It’s always exciting to hear about new supplemental wedding registries hitting the market. Today’s guest contributor just so happens to be the founder of one of these companies. His start-up, Foodie Registry, allows couples to register for restaurant gift certificates. We really dig the concept and hope you will to. Take it away, Ben.

Congratulations on getting engaged! You’re the man. Now let me tell you what happens between now and your wedding date. A series of expensive decisions will be made about every single facet of your big day. And while your loving fiancee will seek your input and appear on the surface to run a very democratic decision-making process, in reality your measly opinion will matter very little and, even more importantly, you won’t really care!

Cream linens instead of white? Great! Kelly green instead of emerald for one of your wedding colors? Sure honey! Photobooth instead of portrait photographer? That’s what I was thinking too!

Don’t get me wrong. You should definitely care about your wedding…it will be the best day of your life. It’s just that the little details will matter soooo much more to her than most of them will to you, so you’ll go along to make her happy. Which is exactly what a good guy like you should do.  And, there are some decisions that you will for sure have a distinct position on.

Full bar or just beer and wine? FULL BAR! WE MUST HAVE A FULL BAR!

See what I mean? Another area where you should man up and have a voice is your registries. The reason? Unlike most of the wedding decisions, which are things you have to live with for one blurred, whirlwind day, your registry decides things that are a bit more permanent. Things that will clutter your house or apartment and, if you’re not careful, turn it into a bonified chick pad.

One solution is to make sure you pay close attention what she’s aiming that scan gun at and veto any gross violations, but another is to steer your girl toward registries that are more your speed. Most couples end up with around 3 registries these days. Leave all registry decisions up to her?  Enjoy your new matching pink towels and your new mango pitter.

This is why we’re such big proponents of alternative (to department store) registries. The Man Registry itself offers an awesome selection of unique gifts that appeal both sexes (and some that are just for you!). My company Foodie Registry lets wedding couples register for gift certificates to awesome restaurants. And there are a lot more options, from honeymoon registries to charity registries to adventure registries and more. The main thing is to make sure you research the options, see what appeals, and throw some alternatives in the mix. You’ll be happy you did.

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Ben Reid is co-founder of Foodie Registry, a wedding registry for gift certificates to the best restaurants in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Denver. You can connect further with them on Twitter and Facebook.

By Guest Blogger: OneWed.com

“But why do we have to create a wedding registry when what we really want is money?” It’s a frequently asked question on OneWed’s advice column. There’s a two-part answer:

1.    Just because you want money, doesn’t mean that’s what you’re going to get. A lot of people do not like giving money as a present, so it’s better to tell them what you want, then to have them guess at it.

2.    Sometimes, gifts are meaningful. If you get money, I’m sure you’ll spend it wisely. You’ll pay for your wedding, your honeymoon, maybe even put a little in savings. Or, maybe you’ll pay some bills with it. But when you look at your honeymoon photos will you really remember who helped pay for that experience? Sometimes a gift can be meaningful. You probably won’t remember who gave you every last towel, glass, or dish, but you’ll be amazed that sometimes you’ll look at a vase, or even a glass or dish and remember that it came from a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, or a loved one no longer with you.

In all likelihood, you will be given money as a gift. I seriously doubt that there’s ever been a bride or groom who hasn’t been given money. But, don’t overlook the value of a few well-chosen gifts as well.

Would you rather spend hours upon hours training your dog to bring beer from the kitchen OR invest in this marvel of modern technology? The RC cooler can hold up to 12 drinks plus ice! It even comes with a bottle shaped remote.

RC Cooler!

Item details:

Full function remote moves the Cooler left or right, forwards or backwards.
* Works indoors or outdoors on the patio.
* Collapses for easy storage and measures approx 12″ x 14 1/4″
* Includes removable shoulder strap.
* Zippered Lid to keep the cold in.
* Requires one 9V and Six C size Batteries (not included)

Makes a great gift for a man for any occasion (Father’s Day, Birthday, Boss’ Day, etc..) Find this and other great guy-friendly wedding gifts at TheManRegistry.com!

Amongst The Man Registry’s great outdoors wedding gifts is the Coleman Portable Fryer.

Coleman Propane Fry Well - Propane Fryer

There is no better way to enjoy a camping trip or tailgating than with some delicious fried food. This beauty can hold up to 1lb. of food and features a temperature auto shut-off (just in case you get carried away with some of the other joys of camping). A great addition to your MAN REGISTRY.

Product features:

• Operates on a 1lb disposable propane cylinder
• 6 qt. 1 lb. capacity
• Spring-loaded lid with see through pane, vents and latches for secure close
• Manual temperature control
• Thermometer & built in handles included

Over the past month, we’ve been hinting at some big things coming to The Man Registry.. Well, we’re ready to let the cat out of the bag on one of them. We’re proud to announce our partnership with Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outdoors Outfitter!

What does this marriage between two manly companies mean for all of you grooms out there? You’ll now be able to add even more outdoors gear, grill equipment, and camping supplies to your wedding registry at TMR.  Take a look at some of the new items now available:

Thermo-fork

Garmin handheld GPS

Portable fryer

Weber charcoal grill

Corn grilling basket

RC Cooler!

We even offer Cabela’s gift cards in $25, $50, and $100 denominations.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we’ll be adding many more essential wedding gifts from Cabela’s. Same man time. Same man channel.

Cheers!