Creating a Comprehensive Wedding Planner List

Important Items for a Wedding Planner List

For a bride and groom who wish to plan their wedding, a complete wedding planner list can be helpful in ensuring everything is coordinated for the big day. Great tools to help make this wedding planner list are websites especially designed to account for all the details of the wedding. There are even some free sites that offer this service at no charge.Other items to consider for a list are marriage laws, reception needs, ceremony needs, guest lists, bridal party events, and the all important budget.

Marriage Laws

Marriage laws are different in every state, and should be researched on a local level. All states require a marriage license for a marriage to be considered legally binding, and some states still require blood testing prior to being issued a marriage license.Also the bride’s name change usually cannot be completed until after the marriage license has been signed by the person performing the wedding.

Then she will usually have to go in person to the social security office and department of motor vehicles (or local driver’s license office) with the completed and signed marriage license to have all of her legal documents changed to her married name. These are important steps for any wedding planning list; they should be kept on hand for after the ceremony and honeymoon.

Reception Needs

A bride and grooms wedding planning list will likely have a large reception section; as this is where the party happens.All of the guests, food, decorations, and entertainment all need to end up at the same place at the same time. Coordinating this alone can seem intimidating, however planning ahead and checking items off of the wedding planning list as they’re completed is a way to simplify the process and stay organized.

Ceremony Needs

This part of a wedding planning list is likely to be the largest as this is the section where flowers, guests, and bridal part merge for the main event.The ceremony itself often lasts less than an hour, but the preparation often takes months. This wedding planning list can go on to include every aspect of an individual wedding to keep everyone organized.A wedding planning list can include: the guest list, floral arrangements, booking the church and reception area, finding a band or DJ, organizing the fittings and pick-ups of the wedding party’s attire, the rehearsal and dinner.

The Budget

The most important function a wedding planning list can serve is to keep a bride and groom with in their budgets as it is so easy to get overwhelmed by the variety available and lose track of what is really needed and wanted for the wedding.A wedding planning list can help keep the couple not only on the dollar but also from forgetting something important that is needed for the ceremony, reception, or honeymoon.

It can also ease a budget to discuss ahead of time exactly who will be paying for what.While traditionally, the bride’s family pays for the wedding – that need not be the case any more. Nevertheless, here are a few examples of what is traditionally divided and by whom.  Bride’s family traditionally pays for the reception, flowers, decorations, music, photographer, and bridesmaids’ gifts.

The groom’s family will traditionally provide for the marriage license, ties and gloves for the wedding groomsmen, rehearsal dinner, and the honeymoon.Keeping track of who is doing what on a wedding planner checklist will make the entire wedding process more enjoyable. The bride and groom should be able to relax and enjoy the first day of the rest of their lives together.

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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How to Save Money on Your Wedding (Without Looking Like You Did)

Your wedding is a one in a lifetime event. It is a celebration of your commitment and an expression of who you are as a couple. And if you are like many brides, you’ve dreamed of this day for a long time and know exactly what you’d like.

But in this economy, every bride is looking for ways to trim her wedding budget. And to help, I’ve created a list some of my favorite ways to cut your wedding costs – without your guests being the wiser.

Save Money On Your Wedding

Save on the Wedding Ceremony

• Use flowers in key areas only (like the altar or place where you will say your vows). This is where all of your guests eyes will be, and where the majority of your photographs will be taken.

• Have your florist create hand-tied bouquets for you and your bridesmaids. They are less expensive than wired ones and every bit as pretty.

• Use your wedding party flowers again at your reception. Bouquets can make amazing centerpieces at your head table. And they look gorgeous surrounding your cake.

Food and Beverage Costs

• Have your wedding at an “off-peak” time (Thursdays, Fridays or Sundays, and in January – May). Because these times are less popular, the caterer’s cost per person and the required guest count will be lower.
• Butler passed hor d’oeuvres can actually be less expensive than buffet style (because guests tend to eat less of them). Ask your caterer about your options.
• Create a signature drink (made with non-premium alcohol) to save on bar costs. Give the drink a personalized name to make it unique.
• Reduce your cocktail hour by 15-20 minutes. None of your guests will notice. And your bar bill will be less.
• Skip the champagne toasts – few guests really drink it. Or if you want to include it, try Prosecco, a sparkling Italian wine that tastes like champagne – but is much less expensive.

Save Money on Wedding Flowers/ Centerpieces

• Use fewer, larger tables to reduce the number of centerpieces and linen rentals required. Create tables of 10 instead of 8. (Use larger tables that guests aren’t crowded).
• Consider less expensive flowers like carnations, baby’s breath or gladiolas. These blooms tend to be 1/3 the cost of roses and look very dramatic and impactful when used in large monochromatic arrangements.
• Give your florist a long list of flowers you love and those you don’t. Then give him/her flexibility to use the most cost effective/ seasonal flowers from your list. Flexibility equal savings.
• Buy your own vases from places like Pier1 or Ikea. They can be less expensive than what your florist carries. (And you’ll be able to give the centerpieces away at the end of evening if you’d like).
• Ask your florist for ideas about including non-floral items that add impact while lowering cost. A vase filled with lemons or limes can be quite striking.

Save Costs on the Wedding Cake

• Save by using a faux cake. They are absolutely beautiful and your guests won’t notice the difference (you can still cut it).
• Or order only enough cake for 75% of your guests (more guests than you think actually don’t eat the cake).
• Another option is to have a smaller cake (tall but smaller cakes have great impact) and then a second “kitchen cake” which is cut and served to your guests (who will never notice).

Saving on the Wedding Attire

• Of course, I have to mention the savings associated with a preowned wedding dress! Whether you buy a preowned dress or sell your new gown after your wedding, you can expect to save up to 50% of the retail price. That is hundreds or potentially even thousands of dollars that can be used on other wedding costs (or towards upgrading your honeymoon).
• Rent your jewelry. You can actually rent beautiful necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more for you and your wedding party – all for a very reasonable rental fee.

This is a guest blog post by Josie Daga, founder of PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, a website she created to help brides buy and sell designer wedding dresses. You can also find her on her own blog, Facebook and Twitter.

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7 Budget Saving Tips on Choosing your Wedding Flowers

Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect. A surprisingly big part of this is the purchase of wedding flowers. There are some ideas you can use to make sure this part of the plan goes exactly as you need it to make sure your wedding day is exactly how you want. You also want to be able to pull off the day on a budget, so indulge with these money saving tips!

One: The Right Florist

You have to be able to find the florist you trust with your wedding flowers. While price is definitely your top concern, you should also keep in mind the florist who wants to serve your needs the best. A good florist will have access to many different modes of acquiring your wedding flowers and they will often offer you discounts if you buy in bulk.

Two: The Right Budget

You should determine how much money will be going to the purchase of your flowers. If you figure that 10 percent of your budget is dedicated to the flowers then you should stick with that. Go no higher and no lower. Make sure that your florist knows your budget and helps you to stick with it while serving your needs.

Three: The Right Vision

Only you and your bride/groom should be making the decisions on the wedding. While others can offer suggestions, the vision is yours. Your wedding flowers should express your vision totally and be a pinnacle of exactly what you need and desire in flowers. Seek out bridal magazines to find the right kind of flowers for you.

Four: The Right Setting

Your wedding flowers are going to be positioned somewhere as a monument to the marriage. Whether you want them at the reception as centerpieces or display them on a beautiful wood kitchen island for the guestbook attendant, or on the wedding aisle they have to look as close to perfect as possible. Your florist should be able to offer suggestions to you about where the wedding flowers should be placed and how.

Five: The Right Colors

Your flowers have to match the wedding party. Most of the groomsmen will probably be clad in black tuxedos so you mainly have to work with the bridesmaids and your mothers. The flowers should complement the dresses without outshining them or standing out too much. It’s a waste of time to pick the flowers before you get your wedding colors.

Six: The Right Dress

The florist will need to see your dress before they can properly prescribe your wedding flowers. You might think this is irrelevant, but the type of dress you wear will directly influence the types of flowers the florist will suggest. Your wedding flowers will have to complement your dress just as the colors of bouquets will complement the bride’s maids. This will also allow for you to stay within your budget, and at the same time choosing the perfect flowers.

Seven: The Right Commitment

Drafting a contract between you and your florist might not be the first thing you’ve thought of, but if you don’t, you run the risk of being left at the altar with no flowers. As well, you may end up with a bill larger than expected. Make sure the price is drafted as soon as it is decided upon so the florist cannot change the commitment.

Following these seven guidelines, will definitely keep you on budget. Flowers are the beauty of any wedding so indulge with these budget saving tip.

Romona Weston and her family lives in the beautiful Amish countryside of Lancaster County, PA. She loves everything about weddings and have helped many brides on their special day! She is a mom to 7 beautiful children and is married to a very patient and loving man. Romona loves to organize, write and hike and started a review blog where she uses her love for writing to give thorough and in-depth reviews, of all models and kinds of portable and stationary  kitchen carts and kitchen islands and rolling kitchen carts on wheels. As a researcher she presents an unbiased view of products. Explore her reviews at http://www.kitchencarts360.com.  If you are a retailer or manufacturer and would like her to review your product you can contact her via her website.

Image: http://www.weddingfloweridea.com

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Managing the DJ at your wedding

For most engaged couples, the wedding reception is a time to kick back, enjoy yourselves and celebrate with your family and friends. And nothing sets the stage for good times better than excellent music. This makes the selection of the right DJ critical, because they can make or break your reception.

After you hire your DJ, there are a few things regarding the DJ you should keep in mind as you move forward toward your big day and make plans for the musical portion of your evening.

1. Make your expectations of the DJ clear – If you want the DJ to be your emcee and announce the wedding party as well as play a more vocal role in the evening, you need to let your DJ know about this ahead of time. This also means providing him with a list of the wedding party as well as how to pronounce all the names. In addition, if there are any special dances or announcements he/she needs to make, let them know when all this needs to occur.

2. Plan your playlist ahead of time – Most DJs take pride in selecting the playlist based on your musical preferences, and this is perfectly fine. But if you have any special requests or must-play songs, you need to let the DJ know ahead of time. Some DJs use DJ event management software with which you can pick out particular songs from their music library, so if this is an option you should take advantage of it.

3. Map out the dance floor setup – This requires working with both your DJ and your venue to determine where the dance area will be set up and where the DJs equipment will be placed. DJs are very particular about their equipment and know exactly where speakers should be placed in order to get the best sound quality, so you should consider having them visit the venue to determine ahead of time the music logistics. Again, DJs with DJ event management software may have tools so you can collaborate in planning the setup with them.

4. Check in with your DJ a few days ahead of the event – You should do this with every vendor, but definitely confirm with your DJ a few days ahead about the time and place to make sure you are all on the same page. This can avoid any last-minute no-shows or lateness.

5. Put a friend in charge of assisting the DJ – Again, you should do this with all your big vendors, but the DJ has lots to set up and organize, so you should put a friend or family member in charge of checking with the DJ to make sure they are all set and if they need any help. Any good DJ should be fine, but it’s always best to have someone there in case of emergency (because you probably won’t have time to deal with it).

image source

4 Crazy Weddings Ideas for the Hopelessly In Love

Your wedding should reflect you and your future spouse, right? While most couples take this to mean choosing between a traditional or a modern wedding, others take their weddings to the extreme.

After all, it’s your day; why not make it your own?

Here are four crazy wedding ideas for the hopelessly in love.

1. Get Married and Cross Something off Your ‘Bucket List’ at the Same Time

Have you ever wanted to go sky diving? Scuba diving? Bungee jumping? Parasailing? Rock climbing? Surfing? Skiing? If there’s something you’ve both always wanted to do, now is the time. Your wedding day only happens once and the sky’s the limit.  Couples have said their vows underwater, free falling from the sky, and on the side of a mountain. No matter what you’ve both always wanted to do, there’s a way to make it happen as part of your wedding ceremonies.

2. Get Married at an Extreme Location

Is there a special place where you both met? How about a place that you’ve always wanted to go? Whether you’re looking to get married in Italy or you’re thinking about getting married at SXSW (it recently ended but you can still plan for next year), get creative with your partner and dream big.

There’s no reason you should settle for anything less.

Get married on a boat, on an island, in a foreign country, or at a live event to make even more memories that you’ll never forget.

3. Have a Themed Wedding that Matches Your Interests

Themed weddings may seem like a silly idea to those who want a traditional church wedding- but for those hopelessly in love that share the same passions, a themed wedding might be just what you need.

Are you both comic book geeks? Have a comic-themed wedding and enforce a costume-only dress code. Are you foodies? Plan an extreme tasting menu for you and your guests. If you’re both wine aficionados, research local wineries. Photographers can rent a photo booth or decorate their reception hall with shots they’ve taken. Have a sports-themed wedding outside (or in) your favorite venue. Dog lovers can even have their dogs be in the wedding party. Ask yourself what you love to do together, and use that as a springboard for personalizing your wedding.

4. Use Romance as Your Inspiration

Host a fairy-tale wedding, complete with tiaras and rose petals. Recreate a favorite old movie scene. Go horseback riding on the beach at sunset. Invite your guests to a tropical paradise for your wedding. Start by discussing what you both picture when you say the word “romance” and go from there. Do you see an intimate candlelit dinner? How about a picnic near a waterfall?

Do you picture you both languishing with an umbrella drink in side-by-side hammocks?

Even if he sees a cozy cabin and you see candlelight, you can easily combine these two aesthetics so you’ll both have the romantic wedding of your dreams.

There’s no reason you need to follow every wedding rule and tradition in the book. It’s your day, so make it something that you’ll like, with memories you’ll always cherish. Forget what everyone else wants. So what if your family is pushing for a big church wedding? If you want something small and intimate on the beach, do it.

As long as you’re pleasing yourself and your future spouse, it’s sure to be the wedding of a lifetime.

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Get Married at A Golf Destination

A marriage at a golf resort should be as straightforward or as complex as you wish. Just because you share a love of golf, doesn’t mean that you have to give up the drama of the white gown. It means that the traditional long flowing train and a full skirt is probably not a very good choice. Rather, a simple straight elegant white dress that allows you to easily move with a detachable train would be the best possible choice for your gown, especially if you’re going to swing a club as part of your ceremony. Use special bridal jewelry to enhance the simple elegance of your dress. Picture crystal glistening in the sun, or pearls to accessorize the gown.

Perhaps, you want to have your wedding be more informal, and then the choice of clothing is simple. Simple white golf clothes for the bride and her bridesmaids can that compliment the wedding colors are a great choice. Enhance a white visor with some beads and a lace veil and you will be ready for the ceremony. The clothes of the groom should distinguish him from the crowd, possibly with a special tie or hat as an addition to his golf clothes. Don’t forget to add elegance by donning  special crystal wedding jewelry purchased just for this special day. The money you saved on your dress should allow you to treat the entire wedding party to stunning jewelry for your wedding.

The wedding can be on the course, if it’s allowed, and the reception right in the clubhouse. Choose a nice vacation site at a higher price to increase the luxury of your golf wedding. Las Vegas golf courses offer a vast array of prices for your wedding that closely resemble the traditional cost of any other type of wedding. Some have packages that often save you a considerable amount of money. If you want to up the ante, consider places like the hotel at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Banff, Canada. The beautiful setting of the greens against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies is set off by a hotel that has looks like a Scottish castle. It is nearly impossible to find a comparable setting with such a scenic impact. If your guests don’t golf, there are side trips like a visit to the glacier or a trip on the gondola to the top of the mountain, an especially beautiful event when the wild flowers are in bloom.

The reception can be the most fun to plan for this type of wedding. Why not choose special golf gifts for the guests? They will add to the theme. A golf ball with your names and wedding date is one way to catch the eye of everyone that walks through the door. Golf tees with your names and the date is also a great way to have everyone have a remembrance of the event that they will appreciate. Giving candy golf balls of chocolate and special golf themed cans containing mints are another way to make your wedding unforgettable for your guests.

If you have the reception at the club, normally they handle the food. A catered outside reception is also another way to keep with the theme of the game. Decide whether you would like to have a regular meal or just provide snack food that your guests can take with them when they go on the course. It would be a shame to waste the pleasure of playing golf on a beautiful day when the golf is only a short distance away. If you are serving alcoholic drinks, you should have a special champagne punch and a few drinks a lot of people will like as well as some beer. Be sure to remember to save enough Champagne for toasts to the bride and groom. Use a couple of golfers as a topping on your wedding cake or have a topping that has a golf club or golf bag. Have fun with your reception and enjoy a round of golf as husband and wife.

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Profile of a Halloween Wedding

This is going to be a snark-free post – just so you know.  If you want the customary snark, toddle on over to the weird laws site because we’ve been plenty snarky on that one lately.

Last year I was honored to attend an unconventional kind of wedding.  In fact, my hubs was part of the wedding party.  The wedding took place on Halloween, and I decided that since the happy couple’s one year anniversary approacheth, that that I would not only tell you about the happy day, I’d let the bride do it.  Megan was nice enough to answer some questions for me and send me some photos, so enjoy!

1.  What made you choose Halloween as your wedding date?

I absolutely adore Halloween! It has always been my favorite holiday. The dressing up, the scary decorations, the fall weather and of course, fall foods, like sweet potatoes! My daughters are the same way and dressing up is just plain fun! You can be all the things that aren’t “real” the other 364 days of the year.  And everyone knows Jamie loves anything dark and gory! Add to that our family’s love of anything macabre and you get the perfect day for our wedding. Not to mention it is an easy date for the groom to remember! The movie “The Corpse Bride” sealed the deal, it was the inspiration for the whole thing.

2.  Who did you choose to officiate your ceremony, and how did you know him/her?

Leighton Paquette preformed the ceremony. My aunt introduced him to us. The amazing thing was, I really only got to talk to him a couple of times. Maybe the longest conversation was an hour. And yet he nailed it. Jamie and I aren’t your typical couple. We’re square pegs trying to fit into a world of round holes. And Leighton got that. It wasn’t your typical stuffy or religious ceremony, it was ours and it was perfect. He said let him know if you have any questions for him. However,he wasn’t licensed to make it legal so another friend of the family who is filled out our marriage license.

3.  What was the significance of having your wedding on Halloween?

LOL we got to dress up and be yet ourselves and for once no one gave us strange looks for it. I’ve always felt like Halloween is an opportunity for those of us who are a little…..out there, to be truly free of society’s expectations for one night.

4.  What did you choose as your attire for the wedding and why?

I wanted to go with something fairy like but without dealing with wings. My mother, Debbie deTreville, is a wonderful seamstress, and she and my step-father, Jason Allen, designed a beautiful dress just by listening to me babble about a few I had seen that I liked. I wanted fairy-tale without the poofy Cinderella dress. It was a beautiful royal purple with iridescent wing like pieces attached at the upper arms and wrists. They both worked incredibly hard until the wee hours of the morning to get everything completed on time. They also did almost all of the decorations and all of the flowers. Jason (Jae) also carved several exquisite pumpkins to grace the tables.

5.  What did the groom choose as his attire for the wedding and why?

Jamie wore a black suit and red shirt and black top hat with a skull topped cane. He chose that mainly because I wouldn’t let him wear jeans and the “tuxedo t-shit”. However, he looked wonderful in it. He picked it all out himself and I have to say, his taste was fabulous.

6.  What were your instructions to your wedding party as to how they should dress?

We told them to wear whatever costume they wanted only to keep in mind there would be children in attendance. As lond as no one dressed like a bride or groom we were fine with it. We ended up with 2 Greek goddesses, a Renaissance princess, and a disco diva as bridesmaids, and a bodyguard, a convict, a pirate and Einstein as groomsman. Our oldest Samantha was a perfect little fairy flower-girl and the younger one, Jessica, was a spooky skeleton fairy ring bearer, which was all their idea and matched their personalities. My grandfather gave me away as Grandpa Munster aka Dracula. It was all so perfect!

7.  What were your requests/suggestions to your wedding guests as to how they should dress?

We asked everyone to either choose a costume or to wear something afternoon wedding appropriate. We did however, ask that everyone be respectful of the children who would be in attendance and not wear anything too scary or risky. As it turned out, everyone who turned up was in  costume except a couple grandparents who wore church clothes, and with the rest of the costumes floating around, they looked like it was a purposeful Halloween choice.

8.  What type of music did you choose for the reception?

A very eclectic mix spun out by my dad, Kevin Carter who also helped my Aunt Kerstan with photos. we tried to stick with classic rock and roll and a few Halloween themed songs. Since it was a pretty neutral ground for me and Jamie.

9.  What was your first dance song and why?

“Always with me Always with you” by Joe Satriani.

Jamie introduced that song to me early in our relationship and it just became our song. He even used to play parts from it for me on the guitar.

10.  After one year of wedded bliss, how do you plan to celebrate your anniversary?

Maybe with a night out just the two of us….that’s a rare enough occurrence. Trick-or-Treating with the kids will top off our weekend.

Thank you, Megan, for telling us about your special day, and for letting our readers know that it’s fine to be yourself and do what YOU want to do on your wedding day.

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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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