You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. And you can’t judge a groom just by glancing at him. However, you can tell all about his style by looking at the wedding band he chooses to wear.

The days of plain ‘ol wedding bands are long gone. Now more than ever, men are expressing their unique personalities through the fashionable rings they choose to wear.  Moving away from plain bands, today’s grooms have a plethora of options that include various gems, precious metals and symbols.

We recently sat down with our friends at Gemvara to review some of the top tips for guys who are getting ready to go through that all-important ring shopping experience:

TIP – Consider your lifestyle

Unless you plan on not being married long, you’re going to be  wearing your wedding band all day, everyday. This makes it extremely important to find a ring that’s durable and will hold up to your daily activities. Whether you’re a gardener, a computer programmer or avid golfer, find a ring that’s going to be comfortable. This might mean trying on dozens of options, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Men's 'Two Roads' Sterling Silver Wedding Band

TIP – If you’re going with a gem, protect it

Guys are becoming very fashion forward with the gems that they choose to add to their wedding band. From diamonds to rubies to sapphires, they’re plenty of options for including some extra dazzle to the ring. If you do decide to go this route, be sure that the setting will protect the gem (especially important if you often work with your hands).

TIP – Know your metals

Gold, platinum, tungsten and titanium all make for great bands. Traditionally, wedding band metals have been 14k gold or 18k gold. Both of these materials are precious enough to symbolize your union and durable enough to take years of heavy wear. Platinum is an extremely popular choice for all jewelery, and especially wedding rings. One of the big things it has going for it is that it doesn’t scratch — making it extremely durable. Tungsten and titanium are not considered precious metals, however they can serve as a stylish alternative to gold and platinum. It’s worth noting that tungsten and titanium cannot be re-sized, so make sure you’ve got the correct size when you order!

Men's Sterling Silver 'Crosswalk Ring' with Black Onyx

TIP – Don’t wait until the last minute

We know that wedding planning can completely take over your life. However, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to find your band. You and your fiancee should start looking about two months before the wedding. Keep in mind that even if you find your perfect ring on day one of looking, you’ll need time to get the ring sized correctly. So don’t push it!

TIP – Don’t get lazy

It’s easy to get lazy after you get married. Caring for your wedding band is one area where husbands to tend to slack off. However, it’s really not difficult to keep this piece of jewelery clean and in tip-top shape. To properly care for your ring, clean with mild dish soap. You should soak  the ring and gently brush to remove any dust and then finish up by rinsing and patting dry with a soft cloth.

Men's 'Mortise and Tenon Ring' Sterling Silver Band with Black Diamond

If you’ve already picked out your wedding band, Gemvara can also help you with your wedding day gift to your bride. They offer some fantastic, innovative styles of rings, earrings, and necklaces designed by top talented designers. You can even personalize jewelry on their site to fit style and budget. You can connect further with Gemvara by following them on Twitter or liking them on Facebook.

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Have you thought about what style of wedding band you’ll be wearing? What will your ring say about you as a groom? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

disclosure: gemvara is a sponsor of the man registry’s groomsadvice blog

By Brian Leahy, Founder of The Groom Says

A boutonniere can't get no respect!

Boutonnieres get no respect.

Imagine for a moment that you’re a boutonniere. From conception, you and your band of boutonniere brothers are undoubtedly one of the less crucial elements of the wedding. You might say that you’re slightly more significant than the guestbook on the wedding website … but still less important than the stationary hors d’oeuvres at the reception. Despite your potential, the only real purpose you serve is to “look nice but not as nice as the bouquet.” You’re an afterthought. Other groom attire elements have risen to varying levels of stardom (socks, ties, Converse sneakers), but sadly, you lag behind.

Last I week I stumbled upon a site called Fritts Rosenow, a company specializing in bespoke boutonnieres, and I thought — Now here’s a glimmer of hope. Fritts’ custom-made collection spans several styles and themes (nautical, vintage, bachelor pad) and even includes an impressive wall-mounted deer head. Per their “About” page, Fritts believes that grooms should express themselves through their boutonnieres.

Amen.

But can’t we go further, men? In the spirit of homemade crafts and handmade gifts, let’s invest some time and design some boutonnieres on our own. Even TheKnot.com, in a DIY Wedding Flowers how-to article, suggests that we leave the “tough stuff” to the professionals but perhaps tackle the groom’s boutonniere at home.

(Ouch.)

Well, we’ve taken that advice, Knotties, and then we took it even further. And then we took it too far. And further still. We ended up giving boutonnieres WAY too much respect and a giant, unattractive ego.

Introducing, the RESPECTFULLY EGO-CENTRIC BOUTONNIERE COLLECTION, by The Groom Says. Shipping not included.

Toiletry Groom
A darling bouquet of toothbrush, cuticle scissor and razor, complemented by a cluster of chic Q-tips and a touch of Kleenex. It is fastened with a fine, mint-flavored dental floss and accented with an elegant white ribbon crafted from Charmin toilet paper.

Executive Groom
Nothing says “I’m a big deal” like a half-used roll of Scotch tape drooping delicately from the blazer that you wore to work earlier that day. Also available in double-sided and duct.

Techno Groom
An exquisite spray of both L and R ear buds. Sleek off-white cords may dangle or tuck discreetly into a chest pocket.

Pastel Groom
An array of bright yellow Craspedia (with elegant green stems), adorned with mini gladiolus bulbs and tied with an unobtrusive lavender string. Remove with lukewarm water.

Vintage Groom
A touch of the olden days — a crisp, timeless $2 bill that lets your guests know precisely who paid for their steak or chicken. Recipient of the Strip Club Boutonniere of the Year Award.

Gimme S’more Groom
On the “fun” side — a slightly toasted marshmallow, sandwiched between two pieces of Godiva chocolate, sandwiched further between two graham crackers, and all tethered to a branch of hand-whittled mahogany. Also available in bouquet.

All photos © Joanna Wilson Photography

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Brian Leahy is founder of The Groom Says — a safe haven for grooms who need a hand with wedding planning and brides who need a hand with their grooms. Check out the blog for some laughs and inspiration, and be sure to follow The Groom Says on Twitter.

What anniversary gift from your wife would have you giving a thumbs up?

By Jewelry & Style Expert, Michael O’Connor

We’ve all seen the story played out on numerous television sitcoms: Poor guy finds out that today is actually his wedding anniversary. Guy realizes that it’s only a few hours before he’s supposed to meet his wife at a dinner she’s planned for them at a romantic restaurant.  Guy panics trying to find the most amazing gift for her while covering up the fact that he didn’t remember the date. It’s a familiar story.

Well let’s cut guys some slack, Guy’s aren’t the only people to forget dates! And when it comes down to it you’ve already purchased her the most amazing gift – her platinum and diamond engagement ring- a gift that probably cost about two months salary. So when is it YOUR turn?

The objective of an anniversary is to commemorate the history of a couple and to celebrate the future that they both look forward to together. Therefore, anniversaries are the perfect opportunity for the giving of mutual gifts that are precious, rare and symbolize both past and future.

L - Stuller Platinum Cufflinks for Men R - Platinum Tie Accent From CliQ Jewelry

These days, one of the most popular trends in giving is to buy gifts that will truly be used and enjoyed, things that may be worn daily. For many men who spend a good deal of time in the office, items such as platinum cuff links or tie accents, platinum neck chains or a platinum bracelet make a perfect gift that ideally fits the bill for anniversary giving.
The reason that platinum jewelry is perfect is that platinum is one of the most durable, precious and rare of all jewelry choices. It will stand up to a lifetime of wear while continuing to look good, through your future together. Unlike some other white jewelry, platinum won’t fade or change color over time and won’t corrode. The purity of platinum means that it is not only white now, but in time it will never lose its natural whiteness and turn yellow. It’s the ideal “men’s metal”! Over time, platinum will actually develop a rich finish, called a patina which creates a unique sheen on a platinum piece that many view as a romantic recording of life’s many precious moments.

Trends today toward a more casual office attire also mean that open collars with a neck chain and shorter sleeves with a bracelet have become the “norm” in office wear. Unique pieces of platinum jewelry allow men to express individuality in an elegant and understated manner. Platinum is preferred by the world’s finest designers so it’s easy to find masculine pieces to suit every guy’s individual style. Many designs start for as little as $1000.

So when it comes to giving anniversary gifts, isn’t it only fair that you should expect a gift that is precious, rare and durable? For more information on platinum or to see a wide selection of platinum jewelry styles go to www.preciousplatinum.com/designgallery

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What type of platinum jewelery would you want as an anniversary gift? What would be “fair” based on the jewelery you’ve purchased for your fiancee/wife?

Last year, we wrote about the awesome custom dress shirts that are being made on Blank-Label.com –the custom men’s shirt design company has become one of our favorite sites to refer wedding parties to.

Blank Label stands for total customization. Regardless of whether you want a black shirt with pink cuffs, a classic blue button down with striped French cuffs, a spread collar on a casual plaid shirt or your own personalized label with a nickname or your favorite phrase… they can do it all! And today, we’re helping them announce their newly-launched dress shirt designer app (which actually looks a lot like a real dress shirt). The app gives you a specific, detailed visualization of the shirt you’re designing as you design it. If you’re planning on yourself and your groomsmen wearing suits on the wedding day — a Blank Label dress shirt is an excellent idea (and also makes for an ideal groomsmen gift).

Today, one lucky reader/social network fan is going to receive a $50 coupon code for use at Blank-Label.com. To become eligible, simply do one of the following things:

1.) Leave a comment at the bottom of this post and tell us what your ideal custom dress shirt would look like. Be sure to include an accurate e-mail address.

2.) Post a comment on our Facebook page about your ideal custom dress shirt.

3.) Send us a tweet about your ideal custom dress shirt.

The contest will be open from 8:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 18th until 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, January 19th. You can enter once per social medium. The winner will be chosen via a random drawing on Thursday, January 20th and notified via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter.

Furthermore, ANYONE using the coupon code ‘ManRegistry‘ will receive an instant $10 off any purchase with Blank Label. To redeem, simply enter it in during the coupon code portion of the ordering process.

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To learn a little more about Blank Label, check out the videos on their YouTube Channel that explain how to measure yourself, and how their shirt designer works. You can also follow them on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook.

By Susan Alexander Shapiro from BravoBride.com

Need a little help on what to think about when choosing what to wear for you and your best friends on your big day? Keep these tid-bits in mind when picking out groomsmen attire.

Formal or Unique?
Tuxedos and a uniformed color scheme is the traditional view of a wedding, but times are changing. Converse shoes can replace dress shoes and a pair of khakis and a white shirt can substitute for a suit and tie all depending on your personal style. What is your style? Do you want a traditional wedding where all your groomsmen wear tuxedos or do you want them in super hero costumes? Knowing what type of wedding you want will help in choosing the attire of the entire wedding party. Realizing your theme or style will be the base of your entire event.

Budget Concerns
As much as you don’t want to mention it, how much things cost is an issue in every wedding, and not just for the bride and groom. In the case of groomsmen attire, some couples choose to rent tuxes for their groomsmen while others let their friend’s foot the bill. It is important to consider everyone’s financial input to your wedding. You don’t want your best friends not to be in your wedding because they can’t afford it nor do you want to take on more expenses than what is in your budget. Some inexpensive wedding ideas include:

1.) Let groomsmen wear their own suits instead of renting tuxes.
2.) Go for a more casual look by having them only wear the same color shirts or ties.
3.) Go online. You can find almost anything online, and usually for less.
4.) Rent tuxes as a group. A lot of places have group discounts.
5.) Let the guys wear their own shoes instead of renting them.

Simple changes such as these can save you and your bridal party a bundle.

Wearing a different color tie is a great way for the groom to stand out from the groomsmen.

Time to Shine
In a room full of suits and ties, how does a groom not blend in with the rest? After deciding what your what your style will be and what your budget is, making sure you stand out from your groomsmen is the next step. Besides the bride, you are the most important person of the day and it is your time to shine.

1.) If in tuxedos, changing vest colors or designs will help designate you as the groom. Try going with a completely different color instead of just changing hues.
2.) Going outside the norm, some men are choosing to wear a completely different color suit or tux than their groomsmen. This bold statement really makes the groom stand out amongst his friends.
3.) Groomsmen in the wedding party will usually be wearing boutonnières. Although they all will be beautiful, the grooms could be a different flower and color than anyone else’s.

Remember these simple tips when it’s time to start thinking about what the men will be wearing in your wedding party. We all know your bride is going to stand out on the big day, make sure you are standing out with her.

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Susan Alexander Shapiro is the founder of BravoBride.com — the web’s leading destination for brides wanting to buy and sell new and pre-owned wedding items. BravoBride focuses on designer used wedding dresses, jewelry, accessories, ceremony and reception items, unique wedding favors— and everything else you need for the perfect inexpensive wedding.