By Brian Leahy, The Groom Says

5. Chuppas can’t support your weight, so don’t lean on them. Should you get lightheaded during the ceremony, best to lean on the bride. After all, by this point in the wedding process, she’s physically, mentally and emotionally stronger than you. Plus, your guests will probably read this moment of weakness as something symbolic, i.e. “you’ll always be there for one another,” or something.

4. Smile, dude, and not just because you’ve paid those photographers a large sum of money to capture your every move. You should flash those pearly off-whites because the crowd is feeding off of your energy. So be that guy at the karaoke bar who brings the house down with back-to-back Neil Diamond (You’ll Be a Woman Soon/Sweet Caroline). And besides, if you’re into this whole marriage thing, you’ve got a lot to smile about.

3. Don’t wait to get dressed. Right around that pivotal six month mark, you should be sketching out your look for the big day. Even if you’re going traditional (top hat, cane, ascot), know that there are always unforeseeable hoops and hurdles that you will have to jump through … like having to put your linebacker of a brother in the same suit and tie and, no, Macy’s doesn’t carry the same jacket in 52 wide. “You wear a size 15 shoe? Since when, bro?!”

2. It’s okay to say no, even to the bride. When you walk into the florist’s office, and the sample table she’s set up for you is covered in pink taffeta, topped with a bejeweled pink cloud of peonies, accented with fluorescent pink votives, it’s perfectly acceptable to say, “No, this isn’t going to work.” Just remember that the key to compromise is offering an alternative, like “perhaps some white to offset the pink” or “if you get this, I get a man cave.”

1. That being said, make sure your lady is healthy and happy at all times. Put that task at the top of your list. This process is draining, and things can get ugly (especially when the catering estimates start rolling in). And as involved as you may be, Groom, you will never be as exhausted, depleted or overheated as your bride-to-be. So feed her right, treat her right, and do what she asks without complaint. It’s good practice for the next seventy years.

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Brian Leahy is a Los Angeles-based writer and alleged groom expert. Former author of The Groom Says, his blog still lives on today as a resource and a refuge for the involved groom. Flip through the archives at thegroomsays.blogspot.com.

Father’s Day is June 16th. We repeat: Father’s day is June 16th. Instead of waiting until the last minute and buying Dad another tie, why not choose a truly unique gift this year? Shopping for men can be tough, so we’ve compiled this list of our favorite gift ideas from The Man Registry to help you get started. See something you like? Use the coupon code FathersDay13 on The Man Registry between now and June 23rd to save 10% on your purchase!

1: Wooden Six Pack Beer Holder – We’re not quite sure if our favorite part about this handmade six-pack carrier is the fact that it’s built entirely from reclaimed redwood OR that it holds all styles of beer bottles. Either way, Dad will be the most popular guy on the street when he shows up to the block party with this gem [$44.95].

2: Personalized Maple Burl Mach 3 Razor – Sure, Dad already has a razor. But we can guarantee he doesn’t have one quite like this. The Maple Burl Razor is handcrafted and fits the popular Mach 3 Razor Blades. You can even have a special message engraved right into the handle at no extra cost [$54.95].

3: Custom 3-Initial Steak Branding Iron – Is Dad a grill master? With his very own custom branding iron, he’ll literally be able to leave his mark on any delicious creation that comes off his grill [$34.95].

4: Personalized Home Brewery Aluminum Sign – Wouldn’t we all love our very own home brewery? With our custom aluminum sign, you can give pops something to hang on the wall of his man cave until the beer starts flowing  [$44.95].

5: Executive Indoor Putter Set – With this indoor golf set, Dad can practice his putting skills all year long. This classy wood kit includes a putter, two golf balls and a practice cup. To top it all off, the case’s name plate can also be engraved with a special message for Dad [$44.99].

6: Gear Shift Wine Bottle Stopper – Ever find Dad struggling to determine whether he prefers wine or cars? With the Gear Shift Bottle Stopper, he won’t have to choose! Crafted from beautiful cocobolo wood, this gear-head wine accessory makes a truly unique gift for dads [$52.95].

6: Sit ‘N Sip Cooler  – This half cooler/half stool is truly one of mankind’s greatest inventions. Perfect for the beach, ballgame or camping trip, the cooler features enough space to comfortably hold a 12-pack, plus ice. It also features extra room to store your credit card, ID, phone and keys. The only caveat is that you’ll probably end up kicking yourself later for not ordering one for yourself, too [$49.95].

7: Beer Flight Sampler Paddle – We’ll make this simple for you. Dad likes beer. Dad likes trying new beers. This sampler “paddle” lets Dad easily sample several beers at a time. You can even have his name engraved on the handle. What’s not to love? [$47.95]

8: MLB Team “Boaster” Coaster Sets – Is there a better way to spend Father’s Day than kicking back with an ice cold beverage and watching a baseball game with your old man? These officially licensed “Boaster” sets feature four stainless steel coasters laser cut with Dad’s favorite team logo. Play ball! [$24.95]

9: Personalized Fishing Lure Key Chain – If you’re a fisherman, you’re probably familiar with the ThinDevle Dardevle™ fishing lure. This top lure is frequently used by both amateur weekend warriors as well as pros on the B.A.S.S. Tour. The patented design has been used for nearly a century. And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, we’ve managed to find one that’s also half key chain. If you want to be Dad’s favorite this year, this is the gift to buy [$19.95].

10: Mini Bourbon Barrel – It’s quite possible that we saved the best gift idea for last. Holding two liters of his favorite bourbon, this wood mini barrel lets Dad age his own unique batch. Detailed instructions for use are included. All he’ll need to get started is his preferred brand of bourbon and any extra ingredients he wishes to add to create his own personal blend [$69.95].

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BBQ? Pool party? Golf outing? How will you celebrate Father’s Day this year? Leave us a comment below and share your plans.

By Andrew Marino, Honeymoon Pixie

Romance is the ultimate goal of any great honeymoon; but a romantic honeymoon can look dramatically different from one couple to the next. Some couples prefer lying on the beach sipping cocktails together, and others prefer sightseeing through European cities side by side. No matter what your honeymoon preferences, these eight secrets will help make your honeymoon even more romantic and memorable:

1. Set up a honeymoon registry

This best kept secret for a romantic honeymoon is now becoming well-known among engaged couples.  By using a honeymoon registry, couples can opt to have the experiences associated with their dream honeymoon as a viable alternative to traditional wedding gifts. These honeymoon gift activities can raise the bar for anyone’s definition of “romance”. A couple’s honeymoon registry can include a romantic candlelit dinner, a couple’s massage, a swim with dolphins, a honeymoon suite upgrade, or a chilled bottle of Champaign and chocolates in bed!

2. Choose the right location for you

The key to having a truly romantic honeymoon is to choose the right honeymoon destination for the two of you – rather than simply choosing a tropical beach because that’s what most people seem to do. Think about the times you feel most connected to your fiancé, whether that’s when experiencing new adventures together, snuggling in a luxurious bed, exploring a new city, or simply relaxing. Then, choose a honeymoon destination that will allow you to experience those things together.

3. Plan some little gifts

You can enhance the intimacy and romantic connection on your honeymoon by planning gifts for your new spouse. Pack little secret presents for every day of the honeymoon and present them to your new spouse at just the right time.

4. Tell people you’re on your honeymoon

One of the least-known ways to make your honeymoon more romantic is to tell other people on your honeymoon. It can get you discounts, upgrades, or maybe a table with a better view at a seaside restaurant. If you want romantic honeymoon upgrades from your hotel, pack a copy of your new marriage license to verify that you really are on your honeymoon.

5. Bring your own romantic items

Don’t expect your hotel or destination to provide you with all the romance you’ll want on your honeymoon. Instead, bring some of your own romantic items, such as tealight candles, your favorite music, bubble bath, massage oil, and new lingerie.

6. Book a room with a Jacuzzi

There’s nothing more romantic than relaxing together in a dimly-lit, luxurious bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub for two. It’s more romantic than a hot tub at a resort pool because it’s private.

7. Enjoy breakfast in bed

Splurge on room service at least once or twice on your honeymoon. Breakfast in bed gives you time to wake up slowly, making your whole day feel less rushed and more romantic. Depending on what you enjoy, you can even bring a board game to play or a movie to watch while you enjoy your luxurious breakfast in the comfort of your room.

8. Tell your spouse why you love him/her

Telling someone about all the reasons you love him or her is possibly one of the most romantic gestures there is. Before your honeymoon, spend time making a list of the reasons you love your fiancé. Then, on your honeymoon, present this list of reasons in a creative way – as a scrapbook, on strips of paper you leave around the room, or just in a list form that you can read during a romantic dinner together.

About the Author: Andrew Marino is the CEO of HoneymoonPixie.com, an industry leader in providing honeymoon gift registries for engaged couples.  Couples create their free honeymoon registry website and receive honeymoon planning advice and travel tips.  Andrew also serves as a contributing Senior Travel Editor.

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honeymoon pixie is a sponsor of groomsadvice

What tricks do you have up your sleeve to make the honeymoon extra romantic? Leave a comment below. Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with us.

I am not ashamed to brag that I have worked with some grooms that are just total Rock Stars! The secret to planning a wedding that your guests will talk about years after is to being a Rock Star Groom during the planning process.

First we need to have a little Rock Star Groom pep talk. This is your wedding day. All of your family and friends (and a lot of other people) will be there as you and your blushing bride become husband and wife. The best weddings are representative of not just the bride, but also the groom. It’s your job to make sure that you and your likes/dislikes/personality can be seen in the wedding day. I hope that the fact that you visit this websites already means that you are on the way to being a Rock Star Groom. So let me tell you some things that Rock Star Grooms do.

Photo Credit: Jordan Brian Photography

You Gotta Fight For Your Right…

Well, not just to party, but we’ll get to that. Soon after you get engaged while your new fiancé is still on cloud 9 showing off her ring, I recommend sitting down and letting her know that you care about this wedding being great as well and you would like to be included. Most brides don’t involve the groom because they assume he isn’t interested in wedding planning. To be a Rock Star Groom, I recommend attending vendor meetings with your fiancé. This will be the time that she learns about different wedding options and decides which vendors will round out your dream team. The Rock Star Groom meets all the vendors (yes, even the florist). Just by being at these meetings, your stressed fiancé will know that you are supporting her with these decisions. If you’re at a lost for words when asked about color and décor, just say what Don Draper told his wife in a recent episode of Mad Men, “I want what you want.” Brownie points!

You Gotta Know When To Hold ‘Em…

Ok, so now that you’re involved and starting to earn some major brownie points it gets a little complicated. There is a difference between Rock Star Groom and Groomzilla. Keep in mind that your bride has had a vision of what this day was going to be like (thanks to Pinterest) before you even popped the question. Decide what facets of the wedding are important to you and take the lead on them while knowing what areas your fiancé will take the lead on. By letting her call the shots sometimes she’ll know that when you voice an option you really mean it. I have seen this play out and the bride is always more then happy to accommodate the grooms request purely because he’s a Rock Star!

So now that you know the secrets of being a Rock Star Groom you can be confident not only on your wedding day, but throughout the wedding planning process as well. Make sure to keep the lines of communication open while making big wedding decisions. These tips will ensure that you have an epic wedding day!

I am Caitlin Boshnack, wedding planner and owner of Bridal Mentor, an online wedding community. I teach modern brides how to navigate the wedding planning process so it doesn’t become their full time job. If you liked today’s article, you’ll love BridalMentor.com. Check it out, and while you’re there, don’t miss my free report “How to REALLY Use Pinterest to Plan Your Wedding.”

Health. Homes. Vehicles. We insure the most important things in our lives — the ones we truly can’t live without.  So why wouldn’t a bride and groom want to protect such an important day — their wedding day — from the unexpected? Wedding insurance may sound like a luxury you can do without, but that’s far from the truth. We teamed up with our friends at John Lewis Insurance to share the top reasons to consider protecting your big day from the unthinkable.

Vendors – Wedding vendors often require a hefty down payment when you book their services. This is predictable. What’s not predictable is when that vendor goes out of business or bails at the last minute. While 99% of wedding vendors are reputable and honest businesspeople, what happens when you book one who isn’t?

Sickness - If you’re anything like me, you tend to get sick on holidays, birthdays and during other special events. Can you imagine falling ill on the day of your wedding? This goes for a parent or member of the wedding party as well. A wedding insurance policy can cover the cost of rescheduling. Now that’s what I call a safety blanket!

Accidents – By nature, accidents are difficult to predict. Allow us to throw out a few possible disasters that could disrupt your festivities: Your tuxedo accidentally catches on fire on the way to the wedding, the car carrying your gifts is stolen or an earthquake damages a water line going into your rehearsal dinner site. As unlikely as these events may seem, they can happen.

But don’t just take it from us, check out this video from John Lewis that illustrates some of the main reasons to insure your big day:

Just as you wouldn’t sign your mortgage without having homeowner’s insurance, you should consider buying wedding insurance as a safeguard against failing vendors, sickness and accidents. Wedding insurance usually only costs a few hundred dollars, but could save you thousands if the unexpected occurs. For a compilation of the most common FAQs on wedding insurance policies, click here.

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john lewis is a sponsor of groomsadvice

Are you considering insuring your wedding? Tell us why or why not in the comment section below.