Guest Blogger Profile: Simon Daykin of GutsyGroom.com

All the planning is done, the guests have arrived, the menu is chosen, the DJ is booked and it’s the big day.  A lot of planning has gone into this day, but it’s not over yet.  On the wedding day the bride gets hair and make up done and is gushed over by the photographer and all her bridesmaids.

But the groom always seems to get left out…when was the last time you saw photos of the groom and groomsmen getting ready???  This doesn’t have to be the case, you’ve been involved in the planning process and now you deserve all that other good stuff on your wedding day.

Simon wonders why it is you never see photos of the groom and groomsmen getting ready together

I’ve compiled a list of a few do’s and don’ts for you, some of these are common sense, but after doing as many weddings as I’ve done…Trust me, as straight forward as some of these seem there’s always that one guy.

Make A Timeline And Stick To It!!!

We always include an extremely detailed itinerary for our couples and we do all we can to stick to it.  That being said I have been standing at the groom’s hotel door banging on it because he missed breakfast.  Getting up on time is key.  For more than the obvious reason, if you start the day on time you’re not playing catch up all day and your stress level will be lower.  I suggest not only setting the alarm clock, but get a minimum of TWO wake up calls and then make sure you have a friend come to the room and bang on the door until you answer it.

Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal Of The Day

Once you’re up and about it’s time to get some food in ya.  Make time for breakfast, I say this because you’ll be very busy all day and may not have time to eat another real meal until you sit down to dinner.  And that is a long way off.  BUT…Don’t order room service.  Have breakfast with your parents, or your groomsmen, if you eat breakfast with your groomsmen you know they are up as well, and that they haven’t overslept.

Treat Yourself To A Little Something

This may seem like a no-brainer, but no matter how nice it is outside and how your buddy says you have plenty of time…don’t try to squeeze in 18 holes before the ceremony.  From experience, please trust me on this one.  Not to say you can’t do anything but sit around the room.  Book a massage, get a facial, warm towel treatment and straight razor shave.  The photographer is gonna want pictures of the rings, so maybe get a manicure the morning of the wedding, that way the nails will be in top form for the photos and all that hand shaking you’ll be doing later.

Don’t Forget Your Bride

While you’re having your massage and getting shaved, don’t forget about your bride.  Make a plan with your best man for him to take over the wedding day gift you got for her.  Have him take it directly to her room, but make sure she’s awake and dressed etc.  I found a good time to do this is when you know the photographer will be there, you know she’ll be up and have all her friends around, so it’s the perfect time to deliver the gift.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Don’t be afraid to indulge yourself on your wedding day.  You deserve it.  Do things that relax you (although I would steer clear of the bar) and make you feel good.  Don’t forget to eat whenever you get the chance, even if you think you’re not hungry.  If your groomsmen are coming to your room to get suited up, have the photographer there as well, most photogs bring a second shooter so grab that guy and have him take your pre-wedding shots.  But while doing all of this, don’t forget about your bride.  The great thing about hiring a planner is that you get to do all the good stuff on your wedding day and the planner makes sure it all runs smoothly…giving you the time to enjoy that massage you’ve booked for yourself.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

Pop culture may have you thinking of wedding planners as JLo or Martin Short barking orders and trying to seduce you.  But truthfully, a wedding planner can be a groom’s best friend.

If Frank isn't available for your wedding, OneWed has some great alternative options

Your girl has other things to do besides plan the wedding, which means you’ll get stuck doing everything she doesn’t want to do. This is where a wedding planner can come in handy. Let the planner do the things your fiancée doesn’t want to do. This leaves you free to do something fun, like watch SportsCenter or plan your honeymoon!

Another benefit of the wedding planner is that he or she provides a sounding board for your fiancée. Don’t feel like having a discussion about the difference between Robin’s Egg blue and Tiffany blue? Enter the wedding planner, someone whose job it is to not only listen, but to actually care, about these things.  On the other hand, if there is an issue you care about such as the importance of having a place where you and the guys can light a cigar at the reception, the wedding planner can become your advocate with your bride (and also your advocate with your parents or hers).

Need help finding a wedding planner? Come visit us at OneWed!

In our ongoing effort to provide the best content and advice for grooms, The Man Registry has invited Simon Daykin to join our efforts as our groom wedding planning & coordinating expert.

Simon and his wife Ciara Daykin are co-founders of Firefly Occasions. Simon also has founded GutsyGroom.com where he gives wedding and style advice to groom’s from a male perspective. He’s a natural fit for The Man Registry’s panel of groom experts.

Simon Daykin joins The Man Registry's panel of experts

Here’s an example of the type of Q/A advice Simon will be sharing with our readers:

Question- Who do we invite to the rehearsal dinner?

Simon: Traditionally you invite the families, ushers, groomsmen and bridesmaids.  I’m finding that these days that guest list is much, much larger.  Invite only the necessary people to the ceremony rehearsal but think about inviting all your guests to the dinner, you don’t have to pick up their tabs or buy their booze.  I suggest picking up the tabs for the people who attend the ceremony rehearsal but not the rest of the guests.  This will give the guests a chance to meet each other before the reception.  This will take away any awkward moments at the dinner table the next day because they have a chance to meet, chat and share a cocktail or two.  I have heard from numerous guests that they love a pre party before the reception on the big day.

Be sure to visit The Man Registry’s Ask the Wedding Expert section today and read great content from all of our expert partners.

Cheers!

We’re happy to share the world premiere of our first two commercials with our GroomsAdvice readers.

Meet the Man-Bride. he’s sort of a company mascot here at TMR. His mission: Inform grooms everywhere that there’s more to wedding planning than dresses, flowers, and registering for silverware. Of course, those activities are a huge part of the bride’s wedding experience.. However, at TheManRegistry.com we’re all about showing the groom ways that can get more involved and leave his mark on the wedding.

Enjoy!

We go way back with Big Rob from @drinkinggames. We’ve convinced him to share some of his legendary drinking game advice with the grooms out there who want a memorable bachelor party. So without further ado…

This looks familiar..

So you’re celebrating the last moments of your freedom, you and your boys are up for a night on the town.   If the best man does it right, he’ll get the gang primed and ready to go even before you hit the bars or bus.  Asking from experience, who’s got the funds to hit the bar in high gear sober?

Pregame It:

Get your buzz going early with an hour of power, it’s one of the best ways to start off the night.  Unless you’re drinking alone or at a family reunion, then it’s just sad. Throw in some shoulders or thumper, because nothing beats seeing your friends make a fool of themselves.

If the bachelor pre-party starts to accumulate more people – bust out a cup, quarter, and ice tray and play some Moose. (Editor’s note – this is one of our favorite games for after hours at TMR) It’s the quintessential stand around the table and makes-your-friends drink game.  It’s ridiculously addictive and so easy to play even your future brother-in-law’s friend that is in his seventh semester of community college can follow along. All you need to play is an ice tray and a large bowl. It’s best if everyone playing is drinking something different.  Set up the pieces as shown below and have everyone pour a bit of their drink into the bowl. Take turns trying to bounce the quarter from the table into the ice tray. If the quarter lands in the right column of the ice tray, you give out drinks. If it lands in the left column.. you drink. If someone is unlucky enough to bounce the quarter into the bowl – everyone must yell “MOOSE!.” The last one to do so has to drink the bowl…and it’s mixed contents.

Ice tray and bowl. It doesn't get any easier.

Bar:

By the time you hit up the bar you should be feeling like George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven; a confident cougar magnet hanging with your mob of friends.  Keep the dreamin’ alive by playing some more bar appropriate games avoiding the dice, quarters, and cards.  Make use of the sports playing on the TVs around the bar to aid in your intoxication and invent drinking rules for certain sports.  Use your friends as a source of your drinking pleasure by singling them out by their catch phrase or every time the text someone.  Involve the whole crew by making each other only refer to people by nicknames.

Hey look at me - it's my bachelor party!

As always tip your bartenders, and be aware of your surroundings; I’m sure you don’t want the bridegroom in a fight with a 300 pound biker named Curly.

The Aftermath:

Grab some Waffle House, regale each other on the night’s events, and make drunken promises to do it again.

For daily tweets on new drinking games and reminders of old favorites, follow @drinkinggames on Twitter. If you’re not using Twitter – start! And while you’re there, follow @themanregistry as well.

Follow The Man Registry on Twitter

It’s always so impressive when the guys come up with some brilliant unique find.  It shows you’re thinking about the details that would make your wedding day creative and thoughtful.

So, boys..let me help you out with a fashion tip:

Check out this etsy shop, Cyberoptix Tie Lab

With hundreds of beautifully, hand-screened ties.  There’s definitely one that would fit your wedding theme.  Or better yet, create your theme from a tie of your choosing…[nudge, nudge!]

Yes, I’m looking out for you guys!

Gretchen Viles of MyWedding.com is a weekly guest contributor to the GroomsAdvice blog. She specializes in blogging about groom’s issues from a bride’s perspective. Founded in 2002, MyWedding.com has grown into the most comprehensive easy-to-use local wedding guide on the Internet. They recently launched a wedding ideas and trends content section that focuses on all aspects of wedding planning.

My girlfriend, who just got married, said that the only times she and her fiance would get into a ‘disagreement’ was when he hadn’t had anything to eat.  Sometimes he’d not want to talk about the situation but would rather huff and puff about it, for no apparent reason.  But then an hour or so later, he would come back around, apologize, and blame it on his hunger.

I have to admit, I’ve noticed my hubby in that same boat!  He gets all irritated and annoyed when I’m trying to talk to him about something he’d (normally on a full stomach) find interesting. So, does this prove that old saying correct?  “The way to a man’s heart IS through his stomach?” From what I gather, yes!

Grooms – keep in mind that Bride-to-be’s are super excited to share with you her wedding findings that day.  But, please do both of you a favor and let her know right away if you’re not ready to have a conversation about flowers, venue, or just anything wedding.  She’ll bite her tongue until you’ve had a bite to eat. It’ll save both of you time and grief!

Gretchen Viles of MyWedding.com is a weekly guest contributor to the GroomsAdvice blog. She specializes in blogging about groom’s issues from a bride’s perspective. Founded in 2002, MyWedding.com has grown into the most comprehensive easy-to-use local wedding guide on the Internet. They recently launched a wedding ideas and trends content section that focuses on all aspects of wedding planning.

GroomsAdvice is proud to have Dr. Taffy Wagner of DebtAtTheAltar.com with us to lend some of her expertise on newlyweds’ finances.

Let’s be honest, grooms. You could probably do without all the wedding planning and stress and just head to the courthouse, get the marriage certificate and call it a day. But if you’ve been listening to your fiancée — even for a few fleeting instances — since you popped the question, you know that the wedding day is something your bride-to-be has dreamt about since she was a child playing dress up with her mom’s wedding veil. It’s become obvious that a quick trip to the courthouse just isn’t in the cards. Guys, if you understand this, you’ve passed the first hurdle. Congratulations!

Your wedding planning discussions will focus on many important decisions, from choosing the members of your wedding party to the size of the wedding cake (or groom’s cake) to what gifts you’ll register for. When these topics come up, it’s natural for the budget to come into play. You’ll be discussing whether the bride’s or groom’s parents are paying for certain aspects of the wedding or if you and your fiancée will be footing the bill. Because money will ultimately influence your wedding plans, it’s a good time to start looking at your future finances as a couple.

This wedding stuff ain't cheap

If you and your fiancée haven’t discussed finances yet, the wedding planning period is the time to start. This is likely your first joint decision about a monetary investment. Regardless of who’s paying, you should try to work together to make these decisions. Ask each other questions like these:

1). Is she willing to compromise and look beyond the most expensive floral arrangements?
2). Are you willing to commit to not overspending on groomsmen gifts?
3). Are both of your desires being taken into consideration and included?

It’s important to start making compromises now. Remember, you’ll soon be standing before a wedding officiant, saying: “For richer or poorer.” When you say “I do,” it’s for the entire package. Whether she has debt, pays bills late or has less-than-immaculate credit, she’ll be your wife.

It’s extremely important to have a financial plan as you prepare for your wedding day. Talk with your bride-to-be about both of your financials. Determine who’s best at managing money and who should be in charge of paying the bills each month. You should know what outstanding bills are being brought into the marriage from both sides.

Keep in mind that these questions are not the end of the conversation, but the beginning. Financial honesty, openness and communication are essential to determining whether you’ll have financial harmony or stress in your marriage.

Dr. Taffy Wagner is a certified educator in personal finances. She is the creator of Money Talk Before The Commitment: Walk and Debt Stops At The Altar financial education program for engaged couples and newlyweds. Visit DebtAtTheAltar.com.

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Grooms, visit TheManRegistry.com and create your wedding registry, get groomsmen gifts, and read wedding advice just for men.

From time to time, we like to post about a cool new product that we’re carrying at The Man Registry – the web’s only grooms wedding registry

The Portopong lets you to take the game of beer pong anywhere. All you’ll need is a flat surface to play on. Better yet, it floats… so play in the pool or at the beach. If you’re heading off to a ball game or concert, take the portopong with you for tailgating fun. The possibilities for places to play are endless with this very innovative portable beer pong table! Available in blue or pink.

Portopong - Floating Beer Pong Surface

Get one for yourself or pick it up as a groomsman gift – Cheers!

The Arizona Cardinals were 40-1 odds to win the Super Bowl before the season began. In week 16, they went to New England and were trounced by the Patriots 47-7. Only in the NFL could this team now be playing for a shot at being world champions. Parity has made predicting what’s going to happen during the season and playoffs downright impossible – but we’re going to take our best shot.

Arizona Cardinals 23 Pittsburgh Steelers 20

Hey, who are we to bet against an underdog?  We think Kurt Warner has just a little more magic left and he’ll call it a career after his Cardinals take down the Steelers. He tends to play close games in Super Bowls, and we think this one will be no different.  Arizona is just flat-out a fun team to watch. The Steelers are solid, but by no means unbeatable….and their injury questions do raise some concern.

Also, we’ve gotta mention Larry Fitzgerald. Here is his stat line for the three playoff games that the Cardinals have played so far:

23 catches. 419 yards. 5 touchdowns = RIDICULOUS!

A scene we should see often on Sunday

If you’re entertaining on Super Sunday, we recommend checking out our app day blog from a few week’s back. It’s got some great ideas for an appetizer-only party.

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Grooms, create your wedding registry, pick up personalized groomsmen gifts, and get expert wedding advice at TheManRegistry.com