Wallets. Pocket knives. Watches. These items are some of the most popular groomsman gift options on the market. But why? The average guy already has several of them sitting on a shelf collecting dust… and the average groom knows this. So why do these products continue to top gift guides year in and year out? Problems arise when grooms go in search of unique options. There are simply not many affordable options that offer the “wow factor.”

Until now. that is.

We’re proud to introduce Groom’s Party T’s. They’re fresh, they’re fully customizable and they’re available exclusively on Etsy. The concept and process is simple. Find your favorite photos of your wedding party members or bachelor party guests. Once your shirts are purchased and photos are provided, the artist will get to work on bringing your shirts to life. When the work is done, you and your wolfpack will have the perfect attire to wear during the bachelor party and other pre-wedding events.

Check out a few examples along with color and personalization options (click any of the images to head over to Etsy and learn more):

Still not convinced that Groom’s Party T’s are where it’s at? Check out this sweet video that shows just how much fun you and your crew will have in these shirts:

What types of characters are in your wedding party? Leave a comment below and let us how your Groom’s Party T’s would look and what kind of trouble you’d get into while wearing them.

A few weeks back, we asked our expert panel about their thoughts on coed bachelor(ette) partying. As expected, responses were mixed on this tricky topic. To help settle the score, we’ve asked one of our favorite wedding bloggers to stop by and lay down the law.

This counts as coed, right?

By Alison, The Knotty Bride

It’s hard to answer coed bachelor(ette) party question without stating some stuff straight out.  So, facts:

1.  Not all men are interested in hanging out with strippers for their bachelor party.  Women realize this and this response is not about you.

2. Lots of men don’t plan on really *thoroughly* enjoying themselves at their bachelor parties, but the thing is this: if there’s an attractive barely dressed woman in the room and she’s offering to trade you a beej for a Benjamin, let’s be honest that’s a tough thing to turn down for some people.  One’s love for one’s chosen partner doesn’t even play into this; a man can be head over heels forever in love with his beloved and still consider capitalizing on a quality offer like that.  Especially when sex and temptation is THE POINT OF THE OUTING.  Plus, beej’s seem great, from what I know about them.

Ok, so here’s my answer: Joint parties seem fine I guess if you’re into them.  It just seems like it’s more a solution to a problem than a fun new party idea we should seriously consider.  Please don’t misread me- I imagine coed parties have tons of fun potential, just as long as they aren’t the result of a fight over having separate parties.  Are both partners on board with the idea, in their heart of hearts? Then that spells a great time and obviously they like spending time with one another, who can argue against that?  Still this is probably a best fit for couples who have some trust issues they’re working out.  If a guy has given a girl legitimate reason to distrust him around other women, for fuck’s sake don’t make her go through you having a legit bachelor party.  Go somewhere strippers can’t be found/shipped in.  That’s love.

Since this question is so obviously about the elephant in the room – strip club bachelor parties (or the thing where the stripper comes to your place) I have to make a final note.  As women, we don’t want to come off jealous or controlling, so we sometimes make believe we’re comfortable with a thing even when we BEYOND AREN’T comfortable with that thing.  Stripper bachelor parties out of our line of vision are at the top of that list.  Right next to obliterating our vaginal canals through the miracle of childbirth, and paintball.

What we are doing when we have “a traditional bachelor party,” is we are asking our partners to see that we are spending a night out with our guy friends with the express purpose of living it up like a bachelor.  Sticking with tradition, this means spending between a night and a week of nights exclusively with a group of our horniest male friends, all of whom have been dreaming about that next time they get to go to a bachelor party.  And then sitting in a room with low-hanging fruit in the form of dangling boobies and nipples, and challenging yourself not to suckle them for an extra $50 (not sure how accurate that price is it’s been a while since I last stepped foot into a strip club).

To wrap up: I believe in separate parties as much as I believe in joint parties.  I like separate parties for the reason that men, like women, thrive among friends.  Time with friends without the S.O. there is like medicine for men and women.  It’s that important.  So guys, we are totally into your gender-exclusive bachelor parties and want you to have fun.  Just do us a solid and don’t pull one of these.

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Which side of the fence do you stand on: joint or separate parties? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

Bachelor and bachelorette parties are known as rites of passage for grooms and brides. These “last nights out” offer a great opportunity to have one last bash with close friends before walking down the aisle. While typically thought of as guys’ and girls’ nights only, a growing trend has couples bucking the norm and planning joint parties

We pulled together some of our favorite wedding experts to see if this concept passes the sniff test.

More and more couples are choosing to do a coed bachelor(ette) party. How do you feel about this trend? Should the groom and bride have separate “last nights out” or are you on board with the idea of joint parties?

Chris Easter (Co-Founder, TheManRegistry.com)
Twitter: @chriseaster

With couples getting married at old ages, it doesn’t surprise me to see this trend growing. I think it’s all about personal preference and lifestyle. If the couple has put their hard partying days behind them, I don’t see anything wrong with a night or weekend outing with their closest friends to celebrate the end of single life. Remember, there’s no official rule book for these types of parties. To each their own.

Ian (Author, A Groom’s Diary)
Twitter: @agroomsdiary

Grooms: If your wife-to-be demands this idea, run. Now.
Brides: If your husband-to-be accepts this idea, run. Now.

She’s a psycho or he’s a pushover. No exceptions.

This idea might be the only wedding trend worse than the unity candle.

(I’d write more but I’ve got to get ready for my buddy’s bachelor party tonight.  We’re going to make him drink three pints of generic brand vodka, force him to gamble his nest-egg and then take pictures of strippers dancing over his lifeless corpse, just like he always dreamed we would.)  (And his marriage will be better for it.)

Kara Horner (Blogger & Media Director, TheManRegistry.com)
Twitter: @TMR_Kara

While it may be tempting to for a tight-knit group of friends to have a co-ed bachelor(ette) party, I think it’s important for both the bride and groom to schedule some quality girls-only and guys-only time before the big day arrives. It can be a great opportunity to bond with your bridesmaids and groomsmen before the wedding, especially if you don’t often have the chance to get the whole group together due to busy schedules or family life or being spread out across the country. Once you’re a married couple, you’ll likely go out with friends together the majority of the time, so it’s nice to maintain a few separate interests and hang out individually with the guys or girls every now and then.

James Bennett (Founder, Firefly Bachelor Party Planning)
Twitter: @firefly_events

As Bachelor and Bachelorette party planners we don’t think that joint parties are a matter of ‘should’. The Co-ed party isn’t going to be a great idea for every couple. But it can be every bit as fun as the individually celebrated parties. However, our recommendation is to always take elements from both scenarios. Plan an activity for the boys and girls separately the meet up and do something as a large group. You’re still celebrating your friendship and placing focus on the bride or groom individually. But allowing for large group antics. The ultimate goal of a bachelor/ette party is to celebrate the huge step your friend is taking in the manner that fits your friend.

Darren Younge (Founder, Well-Groomed)
Twitter: @wellgrmd

I don’t have a problem with co-ed bachelor(ette) parties, especially if the couple genuinely gets along with each others friends. You’ll have to mix and mingle for the rest of your lives, might as well start now. Besides, who doesn’t love one big party? If you do decide to go your separate ways for your party, skip the stripper/bar/casino scene, which will only lead to trouble. Just ask A. C. Slater and that Doritos girl. Instead, take a road trip to do some outdoorsy, sporty guy thing or have a golf weekend. It really doesn’t matter what you and the guys do, as long as you don’t find yourself with some strange girl’s panties on your head at the end of the night.

Shulie Lo (Social Maven, Robbins Brothers)
Twitter: @RobbinsBrothers

No. No. No. Nope. Not going to happen. The bachelor(ette) party is the last time that you can bond with your friends. The last hurrah. You have the rest of your married life with your husband to look forward to, so why not go out with a bang with your best friends? Your entourage. It’s not about not trusting your significant other with strippers (which should be a red flag), but more about bonding with the girls (or guys) that have been with you every step of the way. Even if you have a lot of mutual friends that would love to celebrate together, you may have some friends that want to participate in some sisterly bonding. If you feel that you must have a joined party and celebrate together, you could always throw a third event. Perhaps a low-key “We’re Getting Married!” party.

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What’s your take on joint bachelor(ette) parties? Post a comment below with your thoughts.

You’re about to take the big plunge and tie the knot. But before that pinnacle moment arrives, you owe yourself one last shin-dig as a single man. This can’t be just any old party though; it has to be the bachelor party that makes all your single groomsmen want to get married next. Hiring tons of strippers isn’t the only option out there, especially if you have a flexible budget. But if you’re more of a high maintenance person you need a high maintenance budget to fit the bill. Taking the time to plan is the key to a memorable event, because this is the last thing you’ll ever plan without your significant other.

Theme parties are a great way to celebrate leaving your old life. The average bachelor party always has three main components: booze, cards, and food. You can combine all three into one event, or break them up into three parties to choose from.

Casino Royale

You can either take the party to VIP at the casino of your choice, or bring the casino experience to the place of your choice. Rent the tables, machines, dealers and waitresses to make the place feel like the Riviera or Vegas. It would really be cool if you and the guys dressed the part by wearing classy suits and serving fancy finger food. Don’t forget the prizes for the winning gamblers.

Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras is definitely a place to party. Bring the tastes, sounds, and souvenirs of one of the biggest parties on earth to a venue near you. Zydeco music, masks fashioned from feathers, and lots of beads should be on the list. Once you add the decorations and Louisiana food like fried lobster tails, crawfish, and gumbo; you’ll leave with a real taste of the southern Cajun goodness. Consider hiring street performers reminiscent of Bourbon Street, not Bill Street.

Learn To Cook

You’re about to get married. Your spouse would be pleasantly surprised to find out you took a cooking class. The groomsmen can take home aprons instead of those cheesy t-shirts as souvenirs. You never know, the ones that are still single may find a wife after they learn to make a romantic gourmet dinner at your bachelor party.

Sport Event

If you have a favorite team, check the price for a box at the next big sporting event. You never know, may get a special price for a bachelor party. Consider going all out and buying all the team gear you ever wanted. Hat, t-shirt, jersey, or even those giant hats with the clapping hands on top. Paint your face and represent. Go ahead, get loud and wild.

You only live once, so no matter how you choose to say goodbye to single life have fun, be safe, and remember not to do anything you wouldn’t want your significant other to do.

When some people think of “nightlife”, their minds immediately revert to a city like Las Vegas. Known for its abundance of nightclubs and venues that close way into the wee hours of the evening, Las Vegas has earned its right as a predominant nightlife city. There are, though, locations elsewhere that could easily give Sin City a run for its money. With an energy that rivals that of Las Vegas’, Costa Rica has rather rapidly become a well known hot spot for nightlife, throwing some of the hottest parties the world will ever see.

The Costa Rican nightlife is hefty in several places, but the most pliable is within the comfort of a rented mansion or villa. Within these expansive living quarters, you and your fellow guests can throw your own bachelor party – complete with your own music, alcoholic tastes, and guests. You won’t have to deal with anyone you’re not comfortable with. Most mansions and villas come with an outdoor space perfect for enjoying the fresh Costa Rican air. A private pool simply accentuates the party, offering a place to cool down when things get a little too “hot”. Enjoy the view of a beachfront mansion or the seclusion of a rainforest villa – no matter where you’re at, the Costa Rica bachelor party will be large.

Beyond the more personalized bachelor party, Costa Rica is home to an assortment of hot bars and nightclubs. Tropical beverages, fresh ocean air, and the sound of the nearby ocean make a party in Costa Rica all the more exotic. Party at Beatle Bar or Clarita’s Bar, or dance the night away at the centralized Plankton Club. Feast on some local delicacies at Los Amigos Jaco as you’re sucked into the local atmosphere, making it so you’ll have no choice but to party. As with any club in any location, spend a little extra and find yourself as a VIP of the venue. Enjoy special treatment without having to lift so much as a finger to earn it.

For the ultimate of the Costa Rican nightlife, you can find yourself partying with the locals ocean side at one of the country’s exotic, sandy beaches. Let the fresh air revitalize you throughout the night as you dance with some of the gorgeous locals and get to know and understand some of Costa Rica’s hidden traditions. Take a dip in the refreshing water when things get too hot without having to separate yourself from the enjoyable evening party. Unlike some coastal beaches in the United States, a Costa Rican beach is all sand, turning the coastal land into a natural dance floor.

Costa Rica is the perfect place for the destination bachelor/bachelorette party. Aside from its exciting daily activities, the country’s nightlife is one to behold. The music, the energy, the food, the beverages and everything mingles together to create an experience that can only be described as “once in a lifetime”.