Ribs. I had ribs for lunch, that's why I'm doing this.

They say the way into a man’s heart is through his stomach. We couldn’t agree more. Looking for man-friendly recipe  ideas for your next couples shower or man shower? Don’t stress. We’ve got you covered. Check out some of our ideas to get your creative juices flowing and, of course, feel free to put your own unique spin on them. Keep in mind that these recipes also work great if you’re preparing food for the rehearsal dinner.

A simple, fail-safe idea is to go with a Super Bowl or tailgate party theme. Remember that nearly any food can be fried or grilled. If you have a deep fryer on hand, the possibilities are virtually endless. A few of our favorite foods to fry: fish, chicken wings, cheese, pickles, zucchini, peppers, olives and mushrooms. For grilling, you can go with the traditional burgers, dogs, brats, barbeque chicken, meat and veggie kabobs, fish, or try kicking things up a notch by grilling something a little different such as spicy lamb sliders. To increase the flavor, try grilling on cedar planks. If your guests are die-hard sports fans, try using a burger or dog grill topper with your crowd’s favorite team logo or mascot.

A few more of our favorite recipe ideas:

Tacos/burritos – fill soft tortillas with your meat of choice, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream and guacamole.

Pigs in a blanket – wrap vienna sausages, polish sausages or hot dogs with store-bought crescent rolls. Lightly brush the outsides with garlic butter and bake.

Bacon-wrapped apricots or dates – because bacon goes well with anything. (recipe at Real Simple)

7-layer dip – Refried beans, jalapenos and fresh avacado. What else is there in life? (recipe at Food Network)

Potato salad with bacon – it takes about 20 minutes to prepare, but the memory of its taste will last a lifetime. (recipe at Real Simple)

Grilled cheese sandwiches with chutney – a fresh take on an All-American classic. (recipe at Real Simple)

Spiced beef empanadas -a great example of something you could buy pre-made in the frozen food section at your local grocery store – if you don’t care about taste. This recipe from Real Simple would get two thumbs up from us if we were willing to put down our empanadas.

Bottom line: Go with your gut. If you like it, odds are your guest will, too. Just make sure to offer a little variety (and a few veggie options for non-meat-eaters) and you’ll be sure to please everyone. Cheers!

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Do you know have any favorite recipes that would work for a manly wedding shower? Let us know in the comments section below.

Looking for a wedding shower that both the groom and bride can get excited about? Look no further than the bar shower. Whether the engaged couple already has a bar in their home, plan to have one, or simply enjoy entertaining guests – a bar shower is a great way to include the groom and other guys in the pre-wedding festivities.

This is a great shower for groomsmen or friends of the groom to organize. First, think about the types of bar gifts the shower should include. For example, is the shower being thrown to help stock the couple’s bar with barware gifts (such as wine, beer, martini, margarita, brandy or champagne glasses), utensils and accessories (such as wine and beer bottle openers, wine racks, jiggers, martini shakers or drink recipe books) or liquor only? We recommend including all of the above.

Blue Label - standard refreshment at the TMR offices

Next, think about the invitations. Make sure to include the theme of the shower someplace on the invitation, so guests will know what kind of gifts are appropriate. If guests will be bringing liquor, you may even want to call the guests that have accepted ahead of time to let them know what type of liquor to bring. Otherwise, the couple may end up with seven bottles of scotch. While this may not be a problem for some couples, others may prefer a slightly more diversified bar. If the gifts will include other bar items, it’s helpful if the couple has already registered for some options.

What about guests? This type of couples shower easily lends itself to the wedding party and friends of the couple, but can also include close family members and extended relatives. This type of shower is usually held during evening hours, so refreshments can include drinks and hors d’oeuvres rather than a full meal.

GroomsAdvice Tip: What could be better than a shower that brings together friends, good liquor and plenty of bar gifts? Not only is this a great way to stock the couple’s bar, it’s also a great opportunity for some of the couple’s friends who don’t already know each other to meet in a fun, relaxed atmosphere before the wedding.

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Ring bearer gift of the day: Personalized Train Bank This old fashioned train bank can be engraved with up to 2 lines of personalization.

Personalized Silver Plated Train Bank

Totally awesome non-wedding link of the day: The Pug Head Tilt. We can’t stop laughing.

Grooms, check out TheManRegistry.com for our manly wedding registry, groomsmen gifts, and information for grooms!