How do you counter this?

The Vancouver Courier’s Sandra Thomas writes about a fascinating opportunity offered by Vancouver’s Stiletto Storm, an exotic dance production company. Stiletto Storm is offering women the opportunity to take a “workshop” to learn all about exotic dancing, clothing, and whatever else goes along with it, for $235 (you do the exchange rate, I’m lazy today). They’re stating it’s a great option for stagette (read: bachelorette) parties, and I can’t even decide what I’d do in the case that my bride-to-be was having her par-tay in this fashion. On one hand, you could use these newfound powers for good - oh, okay, you could use these powers for good.

Rock on, Stiletto Storm.

This (hopeful) groom-to-be is willing to drop $5,000 for a bride

According to this report from Deborah McDermott at Seacost Online, a man 39-year old gentleman in Wells, Maine is willing to drop some serious coin to find a bride. Not only is Charles Haeberle willing to share $5,000 with his bride-to-be, but he has a four-carat engagement ring all ready to go, to boot. And here most of us are trying to figure out how to cover the engagement ring on its own, let alone having a $5k bonus.

In any case, looks like the standard has been set for wedding incentives, huh?

Photo Frenzy: May 28, 2008

Today’s photo frenzy features more hats, window paint, and even some cleavage.

• You know those times when you started to write something on a window or big piece of paper, and run out of room? Wonder if this was one of those times. [disconotdisco]
• Rocking the badass hats (that match, dammit) is one thing, but the feather opens up a whole new discussion. [saladito]
• You’ve gotta keep the groom’s ring somewhere, right? [IsabelFields]
• Here’s some proof that you can indeed rock black and red and get away with it. [Dusty Allen Smith]
• KILLING IT on the steps, long coat, hat and all that. [terracooper]

Photo Frenzy: May 27, 2008

Here’s the latest and greatest photos frenzy for you to check out. Bachelor parties, stormtroopers and cool hats are the discussion of the day.

• At least the rebels and the stormtroopers can get together to celebrate Carlos and Ana’s wedding. [laserlightcollectibles]
• Check out the killer hat this groom is wearing in a shot caught by suttonhoo, who wasn’t attending the wedding but was meeting a group at the church.
• If your friend magically levitate at your bachelor party, does that mean you had a REALLY good time? [Corehop09]
• If you want to roll this die on your bachelor party, you’ll probably end up in trouble. Just sayin’. [parutron]
• Howabout whitewater rafting for the bachelor par-tay, gentlemen? [fendermustang45]

Yep, that Rod Laver

Over at Kineda, Terry Ng kicks it into high gear with a post about some new Rod Laver Vintage Lux shoes (I can’t call them sneakers!) featuring a snakeskin look that wants to wear its way onto your feet, and you know it. If you happen to be doing the beach thing with the white suit or tuxedo, maybe this is something to sneak into a ceremony or reception, since you know the bride’s going to have slippers or something else on.

We’ve got forums!

Well, we’re still getting started here at Groomify, but I figured it might be worthwhile to set up some space for guys to do the forum / message board thing. So, if you’re so inclined, head on over to Groomify Forums. It’s just starting and I’m working on some browser wonkiness here and there, but ultimately your user account over there should work properly with the user account here, in comments on the blog and such.

We’re giving bbPress, which meshes nicely with WordPress, a whirl, so I’d appreciate any feedback you might have at groomify [at] gmail.com. Props to RFDN for the port of the Revolution Pro Media theme we’d been using.

Is Caladesi Island the spot for you?

Having had a few friends and former colleagues that spent time on the Gulf Coast of Florida, I’d heard a lot about the differences of that part of the state’s coastline and how the ocean was a little bit more of a lapping wave on the beach rather than what those of us who live on the East Coast of the USA are used to. A turnoff for some people who prefer the crashing waves, I suppose, but apparently gorgeous up and down that part of the state if you know what to look for.

So when I heard this past week that Florida International University professor Stephen P. Leatherman, who’s known as “Dr. Beach,” called Caladesi Island the best beach in the U.S., I figured it was worth checking out.

Caladesi Island, as it turns out, is a state park, and if you take a ferry, you can only stay on the island for four hours. But if you find something useful to do during the four hours, it’s seemingly well worth it. At the very least, it’s probably an awesome spot to pop the question, take some awesome photos, and make your way back “to the mainland” to find a nice spot to stay the night. Plus, you’ll impress your significant other with your amazing knowledge of things featured on NBC’s “Today Show” without actually having watched it.

Why isn’t this Shampowder for guys, too?

Upon reading about Shampowder today, I’ve gotta ask - why isn’t there an option for guys here? I’m sure if I started digging around I could find a version that doesn’t have pigments or vanilla scents, but why start elsewhere when the fine folks at Buttercream Cosmetics have clearly figured out a way to make it work for the female population?

Let’s take this as my official declaration that Shampowder for guys would have to be a popular item, maybe even taking part in the college shower phenomenon.

When you put it that way…

Also sent along this week from John was a link to this post from Indexed about wedding finances. You know you want to laugh about it.

Do I rock the glasses or the contacts?

Glasses or contacts, contacts or glasses. Yes, that’s right. One of the questions that grooms (yeah, and brides, too) have had to choose between for all … er, since glasses and contacts were even an option, I guess, when it comes to the big day. Why bother even having this discussion? Well, pictures, of course.

I hadn’t really thought much of this until this morning, when I was taking some head shots for work, and they asked if I’d like to take some without my glasses - just to take a little bit of reflection out of the shots. Huh. So here lies the rub - I’m typically pretty recognizable in my glasses (that’s right - they’re Pumas), but if I really had my druthers I wouldn’t need them to help me see. I definitely dig my contact lenses more (especially that they let me rock sunglasses), I’m just a slacker most days and don’t feel like putting them in, or am just having a typical guy morning and rushing through it all. What do you do when that happens?

I’m probably already decided on this, and I’m 99% sure I’ll go with the contact lenses, because it’s just one less thing for me to have to deal with cleaning or dropping or breaking or whatever. But that has me thinking, since most of my friends and family see me with glasses most days, if they’ll look at our wedding photos and be like “dude, where are your glasses?” It’s a legit question, and it’s not like I *never* wear contacts, but am I just faking it for the photos or is it an up-and-up decision?

Invitation Madness

Last weekend, The Fiancee and I went to visit with the florist and to check out some other things in the area where we’re getting married next year. While we were speaking with the florist we’ll most likely be going with, she recommended a local shop down near where I went to college that does a really great job with invitations and other custom work, so we popped by. Since I’ve been designated “the creative one” (no, really - she said it), I was actually into this, since I wanted to have something cool and yet serious and not silly.

A few weeks ago, The Fiancee had seen Carlson Craft’s Pockets line, and thought I would dig them. Needless to say, I definitely did. Essentially, the concept gets rid of something I can’t stand - the stacks and stacks of envelope after envelope and misplaced cards that come with many invitations (Yes, I know many of them look gorgeous, I just know that many a guy has misplaced a directions card or something because of all of it), by putting everything into a nifty order of all things wedding.

Yep, that’s right. Just like in the little screenshot here, you, too, can get a line of things such as directions, places to stay, a response card, and lots more that are organized in different-sized cards so they stay organized. Forget about saving envelopes and whatnot, and don’t fret when you put the invitation in your desk drawer, only to be found two months from now. Just worry about finding the invitation in the first place.

If that’s not your thing, though, there are plenty more options that you can look into. design*sponge shares some screens of options from Swayspace and Thoughtful Day and some scriptastic ones from Linda + Hariett.

[Thanks, John for the inspiration and some links!]

Looking into money matters

Kate tips us off to this article at Wise Bread about some creative (and some out there) ideas about coming up with the dough to pay for a wedding. We’re thinking that the option to start saving (and early!) or the last item about not starting off your life together with a stack of debt are probably the way to go.

An unlikely tuxedo source

Over at Manolo for the Brides, Never teh Bride shares a tip received from one of the site’s readers about how a wedding party managed to get their tuxedos from Volcom. Yep, that Volcom.

I actually concur with the assessment that Men’s Wearhouse Tuxedos are a great option, but I’m also one digging a creative option on the side, if you will. Anyone else found a creative or alternative option for tuxedos or formalwear that you might not have found otherwise?

Grand Entrance Songs: Volume 1

One of the most awesome things about getting married is when you can collaborate with your spouse-to-be on various things. Everyone’s got their “things” they’re interested in. I’m typically given the “creative one” responsibilities while she’s much better with our budgets and a lot of the other responsibilities (timing, invitations, logistics). A big interest area for me is the music.

Now, I don’t think I’m going to be the mega-paranoid groom who is going to give a list of 100 songs to the deejay (I’ll probably most certainly have a “do-not-play” list, though), but as far as the entrance songs, various dances, etc., I’m all about it. One of the things that I’m regularly doing with friends and colleagues these days is throwing out random songs that fit certain parts of the reception, and the Grand Entrance - the part when the bridal party comes into the reception area - is one of my favorites. I’m sure this’ll be something we do here at Groomify a few times, so here goes my first try here on the site. Would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on entrance songs, even if my suggestions do all suck.

One last thing - keep in mind you really need probably 30-60 seconds of a song in order to handle the “build-up” plus the “introduction” your DJ or emcee is doing, so you gotta keep in mind that the lyrics of the song aren’t necessarily what you should be concerned about. In no particular order….

Underworld - “Born Slippy Nuxx”
You probably remember this one from Underworld, and that’s all well and good, but the reason I think it works is the intro works up nicely, and it’s definitely something that you can talk over. Plus, the bassline is killer.

MIMS - “This Is Why I’m Hot”
As suggested by Dave and Jeremy, you gotta include MIMS’ absolutely slow and low “This Is Why I’m Hot.”

Jay-Z - “Money, Cash, Hoes”

Alright, the lyrics might not be 100% appropriate or anything, but that bassline on its own qualifies it for inclusion. Who doesn’t want to walk on in to pounding bass and some piano keys getting the quick-fast-inahurry treatment?

John Williams - “Imperial March”

Some of you might recognize this from your addiction to the Star Wars flicks, perhaps? Maybe the in-laws will be a little concerned upon hearing this, but if you have any sort of strings playing live, maybe it works? As suggested by Omar C on Twitter.

AC/DC - “Thunderstruck”

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It’s got a great lengthy intro, some chanting, and flying guitars that will do nothing if your reception peeps aren’t out of their chairs. A+ from this groom-to-be.

Rob Dougan - “Clubbed To Death”

Sure, the name doesn’t exactly evoke a positive thought, but this jam from The Matrix will surely get people jived. The adjustment from the strings to the bass and horns gives you something fun to walk on in to without causing too much of a stir.

What else, guys?

Carl Edwards’ ride to carry marriage proposal

Okay, so this is actually pretty awesome, but I’m a little confused. WSOC’s Erik Saxon reports that NASCAR driver Carl Edwards’ #99 ride will carry a marriage proposal on the rear end of it (no comments, please) during a race on Saturday night. But here’s where the confusion comes in - that the winner of the contest to get the proposal on the car, Phillip Pruzensky, has already proposed to Janice Scarfe. Oh. Okay.

In any case, I actually think this is a pretty cool idea, even though I’m not a huge fan of the whole sporting event thing - PURELY because it’s not going to be an everyday thing.

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