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.

By Sharon Naylor, sharonnaylor.net.

Scoring freebies for the wedding is every bride and groom’s dream, especially when the Big Day is averaging over $24,000. You’re pretty lucky getting married right now, since so many wedding venues and professionals are sweetening their deals by giving out incentive freebies…a free leather-bound photo album here (value $500,) a free cocktail party station there (value $400.) With so many freebies in the air, grooms are feeling mighty generous in giving some of them away. And who are the lucky recipients of these? The groomsmen.

When the guys have been asked to be in the bridal party, they’re often looking at some pretty hefty expenses when you add up travel and lodging for the weekend, the bachelor party, tuxes or suits, and more. From day one to the wedding day, the guys can spend several hundred dollars apiece…and grooms don’t want to wipe out their best friends’ and brothers’ finances for the honor of escorting a bridesmaid up the aisle and posing for photos. So they’re handing out some sweet free things to help cut their groomsmen’s costs.

Here are five of the top freebies that today’s considerate groom is happy to give away:

1. A free tuxedo. It’s long been a practice of reputable tux shops to grant a free tuxedo rental with an order of five or six tuxes. The shop intends that freebie for the groom, but if he has a best man or groomsman who’s cash-crunched, the groom is now giving him the freebie and the two of them keep that gift quiet from the other, paying guys. Happens all the time. One catch, though: you have to make sure the tux shop allows you to give the freebie to another guy. Some shops inexplicably have made this freebie non-transferable. So before you tell your cash-challenged groomsman that he can have your free tux, double-check with the tux shop to be sure you can give it to him. It would be awful if your best man thinks he isn’t paying that $99 for the tux (which is the national average cost, according to TheWeddingReport.com,) and then finds out at the last minute that he has to. You could, of course, write him a check or PayPal him, if that non-transferable thing pops up, which removes the dilemma. But the advice remains the same: check with the tux shop.

2. Free shirts. Since more grooms and groomsmen are wearing smart suits and ties to formal weddings, you could give your guys free formal shirts for their wedding day attire. Here’s how to score the freebies: Have you seen all of those Joseph A. Bank commercials with the mind-blowing ‘Buy one shirt, get four free’ offers? There are your four free, designer shirts for the guys. Department stores do it too, with a ‘buy one designer shirt, get one free.’ The guys get their $100 shirts for free, and keep them to wear to work and to other weddings. The same goes with ties for the wedding day. Brides and parents can help you stay on the lookout for ‘buy one designer tie, get one free’ offers. If you need a few more ties for work, you buy three and get three freebies. You were going to buy ties for yourself anyway. Groomsmen get the wardrobe boost as your gift, and their girlfriends approve far more than they would yet another engraved beer mug.

3. Free hotel room. Hotels often thank brides and grooms who book big, multi-room blocks for their weddings by giving the happy couple a free room or suite for the wedding night, (sometimes even for the entire weekend.) But if you live nearby and plan to spend that night at home — or in the free room given to you by the other hotel where you booked a room block — you can give your groomsman that free room, or three of your groomsmen that free presidential suite (value $750 a night. With wet bar.) This one you’ll have to discuss with the bride first, though. She might want the presidential suite for her bridesmaids, which means you’ll have to have a discussion. Then there’s the free night’s stay at your destination wedding resort that gives everyone the ‘book three nights, get the fourth night free’ freebie that counts for everyone. No discussion needed there.

Sharon Naylor’s latest book is all about scoring freebies for your wedding.

4. Liquor. All of those wine bottles you’ve had for a while in your wine rack, maybe holiday presents you’ve received that aren’t a type of wine either of you likes. Bottles of liquor you have in multiples. Brands of vodka that don’t thrill you. Or the good stuff you’ve been saving for a special occasion. You can give them all to the groomsmen throwing you a bachelor party, saving them tons of money and clearing out your wine racks and liquor stash for some fresh, new bottles. The bride’s doing this with her ladies, so why not share the booze-soaked love with your guys?

5. The thing won at the bridal show. You’ll feel a little better about being dragged to that fourth or fifth bridal show the bride wants to go to (we know you enjoyed the first one, with all that free food and the drinks!) when your raffle tickets win a free party bus for three hours, or a 50% off catering coupon, free cigar-rolling station or other valuable prize. If you and the bride don’t choose to use these things for the wedding, or if it’s a duplicate of something you’ve already booked, you can hand these freebies to your guys to use for the bachelor party. Again, see if they’re transferable, and even if they’re not, you just get it in your name and put it to use. Some vendors are offering amazing raffle prizes, especially at the higher-end bridal shows it costs money to get into. And your lucky streak with the drawings could net big-time freebies for your guys. A free party bus? The guys will love that. Especially if you bring in all that liquor from your stash, too.

And of course, if your groomsmen aren’t in need of freebies, all of these can be handed to your dad. He may be paying for part of the wedding, or hosting an engagement party, the rehearsal dinner and a wedding weekend party. Some freebies from you may be very, very welcome.

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Sharon Naylor is the bestselling author of The Bride’s Guide to Freebies, which of course isn’t just for the bride, www.sharonnaylor.net.

Our favorite groomsmen gifts for the 2013 wedding season

Best man, groomsmen and ushers: no matter what the role, each guy in your wedding party deserves something special for taking part in the big day. To keep your busy wedding planning life as simple as possible, we’ve compiled this list of 2013′s hottest gifts.

Don’t forget: you can save 10% on any gifts purchased at The Man Registry by using the coupon code spring13 at checkout. Free shipping is also offered on orders over $149.

1. Embrace the ‘stache with the epic Gentleman’s Pilsner Set. Bonus points if you can get each of your groomsmen to model a different mustache style on the wedding day. [$49.95]

2. You can use this Custom Steak Branding Iron to sear your initials into grilled meet OR to burn your initials onto the cheek of an unsuspecting friend. The choice is yours. [$34.95]

3. It’s magic: anyone wearing these Brewsees Bottle Opener Sunglasses will suddenly become the most popular guy in the room. [$29.95]

4. A great gift for the guys or for the bride to give to the groom. The tips of these Secret Agent Cufflinks screw open to reveal a secret compartment where a note can be left. We just hope that note doesn’t read “I’m sorry, I cant.” [$44.95]

5. Craft beers are so last year. 2013 is the year where craft bourbon goes mainstream. With the Engraved Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel, you and your groomsmen can blend and age your own bourbon varieties right at home. The only rule is you’ve got to save some for us. [$69.95]

6. One of these items is NOT included in the Groomsmen Wedding Day Emergency Kit (although it probably should be): lint-roller, deodorant, razor, hair comb or mini bottle of vodka. Can you guess which one? [$27.95]

7. Technically, this is a golf shoe bag. But I’m sure you could find some room in it for some other golf course necessities. Y’know, like beers and stogies… [$26.95]

8. Warning: the contents of your Half Yard Ale Glass should not be consumed before the wedding ceremony. That is, unless you want a really fun wedding [$34.00].

9. Custom, wood-crafted wall signs always make for a unique groomsman gift. TheManRegistry.com has hundreds of creative pub sign designs. From poker to sports to beach bars, there’s sure to be a theme that fits each member of your wedding party. [prices vary]

10. How insanely cool is this Beer Flight Sampler Paddle? It’s perfect for the beer enthusiasts in your wedding party. [$47.95]

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What’s your favorite gift ideas from this list? Tell us which one and why in the comment section below.

Since the very first cold one was poured, men have been looking for creative ways to pry open their beers. You’ve probably seen key chains, flip flops and wallets all turned into bottle openers. But up until now, you probably never seen a pair of sunglasses that can crack open a cold one. Allow us to introduce Brewsees.

Brewsees are polarized sunglasses that feature heavy-duty bottle openers on either end. If you’re on the hunt for bachelor party attire or unique gifts for your groomsmen, look no further than these stylish specs. Available at The Man Registry for $29.95, they make for an affordable thank you gift that any beer lover is sure to appreciate.

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What’s the most creative way you’ve ever opened a beer bottle? Tell us about it in the comment section below.

In search of an out-of-the-box gift idea for the men of your wedding party? Look no further than the power of stones.

Sipping Stones is the alternative to using ice to chill your cocktail. Eliminating a common problem, Sipping Stones cools your drink perfectly without the watered down effect that ice has. Each set of Sipping Stones contains nine finely crafted cubes made from one hundred percent pure soapstone.

Sipping Stones will be the perfect complement to any piece of barware in your repertoire. This set is a great gift for dads, brothers and best friends — aka anyone who loves perfectly chilled beverages and smoothly flavored spirits.