How to Budget a Fun and Fabulous Stag Party Invitations

I’ll be honest with you – I’ve just had my own stag party and I must have made a note of this post title while I was still drunk! I have no idea what I meant. Still, let’s see if we can’t extract a little meaning from this random collection of words. Maybe I ran two titles together and it was supposed to be two pieces, one about budgeting the stag party (which still makes my head hurt thinking about it!) and the other one – oh, I don’t know. Anyway, here goes…

Stag party budgets are notoriously difficult to control, because there are usually quite a few attendees but no-one ever pays up until during or after the event. Here’s a tip for you, if you are worried about footing the whole bill for your stag: arrange it months in advance and don’t pay for anything without collecting money first.

The budget should be catered to the lowest level of disposable income in your group. Otherwise people you want to come, won’t, because they can’t afford where you’re going. I once practically broke my bank account to spend three lousy days in Portugal as the best man for a guy I’d known for decades – not because Portugal is lousy, and not even because the place we were in was lousy (it was amazing, which was the problem): but because I was working in a bar at the time, earning minimum wage.

Avoid budgetary arguments after a few beers by warning everyone well in advance that there’s going to be a kitty – and set a reasonable amount for it. It depends on the friends of course. If it’s a close knit group of people then you can probably get away with levying an amount suitable for income off each person. My stag weekend did that because I wanted a small one, so we went with four guys and quite happily shared a pot that had had unequal amounts put into it.

One of the major problems of stags, though, is that they tend to consist of groups of people who don’t know each other. So all one person sees is someone else not pulling his weight – rather than a dear friend who simply can’t afford to pay as much for stuff as everyone else. If you are really worried, backtrack to point one. Set a travel budget that is geared to the lowest financial denominator and do no kitty. Then individuals can drop out of rounds if they are worried about how much they are going to be spending.

Fun and money worried never go together – not for the groom, or the best man, or for anyone on the stag weekend. Be sensible. Talk about it early, get everyone’s accommodation and travel money paid to you before you make a booking – and leave the rest of it to individuals. They are big boys, after all!

For more information of Stag Weekends, please visit: http://www.redsevenleisure.co.uk/stag-weekends.php

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Do You Vow Muse?

You know you’ve been in this situation: you’re sitting at an elegant wedding reception when a groomsman stands up and clinks his champagne glass with a fork. The crowd quiets, and the groomsman begins with, “I wasn’t sure what to say to Julia and Robby, so I thought I’d just wing it…” When has this introduction to a groomsman speech (or bridesmaid speech!) ever ended well? Enter Vow Muse.

Vow Muse—also known as Angie and Alicia—is a writing consultation company that specializes in penning personalized words for weddings and events. The Muses provide help to couples and their wedding party who are struggling with any of the written parts of their wedding: vows, best man/bridesmaid speeches, and wedding ceremonies to name just a few. Their ability to find each client’s unique voice and allow it to articulately shine through on that special day ensures perfection instead of the uncertainty and possible catastrophe of DIY vows and toasts.

Vow Muse came to be after Alicia sat down with yet another friend who sought her help with writing wedding vows. She wondered if it was possible for her to assist the world at large with her personal writing talents, and nabbed Angie to be her vow-writing partner in crime. The two harnessed their energies and got to work. Vow Muse sprang into action in the summer of 2010, and has been busily writing wedding ceremonies, toasts, speeches, and offering public speaking coaching ever since!

Angie and Alicia are professional, quick-witted ladies who spin a simple conversation with their clients into a brilliantly worded, custom-made success. The process of working with a Muse is simple:

It all starts with a conversation.

First, one of the Muses chats with you to get a feel for your personal voice and style while learning about the project you’re working on. Don’t worry if you’re feeling bashful; they chat professionally and can make conversation with a dandelion if the situation calls for it.

Then you’re off the hook for a spell.

The Muse writes; you live your life!

Next, it’s revision time!

Now it’s your turn to review what’s been written to double check that it conveys the essence of you in a voice that reads like looking in a mirror. Want changes? No problem! Writing is a collaborative process, and with just a few quick notes from you (as simple or detailed as you want), the Muses revise.

Done and done.

Now get ready for your wedding to be a brilliant success! Even your mother-in-law will approve.

Getting help with your wedding vows isn’t cheating; it’s just plain smart. Your ceremony and celebration are likely being recorded for posterity, and the last thing you want is your perfect day remembered by the bridesmaid who was too drunk to give a coherent speech, or a groom who was nervous and stuttered through his vows.  Every bride deserves to have her mind put at ease that her dad won’t say anything too humiliating, or that the best man won’t be sharing indiscretions from the groom’s past. Plus, why stress over which twitter-patter inducing words to say to your love or how to say what you mean without being cheesy? Every bride needs a Muse.

Connect with Vow Muse at www.vowmuse.com, on twitter @vowmuse, or email them directly at [email protected]!

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Groomsmen Gifts: A Modern Tradition

There are many old traditions still visible in today’s modern wedding. One of the most obvious is the best man and groomsmen standing next to the groom during the ceremony. We now see this custom as an opportunity to involve our friends and close family members in our big day, but at one time the groomsmen were seen to guard the bride until she was married to her husband and new protector.

These days the groomsmen often help out with the arrangements and tasks leading up to the wedding, and most importantly keep the groom smiling no matter how stressful the wedding plans get. A modern tradition is that the groom gives each member of his wedding party a gift on the day of the wedding to say thank you for helping out. Whether your groomsmen gifts are traditional or modern is completely up to you.

Traditional groomsmen gifts offer a touch of class and remind us of an era our grandparents might recognize more easily than we would. A watch was a traditional gift for any big occasion, from graduation to retirement. The symbolism of a watch varies depending on your culture, but in North American it’s often seen as a wish for long life.

Other traditional groomsmen gifts are flasks, cufflinks and money clips. While most of use don’t wear shirts with cufflink holes, keep a flask in our hip pocket and prefer a debit card to a wad of cash, the timeless significance of these gifts is what makes them special.

A modern groomsman gift generally reflects the taste of the man receiving it. It could be sports related, like a golf set or a baseball bat engraved with the date of the wedding and the groomsman’s name. For a groomsman who travels frequently a leather carry-on featuring his initials, or a travel case for his grooming kit also makes a thoughtful gift.

No matter which route you choose, traditional or modern, adding personalization to the gift will remind your groomsmen of your big day and the important role they played in it. You can add their monogrammed initials, the wedding date and even the bride and groom’s names to many different types of gifts.

It’s important to think about each of your groomsmen and choose a gift that suits his personality and taste. Choosing the right gift is the best way to show just how well you know the men standing by your side and how much you appreciate them being there for you on your wedding day.

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More Theme Wedding Madness

It is a relief to see  that there are some people out there who just don’t give a darn how they look.  Not even on their wedding day.

I guess that’s not fair.  They DO care how they look, they just choose to look like a cartoon character or superhero.  Sure.  Why not?  I mean, if you’re going to do it, do it right.  Make sure people remember it.  Make sure, for instance, that they remember that you came to your wedding dressed as Wonder Woman, and that your groom dressed like Batman.

Holy Are-You-Kidding Me, Batman!

Lucky for these folks, both Batman and Wonder Woman were  part of Justice League of America in The Brave and the Bold #28, otherwise we’d take issue.  We already have to overlook the fact that these wackadoos were attended by Robin (that’s OK), the Joker (WTF?), Yoda (Come on, now), The Incredibles (Really?), Iron Man, Poison Ivy, and The Incredible Hulk (MARVEL COMICS, HELLO?!?!?!)   The bridesmaids came dressed in PowerPuff Girls costumes.  Oh, the humanity.  Step all over those of who who LIKE comic books, why don’t you?

Or, take these folks, who decided to kick it old, old, old, old school.

Yabba Dabba...oh whatever.

They actually said, “I yabba dabba do” in their vows.  Oh the sweet injustice of it all.  At least these people were purist.  The bride was attended by Betty Rubble, Barney Rubble stood up as best man, the children attendants were dressed as Bamm-Bamm, and the guests all dressed as cavemen.  Er, cave people.  My, my.

This one is the real kicker, though.  What would the cleaning bills cost to get all that GREEN PAINT off the wedding dress?

Really?

I get it that you saw Shrek on your first date.  I get that you liked it.  I liked it too.  A lot.  I watch it pretty often still.  But what on earth did your mother say when you told her you wanted to paint yourself completely green and wear fake ears on your wedding day?  Did she cry?  I kind of did, when I heard about this.  And the groom.  He’s 53!  Did he just not give a crap?  And what’s with the clown character in the back?  Are you TRYING to give me a heart attack?

Oh well, right?  As long as they are happy, that is what matters….