeredith.co.uk/

Exploit hobbies, interests and logistic ability

Men are fabulous at working out details for travelling. Booking your honeymoon is so exciting but the logistics of when, what and where can be very time consuming and complicated, especially if you are marrying abroad. Let your groom do this, he will make a superb job of it and you can do the things that don’t generally interest him like flowers and décor. You may make joint decisions on these other things but you probably take the lead on organising them.

If your groom has a skill or interest then exploit it. One of my weddings this summer had the most gorgeous table names that were carved out of wood and then painted white. They are going to be used throughout the house after the wedding. The lovely groom, Dave, who did them spent ages making them perfect and the guests really noticed and he loved being so involved. I have another Groom who is quite an expert on sound and music. He has been choosing the DJ and what is to be played in the evening to make sure the dance floor is full. Another groom plays in a tribute band that are playing at the wedding.  Another chose the band and reception entertainment. I can tell you from hours of research that it is hard to find just the right band or DJ that suits. Let them help!

What about getting the men to sort out the gifts for the best man and ushers? That is always tricky. Also choose their own clothes and find out where to hire the groomsmen’s suits.

Food, Drink and Venue

These are the other areas that men are really interested in. Staggered did a survey recently and found out that 61.3 % of grooms are doing half of the work involved in wedding planning. Their favourite areas are choosing their own clothes, the menu and venue. The decision where to have your venue impacts on your whole wedding day and certainly what to eat to please everyone is another big decision.

Planning your wedding is a major time consumer I can’t tell you how fabulous it is to have help and support. Often the Bride can feel quite alone during the planning and feel that the groom has nothing to do but just turn up. Well now you know! They want to help.

So be smart and involve your man in the wedding as much as you can. You won’t be sorry and when you look back at your journey your memories will be joint ones and your wedding will have the meaning for both of you that it’s meant to have.

Have a fabulous Christmas and congratulations if you are getting engaged over the festive period.

 

Author Bio: Wedding Planner –  Julie Dawson – The Wedding Genie

5 Things The Groom SHOULD Be Responsible For

Groom with groomsmen in the back ground

Image courtesy of elizabethannedesigns.com

Don’t worry ladies you aren’t responsible for taking care of everything for this wedding, even though it might feel like it at times. Take a deep breath, and hand this list over to your husband-to-be.  He’s definitely not getting away scot-free.

Corsages & boutonnières
There aren’t any set-in-stone rules about who gets to wear the wedding-day flowers, however most of the time the parents, stepparents, grandparents, ushers, and ceremony readers all wear them.  Corsages and boutonnieres are on the groom’s list of duties.

Rehearsal Dinner
Traditionally the groom’s family is responsible for hosting and thus paying for the rehearsal dinner.  This means that it is up to them where the rehearsal dinner is held, if it is casual or formal. They call the shots on how many people are invited, if it just the wedding party, or all out of town guests etc.  Some also say that it is the groom’s parents responsibility to pay for beverages at the wedding reception, along with paying for the music, and transportation such as limos etc.

Marriage License & officiant’s fees
 The groom is in charge of getting the marriage license, which isn’t that complicated of a process but vary from state to state.  The bride and groom will need to bring identification, necessary paperwork, & sometimes blood test results to the county clerk. The marriage license is either mailed or picked up by the bride and groom. You are married by someone legally allowed to do so in your state, and that person along with typically two witnesses sign the marriage license.  The marriage license is returned to the county clerk’s office. About a week later, copies of the certified marriage certificate can be purchased from the clerk’s office.

Engagement ring, wedding rings, & gift
 The groom is the man who buys the diamonds, and the wedding bands.  Although these days, the bride has put in her two cents as to what she prefers, the groom is the one who makes the decisions and does the purchasing. He is also supposed to buy his future wife a special gift for the special day.  These days the bride and groom usually exchange gifts. You can exchange gifts the night before, the morning of, or after the festivities are over. You could give each other something to wear on the wedding day, for  example, a necklace or cuff links. You could also give each other something for the honeymoon!

Honeymoon Expenses
Traditionally the groom and his family are responsible for financing the honeymoon, although these days, especially with people marrying later on in life, the groom takes on more financial responsibility for the couple.  Also, these days wedding guests are able to contribute money towards the honeymoon. Some couples register the hotel they are staying at, and guests are able to put money towards fun activities and room fees etc.

Hopefully this will help all of you couples out there trying to figure out where responsibilities and finances fall.  Good luck and don’t stress everything will work out in the end.

Commonly Asked Questions When Hiring Wedding Suits

Groomsmen

When it comes to buying a suit or tuxedo for your wedding there are many questions and concerns that come to mind, especially as the pressure is on to look good. You want great customer service with prices and flexibility to accommodate your preferences and needs. To help you get started, here is a list of questions you should ask any potential tuxedo provider

 “The suit store seems more interested in selling their wares than in helping me pick out tuxedos for my wedding.”

If it seems like the suit store would rather sell you a suit (or silk tie, or jeans) than help you with your needs, you should find a store that will help.  Seek out an independent retailer that belongs to a national organization; they often have certified consultants ready to assist brides and grooms with your wedding registration, coordinating the perfect look for your wedding day.

“Can I try on the tuxedo before the wedding?”

The suit store usually only has a catalog and a couple of mannequins to show you their selection of tuxedos.  They expect you to be able to choose your wedding tuxedos without actually trying one on.  Did your bride pick out her wedding gown from a book?  No doubt, she tried on at least one gown before deciding on which one to buy.  The groom should be able to do likewise.  An independent retailer can help; they often encourage the groom to try-on his entire wedding tuxedo prior to making his final decision, and may even offer a FREE groom’s preview.

“My groomsmen live in different cities coast-to-coast.”

The suit warehouse has stores coast-to-coast, and they encourage gentlemen to pick up their tuxedos in a store close to home. That means traveling with their tuxedos, and paying for another checked bag for their flight.  Better retailers often belong to a nationwide cooperative, and will measure the groomsmen at locations coast-to-coast.  With one store keeping track of who wears what, and every tuxedo ready for pickup at one location close to the wedding, avoiding the suit store can help ease the burden on out-of-town guests.

“I would rather my groomsmen wear suits instead of tuxedos.”

If  you would rather your wedding party wear suits, you don’t have to buy them! Many independent retailers have a selection of suits available for rent to fit your entire wedding party.

The bottom line is, shop around. There is more than one option when seeking a coast-to-coast provider from whom to rent your wedding tuxedos or suits.

Author Bio: Michael is writing of behalf of Savvi Formalwear By Sarno and Son  who have been providing formalwear to the northeast for over 70 years. Savvi Formal wear also offer quality advice on what to ask your suit provider. Visit the website for more information.

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