He may not be standing right next to you at the altar, but your old man will certainly be a huge part of the wedding day. Whether it’s getting up early for a round of golf, double checking that your tie is straight or giving you a pep-talk before the ceremony, your dad will be right there when you need him on the big day. He played a huge role in making you the husband you’ll be, so the least you can do is thank him with a unique gift. Five of our favorite ideas are pictured below. And as a special offer to our readers, we’re offering 10% off orders over $100 from now through November 13, 2011. To redeem, simply use the code winter11 at checkout on The Man Registry.

Father of the Groom Cufflinks

Dashing Father of the Groom Cuff Links with Personalized Case – Let him proudly announce his F.O.G. status by sporting this classy cufflink set that comes complete with a stainless steel storage case that can be engraved. [$24.95]

Monogrammed Grillmaster Plus Apron

Personalized ‘Grillmaster” Plus” BBQ Apron – Is dad a BBQ fanatic? Make sure he looks the part with our customized grilling apron that can be personalized with a three-initial monogram. [$42.99]

Personalized Cherry Wood Humidor

Personalized Cherry Wood Cigar Humidor – Few things in life can top sitting down for a stogie with your old man. With our custom humidor, he’ll be able to keep his cigars safe and secure. Holds 12 cigars.  [$49.99]

Personalized Men's Dresser Set

Personalized Men’s Dresser Set – Our dresser set features a catch-all tray for easy key/money/wallet storage as well as a photo box that’s ideal for keepsakes. A sentimental, yet useful gift. [$42.95]

Personalized Hampton Putter Set

Personalized Putter Set – Our unique putter set features a putter that disassembles, two balls and a wooden practice cup… all stored in an elegant wood case that can be personalized with the recipient’s initials. [$44.99]

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Check out The Man Registry for more great gift ideas for men.

We hear about new wedding trends on a daily basis. Many of them make us shake our heads and wonder if any groom or bride would ever buy-in. However, every now and then there’s one that we can legitimately get excited about. Enter custom love paddocks from Lock-itz. If you’ve never heard of  these paddocks and the tradition behind them, don’t fret it. We hooked up with Lock-itz founder Chris Coburn and got the low-down on what his product is all about. Check out our exclusive interview below.

What are love padlocks, and how are they typically used?
Couples attach love padlocks (also known as love locks) to a fence, gate, bridge or other public fixture to symbolize their love. For centuries, couples have demonstrated their commitment with a locked padlock at some of the most exotic and romantic places in the world.

Where did this unique idea originate and is it becoming more popular in the U.S.?
Engraved padlocks can be traced back to an ancient Chinese tradition, but more recently have been spotted in many other countries. The Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris is a very popular site for love padlocks. And there are many sites around the U.S. where love padlocks are being seen, such as New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, Chicago’s Michigan Avenue Bridge, and southern Alabama’s Dothan Area Botanical Gardens.

What types of custom padlock options do you offer?
We currently offer padlocks in three sizes: (1-3/16-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch shackles). The size of the padlock body is the same for all three sizes — 1-3/4 inches wide and ¾-inches thick.  Each padlock is available in seven colors and includes up to four lines of engraved text in a choice of eight different font styles. Customers can also view their custom padlocks on our website to ensure accuracy before submitting their orders.

How long does it take to have a custom padlock created?
Orders are typically fulfilled within one to three days from the time they are submitted, and delivery usually takes two to five days. Overnight and international shipping is also available, although delivery times may vary depending on destination.

What’s the cost of the padlocks?
Our custom engraved padlocks start at $34.99, including your choice of color, font, up to four lines of engraved text and a gold or silver gift box. A brief description of the history and background of love padlocks is also included for recipients who may not be familiar with the tradition.

A sampling of the styles & designs that Lock-itz offers.

How are love padlocks being incorporated in weddings or the planning process?
Love padlocks are truly a unique and memorable wedding gift.  Our padlocks have been used as gifts from the groom to the bride.  They can be given as gifts from friends or relatives of the wedding couple to commemorate that special day.  We have also seen couples use the love padlock in the ceremony itself, where the padlock is locked and the key is thrown into a river or lake.

What’s the most unique engraving you’ve seen so far, or what’s the most creative way you’ve seen a love padlock being used for a wedding?
One our favorite engravings came from an order recently shipped to the United Kingdom that said: “You make my heart go boom boom.” We also recently had a customer order four padlocks (two in English and two in French), with an engraved message asking his girlfriend to marry him. He planned a trip to Paris and proposed to his girlfriend on the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris, and they left the two padlocks engraved in French on the bridge and kept the other two as keepsakes. Of course, she said yes!

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lock-itz is a sponsor of the man registry’s groomsadvice blog

Connect further with Lock-itz on Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow their official blog here.

The best kept secret in steak is no longer a secret. We’re happy to announce that we’ve recently joined forces with Sweetwood Cattle Co. to offer several of their exquisite steak gift packs on The Man Registry. This means that you can now show your appreciation for the best man, groomsmen and ushers with an edible, mouth watering assortment of some of the tastiest steak (the gift packs work great for holiday shopping as well)! Our filet, ribeye, strip and Grand Champion assortment will ship to you directly to you from our USDA facility via 2day air to ensure the highest quality and freshness.

Hunger incuding: the Sweetwood Cattle Co. strip steak

Sweetwood Cattle is the creation of Ryan Wood, a former NFL player and co-founder of Under Armour. Ryan gave up the corporate life to pursue his dream of owning a cattle ranch in his native Colorado. The ranch, located near Steamboat Springs, measures 652 acres and is the source for some of the highest quality beef this writer has ever tasted. The secret to Sweetwood’s success isn’t much of a secret at all.. it’s just good ‘ol fashion American beef raising.

From Ryan:

“Our feed program is sustainable from top to bottom. Our cattle are raised on grass from birth to 15 months, and then introduced to blended grains from Colorado along with a ‘sweet’ treat that we’ve created for added energy and overall health. A calculated amount of sugar from beets grown in Colorado and various natural herbs give our cattle a natural boost of energy during critical winter months. No hormones, no antibiotics, no shortcuts.” – via American Cowboy

So whether you’re in the market for some edible wedding party gifts or holding a bachelor party cookout — we highly recommend checking out Sweetwood’s offerings. You’ll thank us later!

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How often do you grill steak? What’s your favorite cut? Tell us what you love in the comment section below.

In search of that special wedding gift? Photo to canvas prints from EasyCanvasPrints.com might be just what you’re looking for. This easy-to-use service allows you to upload a photo from your computer and create a unique canvas print within minutes. Whether it’s an engagement shot, wedding photo or just an image of the wedding party hanging out before the wedding… you’re photos will look fantastic and serve as a memorable gift for the bride and groom.

EasyCanvasPrints (like this one) are a great gift to the bride & groom or a unique thank you gift for attendants.

EasyCanvasPrints gives you a plethora of options to play around with when creating your canvas. Sizing ranges from 8″x8″ to 30″x40″. You can also select a depth of 3/4″ or 1.5″ AND choose between three edge options (image wrap, mirror wrap, and color border). Additionally, color finishing (black and white or sepia) and image retouching is offered to help refine the print. Given all of these tools, there’s no excuse for you not to create a fantastic print that will proudly be hung on the wall for years to come.

EasyCanvasPrints is currently offering 25% off all canvas prints plus free ground shipping. So what are you waiting for? Get over there now!

Side view of canvas featuring image wrap.

These guys deserve gifts they'll actually put to use

Looking for stylish, yet practical groomsman gifts that the guys in your wedding party will use beyond the wedding day? No one wants to give a gift he won’t use more than once in his life. No need to worry; there are plenty of useful gift options out there to fit every guy’s personality.

Here’s a round-up of some suitable and functional gifts that your groomsmen will use for years to come.

Personalized Sterling Silver Plated 512MB USB Flash Drive Key Chain – Much more than a standard key chain to corral his keys, this sharp-looking key chain’s built-in  512 MB flash drive, which can be engraved with up to three initials, is bound to come in handy at the office, on a business trip, or anywhere he might need to access important files or data.

Personalized Leather Stash Tray – This useful gift serves as the perfect spot to stash your keys, wallet, change and more not only at home but on the road when it snaps open to lie flat. The leather tray’s back plate can be personalized with up to two lines of text up to 10 characters each.

Personalized Silver Square Cuff Links – These stylish, sterling silver-plated square cuff links are a classic design that will never go out of style. Beyond your wedding day, he’ll wear them at formal occasions (such as important business meetings, religious occasions, weddings and other dressy events) time and time again in the years to come. To add a personal touch, the cuff links can be engraved with three block initials.

Personalized Metro Wallet/Money Clip – This practical metro wallet/money clip features a smooth brown leather exterior accented with orange stitching and a textured orange interior, perfect for organizing his cash and credit cards. It can be customized with two lines of text up to 20 characters per line.

Personalized USB Keychain

Men's Leather Stash Tray

Engraved Silver Square Cuff Links

Metro Leather Wallet - Money Clip Combo