Buying a home is a huge decision for anyone, but buying your first home together is a significant step in your life journey as a couple. Not only are you facing the financial commitment of purchasing your first home, you are also choosing the space that will contain your new, and perhaps growing, family.

The process of buying a home together begins long before you begin shopping for a mortgage loan. There are a number of questions and issues to be addressed before financing is even a consideration. While star-struck lovers might go into buying their first home with romantic thoughts of painting walls and decorating together, the reality often proves more prosaic. Will you keep his furniture or hers, or combine the two households? Will the decorating style reflect her modern tastes or his preference for country-style whimsy? Who gets to choose the curtains and the carpets, and will that hideous chair that one hates and the other adores find a place in the shared space?

Before shopping for a new home, it is important for couples to take an inventory of not only their possessions, but also their personal preferences when it comes to living space. Communication is essential at this juncture. Taking the time to sit down and make lists of the features each imagines in their ideal “dream home” will spark conversation. Maybe she has always wanted a spiral staircase. Perhaps he adores cathedral style ceilings! Initially, the lists might include far-reaching ideas like a balcony with a slide to the living room. Obviously budget and practicality will dictate which features you actually end up shopping for in your search for a home, but the list gives you a starting place for discussion and helps narrow down what sort of home would best suit both your needs and desires. Recognizing and respecting each others’ preferences is an important step toward learning one of the most critical relationship skills: compromise.

Next, couples need to take an honest and lengthy look at their financial situation. Loans for buying a home are based on income, credit history and the debt to income ratio. Now is the time for full disclosure. It is important to assess income versus debt and savings, to get a realistic idea of just how big a home your budget will support. Overreaching, and buying a larger home than is truly affordable is a common mistake for first-time homebuyers. With the shaky economy and less-than-stellar job market, it’s best not to count on an increase in future income. Instead, look at homes within your means. Balance possible future needs (like space for a nursery) against what you need, and can afford, now.

Buying the first home is a big step for any couple. The process can be complicated and difficult, but it is a great opportunity for you and your beloved to practice valuable communications and teamwork skills that will build your relationship. After all, you are not just buying a house; you are choosing to create a home together that will play a big part in your family life for years to come.

There’s no place quite like Vegas to celebrate the last days of bachelorhood: casinos, shows, showgirls, food, drink and the list of things to do seem almost endless.  Everything in the city is over-the-top, making it the perfect place to party like a rock star.  There are many companies and travel agents that provide bachelor party advice or even planning, and depending on your budget, nothing is out of the question.

Start with gambling.  Poker should be played at least once, and there are Internet sites where you can read online poker news to increase your chance of success at the tables.  You may also decide to play the slots, roulette, or some of the other exciting table games.  All the hotels have gaming, of course, and your hotel is a good place to start or end the bachelor party.  But gambling is only one of the many adventures that await you in Las Vegas.

You will be likely to want to see at least one show – after all, glitz and glamor is what the city is all about.  From Cirque du Soleil, to shows that are much less family-oriented, there is something for everyone here.  Check out which shows are playing at which hotels – you may decide to stay at one hotel because your favorite show is on there.  But there are also plenty of shows playing at non-hotel locations to tempt you and your party.

Nightclubs abound, with all manner of dancing, drinking, gambling and entertainment.  If you’re planning the bachelor party, ask the other guys what type of shows they enjoy, then look through the listings to find the perfect one for your group.  The nightclubs can get very busy, with long lines, so you might want to take advantage of special VIP packages that are offered. These allow all of you to roll up in a limo and go straight into the club with a table waiting.  You can spend the night partying, rather than waiting in line.

Don’t forget to eat!  Having some food during the night is essential to keep up your energy levels and to absorb some of the alcohol.  Dining has been raised to a fine art in Las Vegas, where many of the world’s top chefs have restaurants.  Every cuisine is here, from Asian to Middle Eastern, American, French and Mexican.  Try a stop at Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant, or that of Bradley Ogden, Wolfgang Puck, or Daniel Boulud.

Depending on how long you’ll be in Vegas, you may want to try some other activities as well.  Golf is a favorite, but you can also drive a NASCAR car on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, skydive, zip line over canyons, or go on some of the most thrilling rides ever constructed.  Once you decide what your group would like to do, find a travel agent who specializes in Vegas vacations and lay out your requirements.  The agent will be able to pull together everything that you want to do into one fabulous, unforgettable vacation that you will remember for years to come.

We’re always in for a treat when Marta Segal Block from Gigmasters comes-a-callin’ with a guest blog. This time around, she’s focusing on some of the more bizarre options for wedding reception entertainment.

When most people think “wedding entertainment” they think band or DJ. But, at GigMasters we see the possibilities as so much more! Because we connect brides and grooms to their ideal entertainment, we have a great view of what ideas are out there. Here are five unusual ideas we’ve seen.

- Caricaturists are becoming so much more common they’re almost a trend! Like silhouette artists, caricaturists are generally used to create on the spot personalized party favors or guest book entries.

- Most people hiring clowns for wedding receptions are hiring them to entertain children at the event. But, not everyone, we’ve had people hire balloon twisting clowns to make centerpieces at a carnival themed wedding, then come to the reception as well. We’ve also had people hire clowns and mimes to provide humor during band breaks.

- An enterprising Maid of Honor decided to hire Mickey Mouse for her bride’s wedding. Apparently, the bride always wanted to dance in a Disney World show. So, the MOH hired a Mickey Mouse costumed character to turn up during her MOH speech to deliver a special gift.

- Every December we get several Santa requests for weddings. One Father of the Bride wanted to sit on Santa’s lap and read a letter to his daughter. We can only hope that he cleared that idea with his daughter ahead of time and that there aren’t deeper issues that they need to work out.

- I suppose if you needed the services of a hypnotist before the wedding, that would spell trouble but many people find the idea of a hypnotist as after dinner entertainment fun. If you have a “no stripper” rule for your bachelor party, hypnotists and magicians can also make great alternative bachelor party entertainment.

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For more great wedding entertainment ideas check out GigMasters wedding blog.

Would you consider wearing a “mangagement” ring? It seems like every year, this trend rears its head back up. We wrote about this sales tactic last year and OneWed recently asked their male readers if they would consider wearing one. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this trend in the comment section below.

Just like this blog, our new book isn’t necessarily just for the guys. Take a look at what YourTango.com thought about Be the Man. They outlined three ways that the book can serve as the bride’s BFF.

If you’re stocking your reception or rehearsal dinner bar on a budget, you could do a lot worse than Costco’s Kirkland Bourbon. Just remember to drink responsibly or you may end up with this on your hands:

If you and your bride-to-be start to feel like marriage might not be a good idea, it’s best to talk about it far in advance of the wedding day. The last thing you want is for your friends and family to show up for your wedding that’s not taking place. In other words, don’t do what Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell did.

Lots of guys ask what the most important thing to know about marriage is. The truth is that there’s not just one key to happiness. According to Hitched Media, there’s 10. Check out their 10 commandments of marriage. We think number five is highly important. Communication is key!

If you’re sick of the same old wedding dance songs, check out Gigmasters list of 15 of the best new party songs.

Just like the rest of you, we’re truly in awe of what Jeremy Lin is doing. I’ll be honest and tell you that we thought Linsanity was slowing down over the weekend. That was until last night’s game winning shot in Toronto. Now that the Linderella story looks to be back at full strength, we thought we’d feature some of our favorite Knicks gift ideas. We fully admit that none of these gifts will bring you the same type of joy that you’ll feel the next time Mr. Lincredible hits a game-winner. We just hope to come close! We stand by all five gift ideas featured below. So whether you’re shopping for holiday, birthday or groomsmen gifts — buy with confidence!

Knicks Keychain Set

Priced at an affordable $19.95, the Knicks NBA Keychain set is a great stocking stuffer. It includes a key chain, money clip and magnet clip. We’ll put it this way: it’s perfect for the guy that can’t keep his things organized.

Knicks Canvas Print

The 20″ x 20″ x 1.5″ Knicks Canvas Print will look great on your den or man cave wall. If you’ve got a specific area that you’d like to hang it, multiple sizes are available through the Etsy seller.

60oz. Glass Knicks Beer Pitcher

All the fun of penny pitcher night at the bar, minus the bar. Beer (and soda) will taste fantastic when poured from our 60oz. Glass Knicks Pitcher. The logo is handcrafted, so you’re getting a truly unique item.

Knicks Lin Road Jersey

Here it is: the most sought after item in the world right now. The Jeremy Lin road jersey is available in sizes small-2XL. Act fast, this baby is flying of the shelves.

Knicks Glassware Set

Shopping for a guy that loves a good party? Our Knicks Glassware set features a beer tankard, coffee mug and shot glass. The set will look great in your home wet bar or mancave.