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!

Bruce Wayne's wedding day transportation

Finally — something about the wedding that doesn’t involve what color the flowers should be or how many tiers the wedding cake should have! One wedding-related issue that should get most grooms very excited is cars. It’s the groom’s financial responsibility to arrange transportation from the reception site to the hotel, airport, or wherever else the married couple will be headed after the wedding festivities have ended. Because there are a lot of options when it comes to wedding transportation, we’ve broken it down to help simplify the decision. Here are some of the most popular options.

Traditional Limousine — You can’t go wrong with this traditional and always classy option.

Stretch SUV — Popular models include the Cadillac Escalade, Ford Excursion, and Hummer limos. Just be sure to book early because these choices tend to go fast!

Sports Car — Check your local phone book for companies that specialize in renting high-end sports cars such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Or if you happen to know someone who’s a car collector, you might even be able to borrow one for the occasion.

Classic Car — This is another classy option. Rolls Royce, Packard, or Bentley limos are usually available through a limo service.

Horse Drawn Carriage — If you want to make your bride feel like she is in a fairytale, this could be your best bet. These are very popular for summer weddings when you can count on the weather being warm. If you or someone you know owns a horse, this could be the perfect opportunity to include pets in the wedding.

Want to Stand Out from the Crowd? — Use your imagination. On your wedding day, the world is your oyster. If you want to fly off in a helicopter, make it happen! Batmobile? Why not?

How soon should you book? You should reserve your transportation no later than four months before the wedding. This is especially important if you’re getting married during the popular spring and summer wedding months. If you wait too long, you could end up calling every limo service in the state to find exactly what you want.

Typically, your costs will include a flat hourly rate, fuel, and gratuity. Most limo services that specialize in weddings can also provide champagne, wine, or flowers in the vehicle (at an extra cost). However, if you really want any of these extras, we recommend buying it yourself and dropping it off beforehand to save you a few bucks.

GroomsAdvice Recommendation: It’s pretty tough to go wrong with any of these choices. If you’re a car lover, go with something that represents your style, and surprise your bride with some champagne waiting in the car. This ride can often be some of your first alone time as a married couple. Have a toast in honor of each other.

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Groom’s wedding gift of the day: Maxam 2 Person Tent This tent is great for any couple who enjoys camping and spending time outdoors.

Maxam 2 Person Tent

Totally awesome non-wedding link of the day: Top 10 Super Bowl ads of all time (stay tuned to GroomsAdvice later this week for our Super Bowl pick)

Create a wedding registry, purchase groomsman gifts, and research weddings all at TheManRegistry.com