Theming your groomsmen gifts

Heidi Wurpel at From Engagement to Anniversary makes some pretty good suggestions on gift ideas for groomsmen that are worth checking out. I won’t steal her thunder, but she makes a great correlation between the type of things you might be doing for your bachelor party / weekend and the types of gifts you can choose from. Good call, Heidi.

B-boys and pop & lockers SLAY a reception

I’ve watched probably my fair share - if not a few peoples’ fair share - of videos online over the years, and I really must say that this one is so high up on the list it’s not even funny. Also, it’s important to note that I’ve watched it three times in the last 10 minutes.

I found it via Ariel’s Offbeat Bride, which is full of some of the more guy-friendly books and wedding-focused materials, having checked out the book in a store. When you head over there, check out the absolutely badass photo of the groom and his wedding party, it’s a stunner. You can’t make this stuff up, and I’m guessing these guys don’t “do” weddings as part of their day jobs, unfortunately for the rest of us.

Good idea groomsmen gifts

While AisleDash (who I’ll continue to reference as it’s a great site to pay attention to) has luxury bridesmaid gifts on lockdown, I thought it worthwhile to offer some thoughts and ideas on some groomsmen gifts that might not be “the norm.” Anyone who’s been in a wedding has probably gotten an engraved flask or cigar case - both which are excellent gifts that are useful, and maybe has gotten something a little more creative or descriptive to the relationship the groom has with the participants in the wedding.

So, where to begin?

I’m gonna cherry pick the easy thing that I’ve seen done really well, but obviously doesn’t work with every group and groomsman. That said, it’s a cool idea that I would recommend if you’re able to spend the loot on it.

Sports-related Stuff

While every guy doesn’t dig sports, there are a lot that do. Knowing a bit about the interests and habits of these guys, you might have come across what their favorite teams are or who the players they follow are. Taking that info and running with it, one great idea would be to snag team / player or even “customized” jerseys, and get something a little different for each. Sure, a New York wedding might feature all Yankees or Mets jerseys for the baseball-loving crew, but a Yankees jersey for the hardcore fan, a Rangers jersey for the big hockey guy, and a 49ers jersey for the West Coast import participating in your wedding gives a “customized” flavor that shows you actually thought about what you’re buying.

If jerseys aren’t your thing (or theirs), maybe autographed bats are. Louisville Slugger will provide you with an “authentic” signature bat for each of your groomsmen, if you’re slick enough to connive a signature out of them. This is a pretty cool thing that will probably end up in their office or mounted to the wall somewhere, though you run the risk of a kid (or them) taking it out for batting practice in the yard if they’re not careful.

Wine & Liquor

No, it’s not what you’re thinking I’m talking about, I’m talking a serious bottle (and a serious bottle doesn’t have to cost you $100) and maybe a set of glasses to go along. For example, a killer bottle of Delille Doyenne Syrah, of which 2004 is a very good year, would work out well, or perhaps a bottle of scotch. Scotch, just as wine, is sometimes tricky, so you might have to know what someone likes before making a purchase. That said, checking out a solid Macallan aged a few years could work, or just asking a few questions at your local shop will probably do the trick.

To boot, a decanter for both scotch or wine is an awesome addition, and something that will stick around long after the bottle is poured and finished off.

Travel & Entertainment

If your party is more into the party, game, or event type of thing, then hooking them up with a big game, such as playoff tickets to a local pro team, or a big concert in town might be the way to go. In fact, it’s another opportunity to get “the gang” all together, post-bachelor party, and not get in trouble for what you’re doing while you’re there. Well, maybe.

Of course, anything’s a good thing when it all comes down to it. What definitely matters is that you’ve got an idea of some things that will get your crew to know that you appreciated their participation in your wedding. Whether you spend $30 or $150, there are plenty of options to meet your needs, theme, or interests.

Any other suggestions, successes, or ideas to share, Groomify readers?

[Photo credits: Morguefile, Delille]

Picking your wedding party

OurWeddingDay.com has some initial thoughts on what the Best Man’s role is in your wedding party, but before you figure out what the Best Man is going to be responsible for, figuring out how to pick the Best Man (or Woman, as it were) along with any other groomsmen or attendants is probably a good idea, no?

So what goes into choosing the people in your wedding party? Well, there are usually a few questions you can ask yourself (or your partner) before really getting into the nitty gritty. And don’t worry, this isn’t like the “cutting down the guest list” type of conversation, just some basics. Something to think about before simply picking the guy you happen to hit the bars with most often.

• Are there family members we’d like to have in the party?
• How many people are going to be in my partner’s party, and do we want to “match?”
• Who do I trust the most with wedding rings, any tips for services we’re working with, keeping the rest of the crew in line, and making sure all the details are crossed off the lists on that big day?
• When it comes down to it, who would actually enjoy having a bachelor party / guys weekend / whatever?

Of course, things like the person who will be least likely to destroy your nuptials with a speech at the reception are important to consider as well, but this is a great place to start.

Now that you’ve got the Best Man out of the way, what else needs to be done? Well, some of those questions are still in play, such as the “how many” issue. Do you “need” to match up groomsmen with bridesmaids (don’t worry, most won’t complain - especially the single ones) for one reason or another? Are there brothers that have included you that you’d really like to return the favor (for good reasons or bad?

At the end of the day, though, it’s not about feeling like you “owe” it to people to ask them to be in your wedding. Keep in mind - and those of you who have been in weddings before will be able to relate - that there are costs in mind, whether it the tuxedo purchase or rental, potentially some travel, etc. If it’s important for you to have a relative or friend in your wedding party, but you don’t want to “put them out” by asking them to spend $150 on a tuxedo or $300 a night to stay at the hotel? Maybe there’s a creative way to split the costs across the whole crew, or just cover their costs yourself in honor of them agreeing to participate.

The good news is, there are a million ways to break this down and make it work. Don’t think just because your best friend had six guys in his wedding that you need to the same. Also, you might find that breaking up some of the “responsibilities” that the Best Man might have carried out between your wedding party as a whole in the interest of time or other resources.

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